few questions about Phals?

[Orchid_Monk]

So I have just recently found that I have a passion for growing/caring for Orchids. I am a Buddhist Monk and my Monastery has a lot of Phals around. There is a big Range in Health. I started out with just taking care of about Eight of them for now. This is due to me not wanting to spend to much money and killing them all there are other Brothers and Sisters here that have experience in Orchid growing/care. I took there advise for the ones I have started with, but I also want some other advise for others. I will say that the ones I have started to take care of look so much happier since i re-potted them and I can already see new growth.

Questions?
1.Does the size of the pot really matter? seeing as Phals would normally be growing on a tree witch would give it a lot more space then any pot could offer.

2.Is direct morning light ok for them or harmful?

3.What degree of health should be my cut of for trying to save them?

4.How many should I start taking care of? we have well over 40 of them here and I don't want things to get to crazy this early in the Orchid game. Even though inside of me tells me to take care of them all and I think that is what everyone here will also say.

[catttan]

Welcome to OT from Malaysia. I hope some of our members who live in your area will respond.

[cucubirds]

Hi Br. Now,

Just my 2 cents

1) Ideally, pot size should be just big enough/slightly bigger to keep the phal root ball. If you go for very big pot, the pot will remain wet for too long. Then roots starts to rot. For pot culture, you need to control not to overwater the plant.

But, if you mount the phal, you'll need to water more often. May be every day or twice a day if weather is really hot.

Watering plays a significant part in both potted & mounted phals. So, just fine tune for yourself.


2) Phal are low light orchid. Morning sun up to 11 am is good. But, if you never expose your phals to direct sunlight then you should gradually expose them to directly sunlight. Don't ever expose to afternoon sunlight.


3) Well, it varies. A picture of phal speaks thousand words. So, if you are in doubt, take pictures & show us.

Even rootless phal will survive if it has at least two good leaves. But you must keep separate those sick plants from healthy ones.

If your plant is badly attacked by spider mite or mealy bug etc, then just throw away quickly.

For the beginner, it is best to start off with healthy plants to save all troubles.


4) You have to think 3 things first. Time,space,money. Since you already have 40 of them, space & money shouldn't be a problem. So, just think of you much time you can allocate or spare to look after them(watering, fertilizing, checking the plants for insect attack,fungal disease etc).

Then you'll get the answer.

Good luck to you.

Happy growing.

[Ron-NY]

Welcome. Take care of as many as you feel you can handle. Caring for plants is a meditation in itself.

[Orchid_Monk]

Thank You for you Two cents CuCubird. Thank does make sense to me about the pot size and having to much moisture. I will try to get some pictures up of them to better inform everyone here of the wide range of plant health I am working with.
Thank you for the warm welcomes. I also agree with you Ron-NY it most certainly is a meditation. Just spending time around them and giving them gives me a boost in energy.

[zainal abidin]

Welcome Zain from Malaysia.

[tucker85]

Welcome to Orchid Talk! I agree with everything Cucubird said. You'll increase your chances of success if you use the smallest pot the roots will comfortably fit in. If the pot is too big the mix will stay too wet and the roots will rot. Direct sun in the morning is excellent for phals or any orchid. But phals are low light orchids so protect them from the mid-day sun. Just take care of the number of orchids that you feel comfortable with. You'll find that some plants like living with you and some don't. Eventually you'll develop some favorites that grow and bloom well under your conditions. Good luck.

[panam]

Br. Now, welcome to our community!

We are happy to share with you our own reverence for life as manifested in our care of the orchids. It sometimes is difficult to determine how far to go in trying to save an orchid, but as long as you aren't causing undue stress on yourself, you're probably fine. I sometimes have to remember that all things die and all I can do is my best. And then I must let it go. (I don't always remember to do this without causing some stress, but I try.)

We're happy for you to join us.