Sick Cattleya

[Shaydra]

I note that the Phalaenopsis is in a clay pot and it has always been my understanding that they should be in clear pots. The roots like plenty of light (although heavily shaded) and fresh air ciculating around them. I have also read somewhere that Phallie roots need a fungus to grow strong and the lack of light kills the roots. Unfortunately the clear pots look ugly.

It,s a very pretty plant whatever it,s called and I wouldn,t want to lose it if it were mine.

This is my first reply to anyone as I have only just joined the forum.

Best of luck,

Mike Amies

Thanks Mike! Any suggestions are welcome. My first phal came in a clear pot stuffed inside a clay pot originally. When I repotted her on Tuesday, I didn't have another clear pot and was too whacked on pain meds to dawdle with sterilizing the old one (it had gotten mold in it before I got it). So she's now in a fine bark mix with some sphag-peat looking stuff that was recommended to me by a local grower as being good for phals (scolded me for using too course a bark mix). All dead/dying roots were removed and she's already perking up and I haven't gotten up the heart to cut the spike. Leaves are plumping and slowly rising again.


Welcome to the boards! I'm flattered to be your first reply!

[Diane]

I have one phal that grows in a rock medium. It's very happy, it must like the limestone. But it gets watered almost every day - a real pain. Probably will go into a bark mix when she needs repotting.

[Shaydra]

I took a picture of the new growth on my Slc. Mine Gold 'Corona' She seems to be recovering!!!

[Phyrex]

That's great. Congrats on sitting tight, I know it couldn't have been easy

[Shaydra]

Not easy at all. Probably part of the reason that my collection went from 2 to .. well, it will be 19 shortly.. within about 6 or 7 weeks. Basically, the whole time she's been recovering, I've bought her friends to help egg her on (and keep me from over-mothering to death).

Sometimes, it really does help to have more.

[clintdawley]

...and if you join a forum or look at online orchid vendors, you'll have over 100 before you can blink and eye. You look for that 3" of windowsill space that would accomodate another miniature...you mount orchids so you can hang them from them ceiling...etc..

Not easy at all. Probably part of the reason that my collection went from 2 to .. well, it will be 19 shortly.. within about 6 or 7 weeks. Basically, the whole time she's been recovering, I've bought her friends to help egg her on (and keep me from over-mothering to death).

Sometimes, it really does help to have more.

[Shaydra]

Yes, yes. All very true. I think this forum has indeed fueled my obsession and compulsive buying over the past several weeks. And I'll probably be trying my hand at something small and mounted soon!

And, you see, I have this space on the ceiling next to my shelf, right in front of the window (in the space I left myself for opening and shutting it)...... (I forsee a few bumps on my forehead in the future..)

But you know what? I'm happy. I'm content. I'm more relaxed since I started my obsession.... (We need a zen smilie.)

...and if you join a forum or look at online orchid vendors, you'll have over 100 before you can blink and eye. You look for that 3" of windowsill space that would accomodate another miniature...you mount orchids so you can hang them from them ceiling...etc..

[Phyrex]

Exactly. You're seeing these wonderful pictures of nice plants in bloom here on the forum and the next time you get remotely close to a store (however bad) that sells orchids it seems that they are all looking at you like this :
The fact that so many chids are sold over the internet these days doesn't help slow the obsession either. I know that I'm every time I find something nice on the internet. Right now I am just looking at all the different hygro thermometers and light meters I can find. It's just not curable

[Shaydra]

LOL!

....and the next time you get remotely close to a store (however bad) that sells orchids it seems that they are all looking at you like this :

And the best part is that most orchids really do have eyes. But I still won't pay $60 for a half-dead noID. Even though I leave the store feeling obscenely guilty for not trying to rescue at least one.

We need something like the 'Poke-dex' where we can just point our little PDA at an orchid and it will tell us exactly what it is, what the blooms should look like (if its out of bloom), the rarity and general care. (Yes, I've watched a few episodes of Pokemon. )

[hcubed]

I hear you on the relaxed part - I was really mad at people at work the last couple of weeks and would come home mad and grumbling, make the rounds, check on my buds and roots and after looking into a couple flowers and getting excited over new roots, I suddenly wasn't may anymore. Great effect!