Orchid Care OrchidTalk Orchid Forum Links Nursery

Welcome to OrchidTalk Orchid Forums


The Friendliest Orchid Community on the Internet!


  •  » Learn to Repot your Orchids
  •  » Learn Orchid Care Tips and Secrets
  •  » Find the perfect Orchid for your Growing Environment
  •  » Chat with Orchid Growing Professionals

OrchidTalk - "Bringing People Together to Grow Orchids Better!"


Let us help you grow your Orchids better; Join our community today.


YES! I want to register an account for free right now!


Register or Login now to remove this advertisement.

Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Several phal orchid plant health questions.

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Real Name
    Bethany
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Nuremberg, Germany
    Posts
    8
    Member's Country Flag

    Default Several phal orchid plant health questions.

    I come to the forum off and on to make sure I am doing what is needed for my little ones since I am a chronic plant murderer and up until recently all has seemed somewhat ok. I am currently in my last semester of university (graduating Saturday!) and had all of my exams and papers to take care of so I hired someone to take care of my plants and animals while I was away in Munich doing these things. I got back this morning to find one of my beloved orchids covered in mold and the other seems to have gone through a growth spurt.

    I know I am going to ask a bunch of questions that are covered elsewhere, but Ive already looked through several pages and Im still writing my thesis and thought my time would be better spent actually caring for the plants rather than trying to find the needle in 71 pages of posts.

    Good news first: I was told last time I posted about one of my plants that the random top roots are actually baby plants, and that I should wait until I saw three roots of three inches long before separating and replanting. I got home to find each finally at three inches where they can be safely removed, so I was wondering exactly what type of medium and fertilizer they will need and if anyone happens to know where the link about separating keikis is. I had bookmarked the link, but that was months ago and when I tried it today it was dead. Also, Im assuming 4 keikis will mean I need 4 pots? Or do you put two together like you do with daffodils, tulips and amaryllis? Here is a picture of my healthy babies:
    Name:  IMG_5147.JPG
Views: 4816
Size:  60.4 KB

    And the bad news. I could strangle the housesitter. I have never overwatered my babies, but I got home to find the medium mouldy and when I lifted the pot there was so much water that even though I have raised orchid pots for ventilation the bottom of the plastic inner pot was sitting in water. I removed it immediately and as you can see she is draining over my sink right now. How do I deal with this? Do I need to totally change the medium? If so what medium or fertilizer would be the best for a grown plant? I am in Germany, so while I have read great things about Physan, but its not available here. Does anyone know of a comparable product I could use immediately? With the holidays I think it would take over a week to get here from the UK and I doubt the plant will want to wait that long. As you can see this beauty has been snipped back for winter after her spikes shriveled in late summer, so shes been well taken care of until now... Ugh! I was so thrilled that I was managing to keep plants alive for once, so she must be saved Here are some pictures:
    Name:  IMG_5141.JPG
Views: 1296
Size:  64.9 KB
    Name:  IMG_5143.JPG
Views: 1104
Size:  44.1 KB
    Name:  IMG_5144.JPG
Views: 1152
Size:  39.0 KB

  2. #2
    Real Name
    Yew-Sung
    My Grow Area
    Outside 24/7
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    cattleyas, vandaceous,paphios
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia
    Posts
    16,047
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    First, congratulations on your graduation. I would recommend individual pots. Repot the the second plant and use fresh,clean medium. trim away all the dead and infected roots.

  3. #3
    Real Name
    Jeff Tucker
    My Grow Area
    Porch/Patio.
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Cattleyas, Phalaenopsis, Vanda
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Plantation, Florida
    Posts
    2,446
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    I also want to congratulate you on your graduation. That's an important milestone in your life. While some orchids do well with two plants in one pot, my experience has been that phalaenopsis do not like to be planted together. One of the plants will usually start to decline when planted in the same pot. I've heard that you can just twist the keikis off but I've always cut the stem about one inch below the keiki and that's always worked for me. I won't comment on media because I don't know what you have available in your country. I agree with Yew, that you should repot the mother plant also. For all the orchids use the smallest pots that the root system will comfortably fit in. Pots that are too big will cause you problems.

  4. #4
    Real Name
    Cathy
    My Grow Area
    Greenhouse
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Vandaceous
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Riverview, Florida
    Posts
    5,701
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    oh sending congrats your graduation!! And Jeff has good advice.

  5. #5
    Real Name
    Bethany
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Nuremberg, Germany
    Posts
    8
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Thank you all for the wishes, I just wish my babies didnt have to suffer for it... How hard is it to water the ficus and leave the orchids alone lol?

    And thank you for the answers. I will go pick up the supplies today. My boyfriend was kind enough to look up a nursery that specializes in orchids for me, and its not too far, so Im going to head over there. Im sure they will know what the best medium and fungicide is that is available here. The EU can be sort of crazy about chemicals, you cant even buy bleach here.

    Jeff - I will find a home for each of the babies rather than potting them together. Im a little confused though, the plant with the mold and the plant with the keikis are two different plants. Yew said to replant the one with the mold. Are you saying I should also repot the one with the keikis after removing them?

    Thanks again everyone!!

  6. #6
    My Grow Area
    Greenhouse
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Los angeles,California
    Posts
    1,514
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    I amaze with your Keiki with long healthy root and congratulation for your graduation one more thing welcome to the forum

  7. #7
    Real Name
    Bob Benditzky
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Phal's, Paph's, Encyclia's
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Libertyville, Illinois
    Posts
    317
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Congratulations on your graduation Bethany!!

    If those were my plants 1) I'd be jumping up and down with joy with such healthy keikis 2) once removing both of the babies I'd pot/repot all of your plants. All the other posts above mine give great advice.

    Please check back in with updates on your plants!

  8. #8
    Real Name
    Bethany
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Nuremberg, Germany
    Posts
    8
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Thanks to everyone for the wishes and advice!!

    Everyone was repotted a week ago, but no time to post since then because of the holidays. A lovely lady at my local nursery happened to be an orchid lover so she was kind enough to point me to the best medium and fertilizer available. Everyone seems to be happy and doing well.

    Thanks a million!!

    Name:  IMG_5183.JPG
Views: 1168
Size:  46.5 KB
    Name:  IMG_5185.JPG
Views: 985
Size:  48.9 KB

  9. #9
    Real Name
    angela parris
    My Grow Area
    Greenhouse
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Vanda, Dendrobium, Oncidium
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Barbados. Caribbean
    Posts
    1,456
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Congratulations on your Graduation! All's well that ends well ! Your plants are now looking happy in their new "homes". We look forward to seeing them in bloom.

Similar Threads

  1. Got a sick Phal Bellina in the mail. How to nurse it back to health?
    By OrchidAddict in forum Orchid Ailments / The Compost Pile
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: December 21st, 2012, 06:11 PM
  2. First Orchid health check please?
    By AnnaEA in forum Phalaenopsis ('moth orchid') Information
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: April 19th, 2012, 09:48 AM
  3. where to Post Plant ID questions
    By Businti in forum Using the Boards
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: August 21st, 2010, 01:44 AM
  4. First Catt, health questions
    By bluegardener in forum General Orchid Culture
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: February 3rd, 2008, 08:57 PM
  5. Questions about my new Phal.
    By Kelcey in forum New Growers: Ask the Senior Members
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: May 11th, 2006, 02:50 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
OrchidTalk --An Orchid Growers Discussion Forum brought to you by River Valley Orchidworks. A World Community where orchid beginners and experts talk about orchids and share tips on their care, cultivation, and propagation.