My first orchid!!

[win_67]

Hello everyone,
I have my first orchid a Phalaenopsis Philippinensis.
I like it very much with its speckled leaf.
A month ago when I bought it had sphagnum.
like substrate.
I took it to the orchid's gruop in my city and they told me that it was better to repot it because the sphagnum could cause the roots to rot and the pot was also very small.
Now it's like you see it in the pictures.
I keep it at home near a window, I don't know if the conditions are ideal but I will try to make it grow.
For now he has thrown off new roots, I don't believe yet stems or maybe yes and I don't know.
I have read many things on the internet and I ask you for advice.
Water: better to immerse the plant or wet it from above? If I dip it for how long? If I water the plant from above, how much water?
Fertilizer: I bought a Compo fertilizer with manure and one from Cifo that they told me very good.
Do you fertilize each with normal doses but in a longer time or with light doses every day?
Fertilize from above?
Stem: in this Phalaenopsis when should the stem come out?
Small problem: if you see in the picture I have a leaf with a slightly yellowed and striated edge, what could it be? The only thing I could have done and given less water at the beginning because I know that the first problem with orchids is watering too much and therefore rotten roots.
Any advice is welcome, just ask for information.
I'll try to attach some photos
Thanks
Vincenzo from Italy

[win_67]

Here some photo
I only put some expanded clay around the pot every so often to increase the humidity.

[aliceinwl]

You can water either by soaking or flushing. If you water by soaking, put the pot in another container, fill with water until the water in the outer container reaches the height of the pot, let sit for 5 minutes or so, and then let all the water drain out. If you water by flushing, run water through the pot for 30 seconds or so. Re-water when the substrate approaches dryness. Avoid getting water onto the leaves or crown.

I don’t think manure based fertilizers are recommended for orchids. Orchids need very little fertilizer: probably a quarter of whatever the recommended dose is about twice a month. Check out Advice on Fertilizing? for some good advice on fertilizer.

The lower leaf may just be getting ready to drop. I don’t see anything of concern. Once the plant is securely rooted in the pot (does not wobble) the stake can be removed.

Good luck with your new plant!

[Cym Ladye]

Yes, you have a phal. Read the last sticky at the head of this Beginner Forum on "The Phal Abuse Ends Here" for answers to most of your questions.

[camille1585]

Watering – You can either soak the pot or run water through the pot. But seeing how big the chunks of bark are, I think soaking might do a better job. How long you set it soak doesn’t matter so much. At least 15 min is fine, but you can do longer. Even a couple of hours is OK! The most important is that the roots dry out before you water again (look at the color of the roots through the side of the pot – wait for them to be a white/silver color before watering again). Whatever you do, don’t get water between the leaves at the top of the plant, it might cause rot.

Fertilizer – is it fertilizer specifically for orchids? The dosage depends on the recipe of the fertilizer, so if you can tell us that we can help more. Usually it is good to give a little bit of fertilizer each time you water.

Flowering – I think that this species normally flowers in the winter. If so, you might see a new stem appear in the next couple of months. It might not flower until next winter, sometimes a new Phal needs extra time to get used to your house!

Yellowing leaf – doesn’t look like a problem and seems like it might be normal leaf aging.

Location- You say it is near a window. Does it get direct sunlight? In Italy the sun will be strong compared to here, so it is good to keep it next to a window but without direct sun.


This is the thread Cym Ladye mentioned, it has lots if useful information: The Phal abuse ends here.

[win_67]

My window is facing north, unlucky, but it has very much light.
There are new root but no flower steam I think (you can see photo)
I would like to see flower this year but I think not.

All roots?

[win_67]

I have robbed Amazon of books on orchids someone only on Phalaenopsis!!!

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by win_67

My window is facing north, unlucky, but it has very much light.
There are new root but no flower steam I think (you can see photo)
I would like to see flower this year but I think not.

All roots?

All roots, but a good healthy root system is good!!

A flower stem looks different when it appears. The tip is flat and looks like a mitten, and flower stems generally appear on the plant at the base of a leaf. I can take some photos tomorrow in daylight to show you.

A bright south facing window is usually enough for Phalaenopsis (mine plants would flower in a north window). I don't know if Phal philippinensis needs more light or the same as supermarket Phals.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by win_67

Here some photo
I only put some expanded clay around the pot every so often to increase the humidity.

Hi there win_67. In my readings on the internet, I had noticed people mentioning that putting a tray of water below the pot doesn't do much (or even at all) to raise humidity around the plant. I think what they mentioned makes sense.

Good air circulation around the plant and an appropriate watering schedule (and appropriate growing media --- eg scoria, or bark etc), comfortable temperature, and enough light are the main requirements for keeping the orchid in good shape.

I've never grown a Phalaenopsis plant before. But I successfully grow Paph and Phrag. I'm thinking that if I can grow Paph and Phrag well, then I should be able to grow most Phals well too.

I have found that if air-circulation is good, then growing the orchid (eg. Paph and Phrag) in scoria, in an opaque plastic pot with very good drainage holes (at the bottom), with the pot sitting on a "drainage grate" ----- does a very nice job indeed. I grow my Cattleya and other orchids like this too. Same setup. It works excellently in my part of the world. I attached a basic drawing image in this post.

The other attached image shows a Paph. Saint Swithin 'Jill' growing in scoria. The photo was taken soon after using a watering 'wand' (aka weed sprayer nozzle) to water the growing media. On the following day, that surface layer will be dry. The scoria inside the pot will still be moist. So it's a matter of understanding when to water. With good air circulation, and airy-enough media (eg. scoria) - this orchid and other ones generally have no problem with getting watered every day.

My trick is to occasionally allow for a temporary full dry out inside the pot, every once in a while ...... eg. once a week, or once every couple of weeks - or whenever I see fit. No fixed schedule really. The idea (whether it's right or not) is to make things hard for unwanted activity inside the pot (growth of unwanted things).

They (some people) say that certain orchids can have issues with drying out inside the pot (everywhere in there). Interestingly, I haven't encountered that issue with the Paphs and Phrags that I'm growing - also Oncidiums, and Psychopsis.

If bark is used, and if the bark is brand-new (and dry), then pre-treat the brand new bark with a decent soaking in water before potting the bark. This allows the bark to be primed with water. This may be important, because dry bark repels (rejects) water - like water off a duck's back. With scoria (lava rock) ...... no problem. I don't use bark. I find no need for it for my purposes. However - a bark or bark/perlite mix is really great for those that want a different watering schedule. This is when bark or bark/perlite mix has its advantages and benefits too. These are great media to use too.

Originally Posted by win_67

Do you fertilize each with normal doses but in a longer time or with light doses every day?

I use light dose .... one-quarter to one-third the factory recommended strength. Once a month application ---- into the media and the roots.

[win_67]

Thank's you very much for all your advice.
Vincenzo