Novice wondering about my orchids new growth, healthy, and identification

[kiwimonster]

Originally Posted by Diane56Victor

They are looking good, but ice cubes are not a good idea!
Phals are tropical plants they would never be subject to cold water, water just above freezing could account for the fading leaves.

Well I've been using room temp water, ice was just an idea, so maybe just watering too much and too often. I do 1-2 hour soak before draining once a week. I'll cut back and see if that helps this fading leaves.

[kiwimonster]

I've only been using room temp water and the plants are on a couple window ledges, one that is North facing, the other South facing.

I can't figure out why these lower leaves are fading more and more. Any ideas? Too much/little sun? Lack of nutrients?

[DrDawn]

To me it looks like it might be too little water! What sort of humidity are you growing them in? The bark drains quickly and phals don't want to be too dry for too long, so once a week might not be enough water to keep them well-hydrated. For comparison, I grow most of my phals in 3-4" pots and I generally water every 2-3 days (growing indoors in Boston, MA, indoor humidity around 70% in summer, 40-50% in winter).

[kiwimonster]

Originally Posted by DrDawn

To me it looks like it might be too little water! What sort of humidity are you growing them in? The bark drains quickly and phals don't want to be too dry for too long, so once a week might not be enough water to keep them well-hydrated. For comparison, I grow most of my phals in 3-4" pots and I generally water every 2-3 days (growing indoors in Boston, MA, indoor humidity around 70% in summer, 40-50% in winter).

That sounds plausible! I water once a week where I fill the pot with water, let is soak for 30 mins, then drain it. My house is pretty dry ranging 50-60% humidity.

How should I water them - logistically? Should I do a small amount more often so there isn't water pooling in the pot or maybe some other way?

[DrDawn]

Originally Posted by kiwimonster

How should I water them - logistically? Should I do a small amount more often so there isn't water pooling in the pot or maybe some other way?

Ah, maybe I missed this further up in the thread - do your pots have holes on the bottom or not? If they DO have holes at the bottom, then I would just water them until water flows out the bottom 2-3 times a week. (You could also put them on a humidity tray, which doesn't really help with humidity much but does give plenty of space for extra water to flow into so you don't spill!)

If you don't have holes in the bottom of your pots, I would suggest repotting into some pots that do! Orchid roots LOVE air, so the more air circulation (and less stagnant water) that you have, the better! I use these, but plenty of other types of pots work just fine as long as there are holes in them. (I like the clear ones so I can watch my roots and make sure they are staying healthy! It helped a lot when I was a newbie grower.)

[kiwimonster]

Originally Posted by DrDawn

Ah, maybe I missed this further up in the thread - do your pots have holes on the bottom or not? If they DO have holes at the bottom, then I would just water them until water flows out the bottom 2-3 times a week. (You could also put them on a humidity tray, which doesn't really help with humidity much but does give plenty of space for extra water to flow into so you don't spill!)

If you don't have holes in the bottom of your pots, I would suggest repotting into some pots that do! Orchid roots LOVE air, so the more air circulation (and less stagnant water) that you have, the better! I use these, but plenty of other types of pots work just fine as long as there are holes in them. (I like the clear ones so I can watch my roots and make sure they are staying healthy! It helped a lot when I was a newbie grower.)

And your plants can stand up without tipping over in those thin plastic pots?

[katsucats]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

here's Fred and his kids...

What's with calling orchids Fred? I know something that called her first orchid Fred too.

Originally Posted by kiwimonster

That sounds plausible! I water once a week where I fill the pot with water, let is soak for 30 mins, then drain it. My house is pretty dry ranging 50-60% humidity.

How should I water them - logistically? Should I do a small amount more often so there isn't water pooling in the pot or maybe some other way?

You put the thin plastic pots inside the decorative cache pots. Then you take the thin pots out to water. Ideally, you could touch the bark to see when it becomes barely moist, and then water it again. How long that takes depends on your environment. The media should never completely dry out. Nor should it remain wet for long periods in bark.

If you take some bark media and put it in a cup, and water it as usual, soaking it for 30 minutes. Let's call the wetness right after you drain it "100%". And let's call completely dry bark "0%". You might water it whenever it gets to about 20-25%.

[kiwimonster]

Originally Posted by katsucats

What's with calling orchids Fred? I know something that called her first orchid Fred too.



You put the thin plastic pots inside the decorative cache pots. Then you take the thin pots out to water. Ideally, you could touch the bark to see when it becomes barely moist, and then water it again. How long that takes depends on your environment. The media should never completely dry out. Nor should it remain wet for long periods in bark.

If you take some bark media and put it in a cup, and water it as usual, soaking it for 30 minutes. Let's call the wetness right after you drain it "100%". And let's call completely dry bark "0%". You might water it whenever it gets to about 20-25%.

That's helpful, thank you. I have definitely been letting the bark dry out between watering.

[Arizona Jeanie]

I put a few rocks in the bottom of the plastic pots, for ballast. Works fine, and the plants don't seem to mind.