New to Orchids, a month in, How am I doing?

[Andrew-L]

Hello all, newbie here both to the OrchidBoard, and growing orchids, but not to growing plants.
I am pretty versed in growing flowers, but never tried my hand in orchids before.
My grandfather had always told me they were the hardest flower to grow, and that kinda shy'd me away from them from the beginning.
So the wife got my first one pre valentines day from the grocery, so we'll call this girl NoID#1. some type of phal. pics will be added below. beautiful double flower spike, lots and lots of pink and white stripped flowers. never did i try to water with ice. i was immediately hooked.
even though i repotted both of them while in flower. just the repotting process i feel brought me closer to the plant, that with all good intentions, will live with me forever. these guys are like little aliens.
anyways, shortly after i got NOiD#2 another phal something or another. all white flowers little yellow in the center. double flower spike, and MAYBE a third flower spike poking out?(up close pic of stem/leaf/new spike/new root?)

i guess i repotted both of these into "semi hydroponics"? i used mainly hydroton clay pebbles and orchid bark. i used the larger peices of bark, and used alot more of the hydroton to fill the gaps. lots of holes in the pots. i still water from above though, but let the water evap out the bottom tray, which never takes more than a day or two. no roots stay submerged in water at all. i will water every other, to every three days. since i have no moss in my substrate, my pots tend to stop perspiring after two days or so. so ill douse them again. dousing is done rather than dipping entire plant.

i did accidentally induce bud blast in both of them, not entirely my fault, Texas did just have the worst snow storm Ive ever seen in my life. im glad they are still alive after a week with no power. but it seems like the budblast only effected certain budsites, and not All budsites. some have dried up and fallen off, while others continue to bloom, at somewhat smaller size.

these are also grown fully indoors. very little outside light is let in. i am supplementing with led grow lights. i have a really cheap 4 armed stretchy led one that works decent. but then i have that big guy that i posted a picture of. dont know if this guy is too bright or not. its 150watt led. the small one i have is like 35 watt led. you think i can use the big boy?

sorry for rambling, i look forward to my orchid growing experience.

---------- Post added at 08:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:13 PM ----------

back to the drawing boards to upload the pictures. i thought i had it right

---------- Post added at 08:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:15 PM ----------

well dang dont have 5 posts yet. off to posting

---------- Post added at 08:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:17 PM ----------

Two2two2two2 (two2two2two2) — ImgBB

feel free to follow my album, ill post new photos frequently of all my gardening escapades.

my pictures were entirely too big to upload on here anyways. i have repotting pictures, grow light pictures, and beautiful flower pictures!

[Leafmite]

Very nice Phals!
I like your miniature roses, too!

[Andrew-L]

thanks! i almost lost the one on the right to nitrogen deficiancy early on thinking my soil had enough to last a while before i started feeding them. she lost all but the top couple leaves. she was the runt i guess because none of the others were affected. i had to move them by a window during the power outtage, i think the extreme cold is what caused my bud blast.

---------- Post added at 09:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:30 PM ----------

also posting pictures of my lillies

[fishmom]

Welcome! That pink striped phal is lovely!

[Andrew-L]

Thanks! Can anybody tell me if that's a new flower spike or new root?

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board! That's probably a new root, but it's too early to tell. It's a little late in the season for this kind of Phal to initiate spikes.

[Andrew-L]

Thanks for the information. I'll keep posting pictures as it gets bigger!

---------- Post added at 10:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:28 AM ----------

I love your signature by the way "may the bridges I've burned light my way"

---------- Post added at 10:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:29 AM ----------

It's the white one also that has the new growth

[camille1585]

Nice Phals!!
I'd guess spike for that nubbin even though it's slightly early to tell for sure. It's in the right place, and looks a bit flat.
Yes, it's a bit late in the season, but if these were recently purchased they can be out of whack.

[Andrew-L]

im hoping its a third flower spike!

i was pleasantly suprised when i repotted both of these seeing how good the roots were.

i watched a lot of videos from store bought orchids and the roots were just horrbile!

---------- Post added at 04:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:37 PM ----------

the reason im thinking its a flower spike is in the color of it. its almost the same color as the flower spikes that are already in bloom. althought i havent personally seen a new root or flower spike emerge from an orchid before