Can this one survive?

[mjgord51]

This is the results of one of my Granddaughter, don't know why but she poked her finger nails through two leaves. Can they be trimmed back and how far can it be done?

[Roberta]

Don't trim them - they are still green and can do photosynthesis to feed the plant. They will look ugly until the plant loses the leaves naturally (may take a few years). But when the plant is done with the leaves it will shed them. Until then, for the survival of the plant, leave them. alone.

[estación seca]

At least it wasn't the cats.

[mjgord51]

Originally Posted by estación seca

At least it wasn't the cats.

They hate cats, but they do have a LARGE POODLE though, LOL

---------- Post added at 08:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:35 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Roberta

Don't trim them - they are still green and can do photosynthesis to feed the plant. They will look ugly until the plant loses the leaves naturally (may take a few years). But when the plant is done with the leaves it will shed them. Until then, for the survival of the plant, leave them. alone.

Thanks, yeah it does look Ugly and this is another reason why I had to rescue it from my Daughter as also she has ONLY just watered it for 5 years. This one hasn't came back with any new flowers this time so at least I'll re plant it with new bedding material. I was told by one of the ladies working at our local Orchid Society in Landers ,CA (Gublers) when re planting them to use what was there already for the bedding material.

[estación seca]

Medium to large bark works well for Phals. Take the plant out of the pot and gently shake off the old medium. You don't need to remove every single old piece; you don't want to damage roots. Don't take off any old roots unless they fall off on their own. Put the plant into a pot that just holds the roots. Backfill with bark. Have the bottom attachment to the stem of the bottom leaf at the top of the new bark. Water well. Water when almost dry.

Phals need lots of air at the roots, which is why many people use medium to large bark. They survive a long time without enough water but don't flower.

[Arizona Jeanie]

Get that child her own big roll of bubble wrap!

[Fuerte Rav]

Originally Posted by mjgord51

This is the results of one of my "bratty"
Granddaughter, don't know why but she poked her finger nails through two leaves. Can they be trimmed back and how far can it be done?

Cut them back to the quick! Or, do what I used to do when playing netball or waterpolo and apply sticky-plaster over the end of every finger..

[mjgord51]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Medium to large bark works well for Phals. Take the plant out of the pot and gently shake off the old medium. You don't need to remove every single old piece; you don't want to damage roots. Don't take off any old roots unless they fall off on their own. Put the plant into a pot that just holds the roots. Backfill with bark. Have the bottom attachment to the stem of the bottom leaf at the top of the new bark. Water well. Water when almost dry.

Phals need lots of air at the roots, which is why many people use medium to large bark. They survive a long time without enough water but don't flower.

In there own Natural Environment don't they grow in sphagnum moss?

[Roberta]

It's the kid's nails that need to be trimmed, not the orchid.



In nature, they grow on the branches and trunks of trees, completely bare-root. In places like the Philippines - rains nearly every day, and very humid. The sphagnum (or bark) in pots is an attempt to give their roots "humid air" in an environment that is totally unlike what they get in nature. I actually grow some Phals in my greenhouse (quite humid) bare root on mounts and they do very well. But that level of watering (daily) and high humidity wouldn't be very pleasant in a house.

[itzi]

Next time she comes over, just wrap your plants with a plastic cover like my grandma had on her couch!