Need help with my dying water culture phal orchid!

[Roberta]

Don't let the moss get to "crunchy-dry" - it should be gently damp, then water again. Those roots may not be terribly efficient, but they'll work. With fresh moss, you'll get air around the roots which is important. When you water, do it thoroughly - water so that it runs through the pot (which pulls air into the root zone and flushes out crud) Then let it drain. One way that may help you determine how often to water... after you have thoroughly watered it, weigh it on a kitchen scale or postal scale. Weigh it the next day, etc. When the loss of weight starts to level off (not much more to evaporate) it's time to repeat.

[Brooke_Orchids]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Don't let the moss get to "crunchy-dry" - it should be gently damp, then water again. Those roots may not be terribly efficient, but they'll work. With fresh moss, you'll get air around the roots which is important. When you water, do it thoroughly - water so that it runs through the pot (which pulls air into the root zone and flushes out crud) Then let it drain. One way that may help you determine how often to water... after you have thoroughly watered it, weigh it on a kitchen scale or postal scale. Weigh it the next day, etc. When the loss of weight starts to level off (not much more to evaporate) it's time to repeat.

Thank you! That’s a really good idea since I could never tell when I should water it, maybe that was my whole issue. Do you think it would be okay if I put it in a orchid bark and moss mixture? Or is just moss completely fine?

[Roberta]

Personally I'd prefer the bark/moss mixture (or even straight small/medium bark). You'll have to water it more often, but the bark will keep it more open - and Phals really want "humid air" more than "wet". If you have a well-drained, airy mix you really can't overwater it, especially in warm weather. The problem that people tend to have is to get a Phal in "impacted" moss that either stays too wet or is so hard that it doesn't re-wet, that crowds out the air. It's the lack of air that kills roots. I think yours is just dehydrated, so highly revive-able (even if the current leaves stay floppy, new ones will be fine)

[LizB88]

Originally Posted by Brooke_Orchids

The roots do turn green when wet. But if it’s getting moisture properly, I don’t understand why the leaves would get so wrinkly. I ordered sphagnum moss to see if that will help, I’ll put it back in bark until it arrives. I’ll be patient during the months and hope it gets better, thank you!

---------- Post added at 10:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:19 AM ----------



Maybe everything looks under watered because the roots are damaged and can’t get moisture? I just don’t know which roots are good and which ones are not, I’ll put it in moss

I found this video on YouTube from Dani, title [Understanding Phalaenopsis Orchid roots All you should know! ] which can help with learning about the roots of a phal.

As long as you give it a good media (for me a mix media work best) your plant will do well.
And when you have any questions feel free to ask, this is a wonderful place to ask and learn.

[Brooke_Orchids]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Personally I'd prefer the bark/moss mixture (or even straight small/medium bark). You'll have to water it more often, but the bark will keep it more open - and Phals really want "humid air" more than "wet". If you have a well-drained, airy mix you really can't overwater it, especially in warm weather. The problem that people tend to have is to get a Phal in "impacted" moss that either stays too wet or is so hard that it doesn't re-wet, that crowds out the air. It's the lack of air that kills roots. I think yours is just dehydrated, so highly revive-able (even if the current leaves stay floppy, new ones will be fine)

That’s so good to hear, thank you for all your help!

---------- Post added at 10:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:36 AM ----------

Originally Posted by LizB88

I found this video on YouTube from Dani, title [Understanding Phalaenopsis Orchid roots All you should know! ] which can help with learning about the roots of a phal.

As long as you give it a good media (for me a mix media work best) your plant will do well.
And when you have any questions feel free to ask, this is a wonderful place to ask and learn.

I watch Dani all the time, I’ll go check out that video thank you!