Phal stuartiana - Orchid Board

latebloomer · #1 05-07-2008, 09:00 PM

Hi! I'm very pleased with my first "non" NOID phal purchase! It is a Phal stuartiana. (I also got a Paph cross of Philippensis and Claire de Lune. It has finished flowering so I got it at a discount price

I've been admiring pictures of species orchids on-line, but I hardly ever find the real things in local stores.

My one question is, the 5 inch pot is packed tightly with moss and I'm almost afraid to over-water. I read somewhere that the moss should almost be bone-dry before watering again. The plant is blooming profusely and I'm afraid to lose the flowers if I let it go that dry. Plus, for a larger phal like this, would it be risky to change to bark after it flowers?

Thanks!

Lagoon · #2 05-07-2008, 09:15 PM

That orchid is putting on a real show - really beautiful!
About the media ... Play if safe if your have doubts, Choose the media you are having success with now.
If the sphag is that tight, maybe you could give a fast check of the roots.
Welcome to the OB forum, glad to have you aboard!

latebloomer · #3 05-07-2008, 09:39 PM

Thanks, Gloria! I can see healthy roots on the side of the pot at least, but not too sure how it looks deeper inside. Right now it seems perfectly healthy, just hope I don't kill it!

quiltergal · #4 05-07-2008, 11:14 PM

That's a beautiful stuartiana! I would have brought it home too! Lots of people repot when plants are in full bloom without a hitch. I haven't tried it myself yet. But when in doubt.....

Kristen616 · #5 05-08-2008, 12:58 PM

WOW that is so pretty!!!! Another type to add to my list of orchids i want...

Im a newbie orchid grower, but I just got a small phal and repotted it when it was in bloom and I had no problems at all. Good luck with it! it's just lovely!

latebloomer · #6 05-09-2008, 11:43 PM

Thanks! I'm not too confident yet with my orchid skills so I'll just be careful with the watering and repot it after it blooms. The last couple of days I'd been reading up on S/H. I wasn't even considering it, at least not until I discovered there's a hydroponic store in my neighbourhood! I bought some hydroton already and will try it on one of my NOIDs that just finished blooming. If that works maybe I'll switch my P. stuartiana. I find S/H very intriguing!

snow · #7 05-10-2008, 01:53 AM

i have not killed any orchids since switching to s/h; but many had passed away to orchid heaven previously.

snow · #8 05-10-2008, 01:54 AM

i have not killed any orchids since switching to s/h; but many had passed away to orchid heaven previously.

snow · #9 05-10-2008, 01:55 AM

don,t know what happened there. as you can see; i,m new to pc,s too