Phal in Sphag Wilting in Office - Orchid Board

dianecty · #1 05-13-2008, 04:33 PM

Hi! Last Friday, I put a phal in my office under fluorescent lights. It was in a sopping wet sphag medium. That's why I didn't put water in the rocks under the pot.

When I came to work yesterday (monday), the sphag was completely dry, the orchid opened more flowers but some of them seem to have wilted.

I took out the sphag. There was no root rot.

Why did it wilt? Is it because our office is at 76F and a little stuffy? Is it too hot, not enough water?

I watered it today with cool water, and cut off the wilted flowers.

What should I do? The buds seems to have blasted too - limp and shriveled.

Thanks guys!!

bkim · #2 05-13-2008, 05:59 PM

From my experience, an office environment is extremely dry (air conditioning or heat) and sphag evaporates very quickly. I would recommend changing your medium to something that retains moisture better like bark and using a humidity tray.

Buds will sometimes blast when moving into a different environment but it sounds like water retention is an issue.

Ross · #3 05-13-2008, 06:27 PM

:iagree: You'll need to water a bit more often. In a dry office with air conditioning, I would bet every 3-4 days or so. Is the moss dry at the bottom of the pot?

dianecty · #4 05-13-2008, 07:08 PM

Yep, it was dry all the way through. Maybe I should change back to sphag, huh? since it retains more water than lava rocks? what do you think?

Ross · #5 05-13-2008, 07:23 PM

Wow, I didn't catch that! Lava rock, huh? Yes that's your problem. But not sure real frequent repotting would do you any good. Lots of shock. Why not make your own bark/sphagum mix? Say 50/50. If you can lay your hands on some medium fir bark, mix a couple cups of that with a large handful of the sphagnum. Hopefully this will fill the pot (test it before disturbing the plant.) Soak the mix in a blend of MSU fertilizer with KLN root booster at transplanting strength. KLN would be mixed to provide 125ppm Nitrogen and KLN at 1 tsp per gallon water.

Don't get into misting as this might lead to crown rot, or at the very least water spotting on the leaves. Just watch the medium and try to be sure the pot is wet when Friday comes to a close.

dianecty · #6 05-13-2008, 07:26 PM

Ok, I'll do that. I have to buy KLN though. I do have Superthrive, can I use that instead?

Ross · #7 05-13-2008, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dianecty

Ok, I'll do that. I have to buy KLN though. I do have Superthrive, can I use that instead?

Yes.

quiltergal · #8 05-13-2008, 07:41 PM

I'm confused, is it in sphag or lava rock?

dianecty · #9 05-13-2008, 07:45 PM

Well, right now, I put it in lava rock. It used to be in sphag. The reason I did that is because I used to have a phal in bark here. The bark seemed to deteriorate so fast. Not even a month.

Ross · #10 05-13-2008, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dianecty

Not even a month.

Really!? I keep mine in bark and my climate is pretty moist (well for a home it's moist

) and I get a year out of bark. If bark breaks down that fast, then just add the sphagnum to the lava rock. Should be the same end result.