Daily watering saves the day!

[hollylee]

One of my phals has really been struggling. After increasing the water the leaves were still wilted. So I tried watering it everyday. The water runs through and gives it a good soaking each day. Its really turned around and the leaves are starting to stand up. No signs of root rot either. This one likes to drink, a lot!

One question. I have it potted in bark the way all my other phals are potted. They still like a drink once a week. Should I pot this one in moss so it stays wet longer? Moss scares me though because of rot!

[justatypn]

I am not a fan of sphag moss but have used it with care. It does retain moisture longer and if one is not careful root rot is a given. If what your doing is working why make a change. Personally the only orchids I water daily are my mounts and keiki's that are in aliflor. I don't feel the bark drys out fast enough to keep the roots healthy and to prevent them from getting mushy. How long have you been watering daily?

[Cookiemonster]

i would go with a mix of long fiber moss and fine bark,
I personally love putting my phals in moss keeps the roots green and moist- i love my clear pots- makes watering easy !!!

[hollylee]

I have been watering daily for a little over a week now. It seems to dry out really very fast.

[justatypn]

If you have been watering daily for just over a week, I would think at this point that the orchid is hydrated enough for you to slow your watering regimen down. Take a skewer and place in the medium and use this as a watering to prevent over-watering.

[quiltingwacko]

Cookiemonster triggered my memory of something good to know about phals, if the roots are green, you are good. If they are brown, water. So that is what is so great about the clear pots, better view! I have one phal in peat moss that is growing and blooming all the time. One is in bark in a very damp bathroom and is very happy and growing but doesn't bloom as much as the other. The last two phals I have demand water almost every day or they try to croak on me. Another is a sphag and bag from being underwatered because I was so nervous about over watering!

[quiltergal]

I think when bark gets too dry it takes daily watering to get it back to where it should be. It's like repotting in bark that hasn't been presoaked for 24 hrs. I think if you continue with the daily watering it might go the other direction and get too soggy. I think Cheryl's advice is good. Try the bamboo skewer test.

[Becca]

Originally Posted by quiltingwacko

If they are brown, water.

I thought that if roots are supposed to be white when dry?

I use moss as well with my phals, but I usually mix it with something (either a mix for phals from repotme.com or I mix primeagra in with it) to allow it to dry faster or I have problems with the roots rotting. A few I have even repotted in fresh moss since the last repotting 6 months ago and the fresh moss seems to dry out faster.....I am wondering if the other batch of moss I used was as not of good of quality...it just seemed to hold water to long I agree with others, if you continue daily water with the bark, you may have more problems down the road!

[hollylee]

Ok good advice guys!

Maybe i will ween myself off of daily watering

I happen to have some chopsticks lying around.

[SP2340]

I had bad luck in the past w/ moss but recently I tried it again in a small backet w/ lots of air flow and It dries out in just two days. The plant is happy cause after just 2 weeks there's new root growth.