Sphag 'n' Bag style enviroment causing Mold - help

[RosieC]

First I should say that my Phal is not actually in Sphag 'n' bag. It is too big to properly go in a bag so I've adapted the technique based on my understanding of the principles.

The phal is resting over a ceramic pot which usually goes outside it's clear plastic pot. The large leaves are resting on the edges of the pot and the small bits of roots are hanging loose down into the pot. There is water in the bottom of the pot well out of reach of the small roots.

Now it has been this way a couple of months and I daily mist the roots and have kept it alive that way. But I really want to raise the humidity because some of it's leaves are wrinkled and one is yellow and about to drop off. Also the small stub roots are not actually growing and I need to encourage some root growth.

I have tried a few times to put a bag over the top of the whole setup. When I do this one of the leaves which is wrinkled and weak (but not yellow) get's noticably stronger overnight

(I have to use two food bags, slit down the side then taped together to fit over the large leaves.)

but each time I have done this I have noticed white filaments of mold growth on it the next day. (on the roots and base of the plant)

The first time this happened I cleaned the plant (listerine and cinnomon) but did not think to clean the pot or change the bag. Next time it came back I cleaned the plant again, cleaned the pot in soapy water and got new bags. It came back again!

I then cleaned everything again and left it without a bag for a couple of weeks (still spraying the root stubs regularly)... no mold...

Yesterday I put a bag over it again (a new couple of bags taped together), this morning...

stronger leaves... but mold

The plant seems to be liking the bag, because it's leaves get stronger when the bag is keeping in the humidity. But I get the mold every time I do this!

What can I do? Please

[Mothra79]

It looks like the bag might be partway sealed on the bottom? I would leave that open and loosely tent the bag around the plant, maybe even cut some holes in the bag to allow for more airflow.

[RosieC]

Thank's Mothra, I'll give that a try. Will it still keep the humidity high enough if it has holes in?

[RosieC]

Oh, and yes it is sealed along most of the bottom... I thought that would help raise the humidity but I can easily open that if it would be better.

[Mothra79]

Perhaps try just leaving the bottom open first, and see if that works. And if you still have mold problems, I'd cut a couple of small holes in it. That's what I did when I used that method, and my phal still ended up recovering nicely. I also had my phal on a humidity tray made with a pie plate and gravel, and that raised the humidity as well.

[RosieC]

Ok I'll try it with the bottom of the bag open and keep a careful eye on it to see how it goes.