Blue Phal Violacea - Orchid Board

Maya Fechtberg · #1 11-30-2008, 01:42 AM

I have got a new problem maker... blue phal violacea 6-8cm pot.
please give me directions what to do to make it live.
I have already made some holes in the pot, so that some air circulation would appear.
I have placed it on a west side window shelf. As fas as I am a beginner, I haven't got any lamps for my phals yet.
I need help, what should I do?
It has roots, may be like 7 cm long, but they are so thin, healthy though.
I also want to point that I won't be able to mount it, so it will continue to grow in plastic pot.
I have my all phas in small apartment on a window shelfs, the room temperature is a about 25 degrees C

I would be very thankful for any help and directions

Brooke · #2 11-30-2008, 08:47 AM

You give a Phal. violacea the same culture as any phal. They are summer bloomers and bloom when the temps go up. They prefer the night time temps to be 65 and above - sorry I can't do the degrees in C. They will be fine in 60 degree temps but the growth will slow down.

The small thin roots are normal on a seedling. The future roots will get bigger as they age. I don't know where you live but a western window in the northern hemisphere should be fine.

Once it blooms, don't cut the spike off unless it turns yellow/brown. They rebloom for years off of old and new spikes.

Here is one of my blue vios - they are a very rewarding phal.

Brooke

chilover · #3 11-30-2008, 08:53 AM

Hi,
I also have the same phal and have had it for about five years now. I treat it basically like all my others, regular room temp that I'm comfortable in. I keep all my phals in either an east or west window, I live in Michigan. None of my phals are under lights, only my other orchids. I water when the media gets dry, I tend to be an under waterer so most of my phals are potted in spaghum moss and I've had really good luck with it as a media, but that's a personal preference.

Good luck,
Cathy

Ray · #4 11-30-2008, 09:12 AM

In general, violaceas will do better if grown quite warm.

camille1585 · #5 12-01-2008, 10:45 AM

If you can grow and bloom your other phals successfully, you should be fine with this one. 25°C is quite warm (too warm for me!), it should like it. I can imagine in Estonia that light might be a problem in the winter, even in a south facing window. You must not have very many hours of daylight at this time of year!

Maya Fechtberg · #6 12-01-2008, 12:16 PM

Thhe thing is that it is so so small... may be it needs more or moisture or something... may be I should place it in somekind of flask?
I just feel strange that the leaves are so thin and since te plant is the in the plastic pot with bark, the plant doesn't stand still...it is easy to move inside the pot...
help me please, I don't want the flower to die...

Camille...sun or light like daylight are things that hardly seen here at any time of year...

Brooke, gorgeous...

Margit · #7 12-01-2008, 03:53 PM

Hello Maya,

I don't think I would enclose the plant in a flask - I believe that that would promote rot due to lack of air circulation.

My recommendation would be to observe it and water only when the media has had a chance to dry out. I like to check mine by weight. A dry pot is quite a bit lighter than a wet pot.
When lifting the pot take care not to disturb the plant too much, for frequent movement of the plant in the media can damage new root growth.

So my recommendation would be to sit back and observe.

Enjoy your new Orchid baby

Margit

Jorch · #8 12-01-2008, 03:56 PM

How large are the bark pieces? you said the pot is 6-8 cm, then how large is the plant?? Also, how close is the plant to the window? Although your room temperature might be warm, the window sill might be somewhat cooler especially in winter if you have a single-pane window or cold drafts.

Young violaceas seedling needs warmer temperature and higher humidity than other phals to thrive. Light is not as big an issue. For me, my violaceas seedlings love being pot-bound with sphagnum moss, no holes in the pot.

Maya Fechtberg · #9 12-02-2008, 08:41 AM

the plant is very small, the leaves are about 5cm long.
I suppose you might be right, Jorch, it is paced on a window shelf and sometimes I do open the window. I just thought it needs a lot of light, and a window shelf is the best place then.
I am kind of affraid to put it in sphagnum moss... I water it every 3 days. the bark is medium size...

camille1585 · #10 12-02-2008, 08:53 AM

Don't worry too much about your plant, orchids are hardier than we think!

To reassure me that the conditions on my windowsill are good for my orchids, I hung up a thermometer and a hygrometer. In the winter my windowsill is cooler than the rest of the room, but only about 2-3°C less since I leave the curtains open. With the curtains closed the space where the orchids are is about 5-6°C less than the room. So I never close the curtains, and never open that window either.
To raise the humidity a bit around the plant, you can put it on a tray with pebbles and water making sure that the base of the pot does not touch the water. Also try to tuck it between other plants, it will benefit from slightly higher humidity.

Jorch, aren't you afraid of rot if you have plants in sphag with no holes in the pots? Already sphag is not the easiest to work with for a lot of people, and a holeless pot on top of that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen if I tried it.