Help with Phalaenopsis equestris var alba!

[fieldsofgold]

Hi everyone! Orchidboard is awesome! I've been reading through the posts through and through -- there's so much information!!

I purchased a Phalaenopsis equestris var alba because of its "ever-blooming" flowers and its mercy on beginners like me

I repotted it in a 4 1/2 in container with slits for easier breathing. In addition I added styrofoam on the bottom for better drainage. It was in sphagnum moss but I repotted it in Better-Gro Bark Orchid Mix (bark, charcoal, and perlite). Bark was soaked for 24 hours in Super Thrive. Some of the sphagnum moss was used to cover the top layer to keep exposed roots moist.

I've had problems with my phals being repotted from straight sphagnum moss to bark. Their roots would turn brown and shrivel immediately!

To solve the problem I thought of putting the pot in a globe jar, sitting on its lips (see picture). I also added some water in the jar to help with humidity; the pot doesn't sit on the water. Hopefully this setup will keep the roots healthy while they're transitioning to bark.

My question:

Is this a good setup and will it work on the long run?

**The setup was inspired by reading posts of some OB members hanging their vandas in jars**

Thank you!

[whygreenberg]

I don't know, but it's possible that you're shooting yourself in the foot a little bit. The glass jar will certainly keep humidity up inside of it. But, the slits in the pot are there to allow air to the roots, and you may be keeping enough air transfer from happening by closing it up that way.

Also, I think that often when you put roots into a new medium different from what they were used to, they can display their displeasure. However, if all the conditions are right, you should get new root growth.

Did you soak your bark mix for a good 24 hours before repotting? If not, it could be too that the roots have dried out more than they should/are used to.

[jrhennek]

The key to the re-potting is to do it at the proper time. That is when you start too see new root growth (root tips turning bright green )and about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. This is the best time for re-potting because the roots are in there active growth and will supply water and nutrients to the plant faster.

Jayme

[quiltergal]

Good idea in principal, but in practice I think Yvan is right. Phals like a lot of air in their root zone. You might have to water a little more often initially with new bark as it doesn't retain as much moisture as older bark does. I'd also remove some of the sphag. It's up pretty high around the plant. You don't want to start rot.

I have an equestris in the same exact pot and it's doing great. They really do never stop blooming. I cut off a 2 year old spike last week and it's already sending up a new one. Mine is busting out of it's pot. There are roots everywhere.

[fieldsofgold]

Thanks Yvan, Jayme, and Terri for the advice

I soaked the bark mix for 48 hours. From my experience of potting 3 Phals so far, I think <24 hours is way too short for the barks to open its pores and absorb water because my other3 Phals had their roots withered. In contrast, the Phal equestris is doing wonderful in its new medium -- roots intact and no shriveled leaves except 4 bud blasts. The jar has retired

I believe the equestris is doing better than the other phals because I received it with 2 new root growths and I sprayed it with water everyday (instead of holding off water for a week).

It's refreshing to see it healthy compared to my other 3 phals that are in the ICU related to underwatering, and bark media soaked <48 hours. Ahh well: lesson learned!

Thanks again you guys OB rocks!

[boytjie]

I'd agree with others on here: the sphag looks kinda high around the bottom of the plant. You might be inviting rot because of the constant moisture. I'd maybe take some of it out. On the plus side, I can concur that these are really easy plants. My equestris alba was a keiki purchased from eBay, and I thought I'd be waiting ages for it to bloom; it put out a spike two months after I got it, and it hasn't stopped flowering since, going on nine months now.

[fieldsofgold]

Originally Posted by boytjie

. My equestris alba was a keiki purchased from eBay, and I thought I'd be waiting ages for it to bloom; it put out a spike two months after I got it, and it hasn't stopped flowering since, going on nine months now.

9 months? i'm hoping this baby will thrive under my care About the sphag, I removed most of it with only a thin layer across the bark medium. I noticed the sphag is very helpful with new bark as well to retain the moisture from evaporating too quickly.

[DTEguy]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

I have an equestris in the same exact pot and it's doing great. They really do never stop blooming. I cut off a 2 year old spike last week and it's already sending up a new one. Mine is busting out of it's pot. There are roots everywhere.

It was blooming from the same spike for two years??

Do all equestris do this or just this variant?

[Bud]

That set-up is confusing me...are you aiming for vase culture or is it the principle of a humidity tray?

Phals do not need to be evenly moist...it should be allowed to dry out and then you water it.
I would do a set up like that for Masdevalias.

Make a decision with your media mix...either do a coarse loose bark combination media or do a sphagnum moss media....or do a mixture of bark and moss...because bark at the bottom and moss on top will definitely confuse your plant

[nenella]

I think your system could work but as already said above Pull the plant up out of the sphag If you leave it like that you will very probably rot the leaves and maybe the stem (I have been through this) Also I suggest you use a skewer to gage when to water.