Phalaenopsis Question

[mmorehead]

Hey All ~

I am new to orchids and have become obsessed.

I purchased two beatiful phals from a grocery store of all places, and they are in some sort of moss, perhaps spag... They are blooming very nicely.

I watered them for the first time yesterday, and noticed today that the moss is still very damp. From what I've read, the roots can experience rotting from sitting in water. Will this occur if the moss is extremely damp, or am I just being overly paranoid? I know this may seem basic, but I want to give them the best care possible.

Also, I have another phal that just lost its blooms, and I noticed today that a leaf on the very bottom has turned yellow. Is this cause for alarm?

Lastly, I purchased a couple of bags of Miracle Grow's Orchid Potting Mix. Was this a wise choice for when it's time to replant, or is there something better I should use?

Thank you for taking the time to listen to a beginner. Any advice would be most greatly appreicated. Thanks all!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The roots on your Phal can still rot in moss that stays too wet over a long period of time. Most people (including me) will advise not to use sphagnum moss as a potting media for Phals because of this.

Potting media of choice is large grade orchid bark. So as long as your miracle grow orchid mix is large grade bark, you're okay. The large grade wood chips provides a substrate for the orchid roots to grab onto but also provide enough air for the roots to breathe.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

There's a Phalaeopsis book by Steven A. Frowine you might enjoy reading. Check it out.

[Zoi2]

Welcome to the OB!
Sphag does have a tendency to stay wet. What kind of pots are your phals in? Is there any drainage?
A bottom leaf turning yellow is normal. Leave it alone and it will just fall off, you don't need to cut it.
The potting mix you purchased is fine.
Joann

[mmorehead]

Thank you for such a prompt reply King... I'm surfing Amazon right now for the book. Thanks for that recommendation.

The phals in spaghmum are currently in bloom, so would it be safe to go ahead and repot them with a large grade bark, or should I wait until they finish flowering?

Thanks again for your help!! I really appreciate it!

[Amanda L]

Welcome to the Orchid Board and the wonderful, crazy, obsessive world of orchid growing!!

I cannot grow in moss, at all. It works for some people, but just not for me. I have also found that the phals I have bought from the grocery store are way too compacted in the moss they are in and can't breath.
You did just fine with the potting mix, it's the first one I ever bought.
The leaf turning yellow is normal, older leaves turn yellow and fall off. You don't have to do anything to it, just let it do it's thing. I also recommend that you get an orchid fertilizer and use it weakly/weekly. Run unfertilized water through the pot every month or so, to keep any build up from occurring.

When I re-pot I put a small amount of potting media in the bottom of the pot, place the orchid inside the pot and start to slowly fill the pot with the media, tapping it on the counter to help it settle a bit around the roots. If you soak the potting media 24 hours before you re-pot that helps. Good Luck and let us know how everything turns out.

[mmorehead]

Joann,

Yes, they are currently in 8 inch plastic pots, each containing 8 drain holes in the bottom. I checked on them again a little while ago, and the sphagmum is still very damp after yesterday's watering.

Thank you so much for your help and feedback. It really means a lot! I love these orchids, and I want to make sure I do everything correctly.

[mmorehead]

Amanda,
Thank you so much for your reply. I really appreciate your help. Would it be safe to go ahead and repot them in the new media, even though they are flowering? Or should I hold off until the blooms fall off?

Thanks again!!

[Mastiff]

You should try to check the roots in the pot. If they are ok (green or white and plumpy) you could wait to re-pot (but wait watering until the sphang is very dry, remember that it dries quickly in the upper part of the pot, so check what happen in the bottom). If there is some rot, go and re-pot it. Once I waited to long with my white phal and when I repotted it there was a lot to cut off.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by mmorehead

Lastly, I purchased a couple of bags of Miracle Grow's Orchid Potting Mix. Was this a wise choice for when it's time to replant, or is there something better I should use?

I've heard bad things about Miracle Grow's Orchid Potting Mix from others here on Orchid Board.

I've not tried it myself, but people have said it's too broken down, like soil with some lumps of bark, rather than actual lumps of bark like it should be.

Others have obviously got on well with it though, so if some of it is broken down just make sure you use the larger pieces.