Yesterday's haul!

[Blueszz]

Yesterday I visited my parents and afterwards I went to 2 small local plant shops. You'll never know what you find, isn't it? Actually, I didn't plan to buy orchids (hmmm, why didn't I want to leave without purse? ). OK, I didn't want to buy *3* orchids!

I had problems choosing as they had so manny hybrids I liked! But it turned out better. One of the hybrids is a primary hybrid between Phal. schilleriana and Phal. stuartiana.

Here she is!








She is my first mottled leafed Phal... and what've read it should be scented. Couldn't detect any smell yet. It's offical name is Phal. Wiganiae.

Now imagine, there is a rack with orchids and you can't choose? Buy 1 or 2?

It didn't took long to realize Phal. Wiganiae needed some company and I allowed this baby to jump in my basket. A beautiful NOID.



And there was that sad looking purple Phal, with small to medium flowers, sitting in very dry moss... wait... those flowers are too cute, despite it's another purple Phal. Hmmm, small gracious flowers, on a branching stem... only Euro 4.95

And it jumped in my basket too... that makes three - and I don't know what would have happened if I was able to bike with 4 orchids ;-)



So, now I feel bad because I told myself not to buy more orchids before I finished my artificial light project

After I came home I had to check the roots and the medium they were potted in. At least one was in 100% moss. Those roots were not very good, but also not too bad... The other two orchids had an amazingly good root system. I had even to up-pot one of them. It had so many roots that it pushed itself out of the pot, like Cym's can do.

And here they are, drying up side down, after I cleaned up the roots. I had to share this picture because I thought it's too funny.
Not only I dry my laundry on a rack sometimes to increase humidity , I also use a rack to dry orchids




Nicole

[tuvoc]

Nice bunch. I really like the foliage on the first one. I've never heard of the hanging thing, but if it works for you, why not.

Kim

[camille1585]

That last pic is too funny! At least you don't risk breaking off buds while they dry!

[Blueszz]

Originally Posted by camille1585

That last pic is too funny! At least you don't risk breaking off buds while they dry!

And also I couldn't damage growing root tips this way, but you are right... too funny and kind of weird also, but it worked. To be honest it is easier to hang them this way than laying them flat, because you risk damaging roots/flowers/buds and you don't need as much space!

Nicole
PS did you see the roots from the left one? That all fitted in a 8 cm pot. On the right is the Wiganiae and it has even more roots (though not visible).

[camille1585]

In an 8cm pot? WOW! How did it fit??

I went to the garden center, and their orchid area was almost empty. There was some orchids from De Vreede though so hopefully they will get more, including Wiganiae! They said that they are expecting a shipment of orchids either today, tomorrow or Thursday. Looks like i'm going back there tomorrow!

[seamonkey]

Ooooh, I'm experiencing orchid envy. Three new babies at once, what a lucky momma!

[Blueszz]

Originally Posted by seamonkey

Ooooh, I'm experiencing orchid envy. Three new babies at once, what a lucky momma!

Thanks seamonkey...
I'm very happy with my new purchases!

[Blueszz]

Originally Posted by camille1585

In an 8cm pot? WOW! How did it fit??

I went to the garden center, and their orchid area was almost empty. There was some orchids from De Vreede though so hopefully they will get more, including Wiganiae! They said that they are expecting a shipment of orchids either today, tomorrow or Thursday. Looks like i'm going back there tomorrow!

I didn't disturb the roots as you can see. I used some paper around the roots and held the orchid up side down, and filled the center of the roots with my orchid mix. Then slided the pot over the rootball and turned the thing back to a normal position. Tapping an shaking the pot and adding some mix on top several times, working some mix down with my fingers did the trick.

But for the Wiganiae it wasn't that simple and I decided to up-pot it to 10 cm without disturbing the roots. Not easy also but tapping and shaking the pot, using my fingers to push some mix down went fairly well.

I didn't have a 10 cm clear pot, so I used a white one, but I feel confident enough to take care of it without being able to see the roots. I've read that Phal. schilleriana is prone to root rot and that some advise to repot it every year. I'll use a skewer to be sure it's dry enough when I water it and also made sure the orchid mix is very loose in the pot. Should work, I hope

Nicole

[Cookiemonster]

Those phals look great Nicole, I like the one with mottled leaves- why you hanging em upside down? lol Looks like some type of torture hehe

[Blueszz]

Thanks cookie.
I hang them up side down because I got a lot of water in between the leaves and the crown (I washed the leaves too with plain water to get rid of some webbing - no mites seen). Before I could pot them up I had to clean my kitchen (Oh boy, what a mess) so I thought this was an excellent way to drain the water from in between the leaves after I removed the majority of water with some tissue's. (actually, with toilet paper, but who cares )

Nicole