New at this...

[mujoo]

Hi! I just got a Phalaenopsis Orchid less than a week ago and I was just wondering if anyone would like to give me any tips. I also have a few questions such as: What kind of Orchid Food I should give it when it is blooming,how much sun,and how much do I water it?
The other thing is I noticed that the tips of one of the leaves is turning a light green/yellow color. Should I be concerned?

[Ranchnanny]

Welcome to the OB.... Could you post a photo of the entire plant? What is it potted in right now? Folks will be better able to help with your questions if they can see the whole orchid plant.

Sheridan

[Judi]

Welcome to OB mujoo! There is a lot of good info on the web including AOS | Phalaenopsis and Phalaenopsis Care As for the leaf color, it doesn't look too bad in the picture. What is the phal planted in? Is the medium soggy wet? Does the pot have good drainage? Do you have any idea if the roots are good or soft and mushy? It might be a good idea to check the roots to make sure they aren't rotting.

[mujoo]

okay thanks four all your help! The pot it is in has no drainage. I havent watered it yet but when i do i will put it in a pot with drainage in it. Is that okay?Roots don't look very good kind of shrively... I'm scared Can I save it?

If there is something wrong explain it to me very simply because I don't know much about orchids. Again thanks!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Orchid fertilizer:

Non-urea based. Preferably ammonia or nitrate based.

N-P-K, something around 20-20-20, doesn't have to be exact. Actually you most likely won't find a fertilizer that's exactly 20-20-20. I say it so people have a ballpark idea of what they should be looking for.

Potting media:

Bark, maybe with a thin top dressing of moss if the humidity is low.

If humidity is severely low, try s/h (semi-hydroponics).

Light is bright shade.

Humidity of 60% - 80% is sufficient. Higher humidity is fine.

Roots photosynthesize. Clear plastic pots help with this and you can see what's happening with the roots.

Most evergreen Phal species grow naturally on trees with little to no moss in the mid to lowland swamp forests of tropical southeast Asia or on trees near streams or rivers. They're particularly found in places like Malaysia, the Phillipines, and Indonesia (Taiwan as well).

Man-made hybrids have similar traits to their species counterparts, but can be a bit more forgiving.

Here are some pics of them growing in the wild that someone from Flickr took:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/...4976e2c0_m.jpg

Google Image Result for http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/4097626519_bc4976e2c0_m.jpg

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Roots don't look good, probably because they were grown in very compacted moss and watered like no other (usually before they got to you).

[Ranchnanny]

Mujoo, you should probably repot your orchid in medium bark. I see in the photo that it is packed in moss which holds water to much water with little air to flow through. The roots must have some air to grow well. Make sure your pot has drainage on the bottom. Remove your orchid from the pot its in now and remove all the moss and rinse the roots. Cut any mushy or dead roots off. Don't repot it into to big a pot maybe similar in size or a bit larger. You can soak the bark before you use it then water at least once a week. Most of my phals are in s/h medium but a few are in bark. Use the fertilizer you choose at 1/4 strength per gallon and water weekly weakly.
I would choose clear plastic pots so you can keep an eye on the roots and see when the medium is getting dry.

Good Luck

Sheridan

[mujoo]

Thank you So Much for your help! I will probably be back with more Questions soon. Do I have to repot is ASAP I don't have the Right stuff to pot it in?

[Ranchnanny]

Just don't water if the moss is still very wet. You might check the roots. Repot as soon as you are able just keep in mind the moss.

Sheridan

[nutgirl]

Be very careful if you choose to leave it in the existing pot. You would not believe how tightly packed those plants can be in the moss. There is no way for the moss to dry or drain.

I would pull some of that moss away from the base of the plant for more circulation and better yet, slide the plant out and loosen up the roots.
I've done that if I couldn't repot right away.

Repot loosely back in the moss and water carefully until you can change to something else.

Maureen