Advice on my Mother-in-Law's Phal

[RosieC]

Just under two years ago I bought my Mother-in-Law a Phal, I had only just started to get interested in orchids myself and just thought it would make a good present.

Anyway I brought it back with me the other day to repot for her and I'm due to give it back to her when I see her on Christmas Day. Obviously I want to do the best job I can and give her the best advice I can.

I repotted it today, but my questions relate to it's general health, and really I just want to check that what I am thinking is correct.

First off most of the leaves are cracked like these two. My thought is dehydration, she is likely to underwater as she only water's most house plants ocasionally and has been warned off over-watering orchids. She has an outer decorative pot (with a clear plastic inner pot) which is shaped to ensure it's always well drained. Should I advise she tries to water more often. Do you think I'm right or could there be some other cause.



There appears to be brown residue on the roots. When I rinced them I noticed it colouring the water and starting to rub off. I think it could be iron deposites from the water. Some areas around here have a high level in the tap water. Water filters sold here use charcoal and remove some of this so I think I should advise she uses filtered water. What do you think?

Overall the plant seems healthy and the leaves seem strong. The roots are not the best I've seen but also no where near the worst. There were some dried ones I have cut off but no rotten ones.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Easy one first:

1. Filtered water - can't go wrong with this idea.

2. The leaves don't look dehydrated to me. Dehydration shows up on the leaves by being soft, limp, and wrinkled. Roots would also be wrinkled and dry.

3. Don't worry about the cracks. It might be a humidity thing, idk. May be a genetic defect (from cloning)???

4. I hesitate to advise watering more often. I don't know her watering regimen.

[pbphut]

I agree with King. The plant looks quite healthy to me, even with some of the darker roots. I have had some of my leaves crack but it doesn't seem to negatively impact the plant. As far as the watering goes, you might want to consider semi-hydroponic culture. I switched over several months ago and my Phals seem to love it. There is a good forum on this board dedicated to S/H culture if you're interested. By going to S/H, I really reduced the amount of time that I had to spend in watering my plants. All mine are grown indoors and all watering was done by hand. Anyway, good luck but I think you'll be alright.

[orchidsamore]

First rule of orchids is that if it doing well do not change the care.

First rule of Mother in laws is do not get in the middle. If you change anything and it dies you will never hear the end of it.

Re-pot it in the same mix it had before and return it.

It has nice new roots growing and the old roots will die at their own pace. It has never lost an older bottom leaf. That is a strong fact in its favor.

[RosieC]

Thanks everyone.

Jerry, I think your advise about mother-in-laws is just right She did say... 'If it dies don't worry... I'll just blame you', but she had a big grin on her face.

Anyway it was in bark and because it's been used to quite compacted bark I decided to use small/medium grade so there are not too many big voids.

It does look healthy and while there were some dried roots there were a lot which looked fine (those in the pic). The leaves are very firm with no sign of wrinkling, just the splits.

I think humidity could be the key, but I think I will tell her to just carry on how she has been looking after it.

I've bought her a new one for Christmas but the new one is a Ludisia. I've only recently got one myself but I've been told they are easy to care for so hopefully it will do well for her.

[camille1585]

I don't think the cracks are due to lack of water. I left some phals here in france in the care of my sister, who waters them on an afterthought. The poor things are always underwatered and semi wrinkled and there are no cracks in the leaves.

I would just tell your MIL to continue exactly as she's been doing, it seems to work well. If it aint broke, don't fix it!