Beautiful new Phal. Big medium problem, help!!!! - Orchid Board

SamanthaBrooke · #1 03-31-2010, 03:55 PM

Hi again, just bought my new phal. Hybrid which I will post photos of later when my internet is back up and I'm not using my iPhone. I bought her Monday and it seems that the bersery really doesn't know how to water these plants because when I got home I felt down into the moss and it is completly water logged and has I bad smell of mold, there was no hole for drainage so the first thing I did was have my husband drill a nice wide hole for drainage but my concern is root rot and the moss smells moldy, I could repot but there are 6 new blossoms that haven't opened yet and I fear if I repot they won't bloom and I fear if I DONT repot my new beauty will get root rot and die.

What should I do???

Thanks,
Samantha

SamanthaBrooke · #2 03-31-2010, 03:57 PM

Nursery**

Tropicgirl · #3 03-31-2010, 04:00 PM

I have heard that phals are very sturdy and can be repotted even when in bloom without any side effects. Regardless, I would repot now if the moss smells bad, you may find that the roots on you phal might be starting to rot.

Zoi2 · #4 03-31-2010, 04:01 PM

You can repot it, just be careful with the flower spike.
Joann

jkofferdahl · #5 03-31-2010, 04:09 PM

Samantha, I've repotted Phals in bloom without losing a petal. But I think it's a lot more important to consider the long-term life of the plant, so even if you lose a few, or even all, of the flowers, that loss is nothing compared to the plant becoming sick and possibly dying. Keeping the plant healthy will ensure you of many years to come of that flower! I would repot it right away, trimming away any rotted roots.

SamanthaBrooke · #6 03-31-2010, 04:43 PM

Okay, thank you very much all of you for the advice, I will repot and trim any rotted roots, I really don't want another sick plant shock brings another question lol. I had bought a very sick phal month ago with 70% root rot, repotted and trimmed off all the bad roots but I was wondering if I should prun it back now? "she" has lost all of her flowers now and has no new blossoms.

Thanks again,
Samantha

SamanthaBrooke · #7 03-31-2010, 04:48 PM

Ohh also, sorry filled with questions. When I repot my new phal I use medium bark mix when should I water "her" and should I use fertilized water when I do?

jkofferdahl · #8 03-31-2010, 04:59 PM

Before you repot, soak the bark is water for 24 hours. Otherwise, the bark has a tough time absorbing water. Once repotted, you'll need to watch the plant to see when she needs to be watered. A lot of factors enter in, so just watch for it to JUST dry out. I would wait a few watering cycles before using fertilizer.

SamanthaBrooke · #9 03-31-2010, 05:01 PM

Okay great!

Thank you.

SamanthaBrooke · #10 03-31-2010, 05:35 PM

Oh and my phal I have to repot is actually 2 plants in one, should I separate? Ty