My new orchid - I'm an addict

[butterfly79]

Good Morning All,

So I went out yesterday and ended up getting a new orchid. She's real pretty. She was planted in tight sphag that was soaked so I decided to repot. The roots looked really good and I hope I did a good job with repotting.

I used Fafard Orchid professional mix, which is coconut husk, bark and limestone. It's the best I can get locally.

I took some pics, anyone think it's ok?

Oh ya, the bark seems dry to the touch this morning?

[Rosiefuture]

She is lovely and the roots look good to me. A lot of the noid Phals I've bought have had really bad roots but I haven't lost any yet.

Marion

[Cym Ladye]

Butterfly,

Immediately after repotting in a new mix with bark, it is normal for it to feel dry to the touch 24 hours later but it still will be moist in the pot. Gage the wetness by the lift method, i.e. how heavy does it feel after watering and draining and how heavy does it feel a few days later. Phals like moisture and humidity but do not want to stay saturated or be kept in a full water saucer.

Although your potting looks fine, I would be concerned that you left not only one bloom spike but two on the plant. Generally it is best to let a plant bloom out most of its flowers before repotting and then remove these inflorescences before repotting. The poor plant is trying to re-establish its root system while trying to hold onto the blooms. It is a little like starving a pregnant child. Your roots look strong but I would definitely remove at least one of the spikes if not both, to assure good new growth. Your plant will probably initiate a new bloom spike within a few months.

By the way, your phal is technically not a "she" nor a "he" but an "it". Orchids can not only set seed but can pollinate other orchids of their genus. Just your trivia for the day.

CL

[trdyl]

Good for you by going a head and repotting. So many people don't when they really should. Looks like you did a great job. I have repotted several Phals in bloom and they did not miss a beat. Some did show a slight retarting of folwering but most did not.

[butterfly79]

Thank you so much. I apologize, it's habit calling something she, like a car.

So which is better, keeping the flowers or cutting off the spike? i never had to cut any roots, they were all very good.

The black area around the roots, that's not crown rot is it?

That is a wonderful things to do tell if I need to rewater. I also heard when the roots look silvery is a good way to tell.

Do you prefer bark mix or sphag?

thank you for the help.

[Zoi2]

Your phal is very pretty and your repot job looks good. Just monitor the plant, if it looks like it's being distressed, you can cut the flower spike. The black area is not crown rot, but it was probably wet from the sphag for too long. I usually spray brown listerine on those areas. You're correct, watch the roots, when they turn silvery white it's time to water.
Joann

[butterfly79]

is there anything in particular to watch for distress?

How did you all learn what to use to help?
Epsom Salts
Liquid Seaweed
cinnamon
mouthwash
rubbing alcohol

I have not read anything besides cinnamon

[Zoi2]

Originally Posted by butterfly79

is there anything in particular to watch for distress?

You will be able to tell if your plant doesn't look right-- Floopy leaves, wrinkled leaves, flowers drop early.

Originally Posted by butterfly79

How did you all learn what to use to help?
Epsom Salts
Liquid Seaweed
cinnamon
mouthwash
rubbing alcohol
I have not read anything besides cinnamon

I learned by trial and error, friends and the OB. Use what works best for you and your growing conditions.
Joann

[butterfly79]

thanks so much. i already know that cinnamon is really good to put on wounds. i have my cinnamon ready.
I prefer natural products rather than chemicals.

[Judi]

Did you soak the planting medium before repotting? New medium dries out sooner than old medium and certainly sooner than sphag. I have better luck with bark mix, but I do soak probably overnight before repotting. I find that it helps me be able to keep the medium from drying out too fast. I too have repoted many a phal in bloom as soon as I got it home because most often they are tightly packed in wet moss. I have never had a problem with the flowers falling off or the plant showing distress. The only time I had to nurse a phal back to health was if the roots were in bad shape when I repotted. The roots of your phal look just fine, I think it should adjust OK. I have sprayed Listerine on the roots and rinsed after a while as a preventative when I repot, and I have used peroxide if I thought there was the slightest chance of rot. There is a lot of info on OB for various uses of household items. There is also good info at First Rays' Home Remedies