please help with 1st orchid

[kallisonmk]

Originally Posted by CTB

It is doing fine,I can't see a problem. As long as it has green roots you are fine. Can't tell what you have it potted up in, it should be in bark and not spag moss that they usually come in. You may have to repot, but in bark chips you won't be able to overwater so easily.

Try the stick test( like cake testing) put a pencil in the media and see if it comes out moist, if so then don't no water, if it's dry, water. Be sure pot has drain holes in it.
Water should run right through.

Welcome to the Orchid Board. You can cut off brown old flower stocks, if they are still green just cut in half, may bloom again.

I was in the process of re-potting mine and one is in spag moss and it looks very healthy, so instead of a total re-pot I did what the call 'Dropping On'. This is where you remove a little of the original medium (spag moss) and place in a new pot and fill with the new medium.
Are you suggesting to the poster to not use spag moss due to watering habits or do you have another reason.
Poster...Your orchid looks beautiful. It is funny because so many people think the plant is dead when the flowers fall. That's when you can get them for like $3 each. That's a big problem for me because I'm addicted. I think I have 30 now and I have order 6 more and looking at 4 others. I just get a mini or two then hubby thinks it ok. LOL

[RosieC]

Hi Lisa and welcome to Orchid Board.

As everyone else has said your plant is looking good, and you've had some really good advice above. Just a couple of things I want to add.

Most big phals (like yours) in the UK are actually sold in Bark, unlike in the USA where moss is used more commonly. Yours looks to me like it's in bark. (Mini's on the other hand seem to be sold in moss). I find you don't need to re-pot straight away like you would if they were in moss. I often leave mine several months before repotting.

However, you had said it was still damp in the middle after a month. That seems a very long time. I like mine to dry withing a week or two at the most. I'll sometimes re-pot into a more airy medium to reduce that.

When you water make sure you use plenty of water and the visible roots turn green (usually a darker green than the growing tips). Another way to judge when to water again is to watch for when they turn silvery like in your pictures right down to the bottom. That's one advantage of a clear pot. As has already been mentioned you want to ensure it's not left standing with water in the pot after you've watered it.

Be careful about repotting in bark from a local store. I've not had much luck with the stuff local to me and it actually almost killed three of my Phals that I put in it. Make sure whatever you use is very dry in the bag and mostly lumps not soil like. Make sure it doesn't smell 'off' before you use it. It's best to soak it 24 hours before use (so it's wet when you use it, even though it should be very dry when bought). I can recomend a UK based website you can buy medium from if your are interested, but it can be more expensive with shipping. I find it worth it because my plants like it an the quality is great.

[Judy 1990]

hi thanks for reply i just took plant out of container to have a proper look at the roots at the bottom.
all roots at the bottom are all mushy and brown so iam going io cut them .but there are some new growth roots shoots coming from under leaves and the roots on top are a off green colour with a shiny green tip sore there active and the bark is turning in to soil sso i might have to re plant what ferterlizer can i use?

[Judy 1990]

hi roes can you give me the website please thanks for the meadium

[Judy 1990]

b&q should sell bark mix

[Triffid]

Hello and Welcome to the wonder world of OB

Here's some UK links you may find useful.

Orchid Accessories

BOGA Links

Welcome to Easy Orchids

All sites above have Info and useful links to boot

Be careful of what fertilizer you use as some may not be good for Orchids. I did find in my local Booths market a bottle of Baby Bio Orchid food, Pink Bottle, though it does say on the label on to use when plants are actively growing cost about £2.

A rule of thumb to remember with fertilizer is "Weakly Weekly", with a Flush watering once in a while if/when required.

B&Q do sell Bark mix, but it may not be suitable. Usually when I've perused a B&Q the Bark is on the large and seems to be more for the Garden than pots. May be wrong though! I did use it myself, because I had no other option and soon changed when I got the chance. The difference was noticeable!

Hope that helps a little and once again
to the OB

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by lisaelaine1980@hotmail.co

hi roes can you give me the website please thanks for the medium

The website I use is Orchid Accessories.

He is very helpful and knowledgeable if you need help working out what to buy. I've called him a couple of times for help.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by lisaelaine1980@hotmail.co

b&q should sell bark mix

I think they do. I've never tried the stuff they sell.

One note, is that people on here have previously had problems with 'MiracleGrow' mix so if that's what they stock I would avoid it (I think it's too soil like from what I've read).

[Judy 1990]

i looked at the links u sent me and they were usefull iam going to get the bark mix from that site and i cut the roots down after i read that link it showerd me step by step
thanks for your info