The Phal abuse ends here.

[silken]

Rowangreen, it sounds like you found some solid info. Full spectrum lights (around 6500k) are the best and fluorescent or high sodium etc would be better than an incandescent bulb. Likely a couple regular light bulbs in a ceiling fixture are not near enough as light falls away significantly by distance.

Phals don't need high light but I find they can take more than you would think! Phals also do have darker green leaves than many other orchids, but a medium green would be better. Some of mine with purple or pink in their blooms tend to have a darker green with a tinging of purple at the edges or underside and that is normal. It would be good to have some good window light and possibly a fluorescent bulb even from a table or desk lamp over it if nothing else.

As for roots. If it wasn't re-potted when purchased, a lot of them get root rot from having too much sphagnum moss very wet on the root ball. Always check a new phal and likely remove some moss immediately or re-pot it-even better. You could leave a bamboo kebob skewer in the pot and pull it out to check how wet it is before watering. I am sure this is why so many of mine didn't die from root rot. They should nearly dry out before watering and since everyone's conditions are different, saying water once a week to every orchid grower just doesn't work.

If using sphag and bag, be very careful the mold doesn't develop, as it happens easily and quickly. I would likely just soak it in water with KLN for a couple hours. Then re-pot in a moist but not wet medium and leave it and water as usual (allowing to dry in between but not remain dry for any length of time). Mist the leaves while it is recovering but do not get water into the crown as crown rot can develop.

This has worked for me on a plant with next to no roots but it takes a long time and daily attention to it. Good luck. Also I have 3 cats and they don't bother my phals. They like to chew the grassy oncidium type tho.

[Rowangreen]

Household bulbs here in the uk are generally CFL's (or more expensive types). Incandescents have pretty much been phased out.

I had a feeling the oncidiums would be more tempting to cats than phals. Of course it's the oncidiums need more light... The room they are in now is pretty small (the kitchen), so on top of the fridge they'll be within a couple of feet of the bulb! Also have plans for a lamp as well. I'm waiting for a 25w daylight bulb for the cieling and a 45w blue/6400 grow bulb for the lamp (both cfl) Hopefully it will work. I think I will probably try putting some of my phals out in other rooms, but I'm also growing some cat grass to put out the same time... If I eventually get all the orchids out I can still use the lights for growing myself salad etc *g*

Thanks for the tips on bagging. Since I wasn't prepared for bagging I potted them at the time, but I'll see how they go, and also hoping to get some rooting hormone in the post pretty soon so they'll be getting some of that. (Rootless phal and 2 oncidiums that came to me with bad roots due to sphag balls).

[bsktlady]

I'm a newbie "parent" to 2 phalaenopsis orchids, which I purchased from Hausermann. My dear friend asked me to take a picture of the media the plants were planted in so she could advise me about their condition. It was tricky coaxing them from the pots they came in as they seem to be packed tight with a moss mixture.

After doing some reading about when to repot, should I not repot now until spring, or just remove a little of the moss? How much water should I give them, and is there a preference as to tap, distilled, or spring water?

I'm sure I will have many, many more questions as time goes on. And I know (from my friend) that I'm in the right place to get the best answers.

How do I upload pictures from my pc to this forum so I can get expert opinions on the care of these plants?

[glengary54]

bsktlady -

Welcome to the Orchid Board. Here is a link to how to upload pictures. I will wait to see them before advising you. It would also help if we knew how and where you are growing them.

Hopefully a moderator will move your post to a more appropriate thread so that more people will see it.

Looking forward to your pictures.

[silken]

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ng-photos.html

I think the link didn't get in there so here it is

[glengary54]

silken - Thank you, I got distracted by the phone and hit post before I hit paste.

[bsktlady]

Glengary54, thanks for the welcome. I've posted earlier, before I received my orchids.

Here's a link to my Flickr page - Flickr: Bsktlady2011's Photostream - hopefully that will show up as a clickable link.

The first thought that came to my mind was that these plants seem to be packed tight into these pots. There is a lot of moss media and it wasn't easy coaxing the plants so I could take a photo of the media.

They weren't very moist when they arrived, but I waited a day before giving them a tiny drink. I have left them in their original pots, but have placed them inside a clear plastic saucer (larger than the plant pot) that has pebbles and water (below the top of the pebbles) so the plants can get some humidity.

The temp in our house is moderate, not cold but not warm either. I have also placed one of the plants on the south side of our house where it will get a little filtered light but no sun. The second plant is in an extra bathroom that is not normally used, and gets filtered light through a frosted window, which also has vertical blinds.

I would appreciate any guidance anyone can offer.

Originally Posted by glengary54

bsktlady -

Welcome to the Orchid Board. Here is a link to how to upload pictures. I will wait to see them before advising you. It would also help if we knew how and where you are growing them.

Hopefully a moderator will move your post to a more appropriate thread so that more people will see it.

Looking forward to your pictures.

[silken]

bsktlady, I looked at your photos and they look like most phals when they come from the store. They are usually packed way too tight in moss with a wet ball of it up under the crown. There is much already said on this thread and others, but Phals in the wild grow on tree trunks where their roots are exposed to the air and they likely get rained on every day and then dry off. So the idea is to imitate nature as closely as possible within our limitations of home growing. That said, they need some air pockets in the pot where their roots are. Many people here have lost their phals because they don't re-pot them when they come home. Phals don't even mind re-potting when in bloom and it may mean they live to bloom again next year as opposed to dying from root rot.

I suggest you pull the plants from their pots and pull away moss and inspect them. Check for moss tucked up tight under the crown. If it is too packed it can't dry out in the centre = death of plant eventually. Most people re-pot them in bark, or coco husk or myself in a mix of looser moss and bark which provides good breathing space. I like them in clear pots so I can see the roots. When they are silver they are dry, and green = wet. Water when they are very close to dry and don't let them be sopping wet, but flush the water thru then let them drain so as not to be standing in any water. A bamboo kebab skewer is a good thing to have pushed into the media and then when you think its time to water, pull it out and see how wet it is. If it is almost or completely dry, it's time to water. Leave it in the same place near the centre and bottom of the pot so it is testing the wettest area.

I hope that helps. Root rot can set in quickly so it is best to inspect them soon.

[glengary54]

bsktlady - I agree completely with silken. I would go ahead and repot the two plants. To make it easier on yourself and to lessen the damage to the roots, take the plants out of their pots and soak them in water for about 10-15 minutes to wet and loosen the moss, you will find that it will come off the roots with out much hassle. The roots you find should be roundish, firm and pale in color, remove any root that is dark colored and mushy or hollow. To repot, place the plant into a pot the same size that it came out of or slightly larger, the base of the plant should be just lower than the lip of the pot and centered in the middle. If using bark mix, as you add the mix, work it in between the roots with your fingers and occaisionally tap the sides of the pot to help settle the bark mix. The plant should be planted no deeper than where the first set of leaves criss-cross eachother. Water the plant well, let it drain and then replace it in it's normal growing area.

Hope this helps you. Your plants look fine, you are at this point just trying to avoid issues down the road. In the future, it would serve you well if you repotted new plants when you first get them home so that you will know right away what you are dealing with root wise.

[silken]

Thanks glengary54 for elaborating further. I completely agree.