The Phal abuse ends here.

[Wynn Dee13]

Originally Posted by MerCast

Thanks
Yes the soil is fine. What I did was put large river rocks on the bottom, a layer of soil, more river rocks, the roots and another layer of soil. There are three small holes in the bottom of the pot. I haven't watered anything yet...

I would repot it in a much smaller pot. Try to get a clear plastic pot with good drainage. I like clear pots because you can see the root growth and it helps to know when to water. The roots are silver when dry and green when wet. The clear pots also allow you to see moisture on the sides of the pot. Orchids don't grow in soil. Phalaenopsis orchids grow on sides of trees with their roots exposed to the air in nature. You need to get a bark orchid mix. Soak the bark at least overnight. New bark doesn't hold water like older bark does so it dries out really fast. To add some extra moisture mix in some sphagnum moss in the bark mix. Stay away from Miricle Grow Orchid Mix. It is way too soil like for most orchids. Look at the ingredients and make sure there isn't any peat in it. Repotme.com is a good place to get clear pots and orchid mediums. Good luck!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

"MerCast", I don't know how much of this thread you have read so far, but I do recommend reading at least the first 10 -20 pages first to understand why "Wynn Dee13" is recommending what she's recommending to you.

If it bears repeating, I'll mention it here in this post...

Many kinds of Phalaenopsis grow on trees. Because most Phals grow on trees, the roots are often exposed to the air a great deal. Without the proper balance of moisture to air, the roots will rot. This is why a Phal that grows on a tree should not be grown in a potting mix that is very fine. Fine potting mixes that look like potting soil deprives the Phals roots of enough air and holds a lot of moisture in. This causes the roots to not be able to breathe and it also causes the cells in the roots to burst when there is too much moisture being absorbed by the roots, because the fine particles in the potting mix is holding in too much moisture for the plant to handle.

[gingersmommy]

Love this board/thread!

[gingersmommy]

Okay, I'm being obsessive, but I can't make a decision. I went on repotme.com to order new pots and medium. I recently repotted all of my orchids in Miracle Grow Orchid Mix, which is like soil. I want to get them out of that and into the proper medium. I was going to get the Oxygen Dual Pots but don't know what size. Most of my orchids are a good size (leaves anyway), and are in 6" pots. Last time I repotted, I learned their roots aren't that viable with only a few that were really healthy (I think they got too dry in the bark, although I was watering once a week). I think the pots they are in now are too big because from what I've read, they like to be kind of cramped (?). My question is, do you think I should I get the 3.75, 4.25 or 5.5" pots? Thank you!

[Ordphien]

Originally Posted by gingersmommy

Okay, I'm being obsessive, but I can't make a decision. I went on repotme.com to order new pots and medium. I recently repotted all of my orchids in Miracle Grow Orchid Mix, which is like soil. I want to get them out of that and into the proper medium. I was going to get the Oxygen Dual Pots but don't know what size. Most of my orchids are a good size (leaves anyway), and are in 6" pots. Last time I repotted, I learned their roots aren't that viable with only a few that were really healthy (I think they got too dry in the bark, although I was watering once a week). I think the pots they are in now are too big because from what I've read, they like to be kind of cramped (?). My question is, do you think I should I get the 3.75, 4.25 or 5.5" pots? Thank you!

I find going from straight moss to bark stresses the plant out.
A good potting recipe for me is mixing 1 part chopped moss to 3 parts bark.
It dries slower, and more evenly

They do like to be kind of cramped. If the roots don't absolutely fill the pot that are in I just replace the potting media and use the same pot. If I have to go up a size I generally go up an inch.


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[gingersmommy]

Thanks, Ordphien, for the advise on the pots. I just have to commit and place my order. For the medium, one mix I reviewed has "coconut husk chips, sponge rock, stalite and granite chips." The one they recommend for phals has.

Phalaenopsis Classic Orchid Mix is made with:
•5 Star Chilean Sphagnum Moss
•Medium Sponge Rock
•Medium Granite Chips

[silken]

I do well with pretty much the same mix as Ordphien. Med bark with some sphagnum mixed in to retain moisture a bit. You want something a bit chunky as those big fleshy roots like some air too.

[gingersmommy]

Do you purchase your mix or make it yourself?

[Ordphien]

I make my own.
I sort of despise online ordering... in a weird way.
The local hardware store carries smallish $5 bags of orchid bark. They have three sizes.
I opt for medium bark chips.
The same store also carries a bag of sphagnum moss that I buy.
From there I mix my own..
Overall the bag has lasted me a very long time.


That mix you listed sounds pretty airy and open. Sounds alright to me.

[gingersmommy]

Helpful; thanks!