The Phal abuse ends here.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by bellatrix

Hi

Hi.

Originally Posted by bellatrix

I purchased my first orchid ever on Tuesday! It's a Phalaenopsis orchid. This is all I know about it really.

That's a good start. It's better than not knowing what your orchid is.

Originally Posted by bellatrix

I uploaded pictures of it in the Identification section - I'll post them again here since I am unable to insert a link in this post.

Pics are good, they make problem solving a bit easier.

Originally Posted by bellatrix

1. Do I need to re-pot it any time soon?

That depends on several factors.

1. One reason for repotting is because the potting media is degraded. Badly degraded potting media can actually kill an orchid over time if nothing is done to change out the old media for new media.

2. If the potting media that the orchid is currently in doesn't suit your growing environment well at all, change it.

3. Should the root mass be significantly larger than the pot itself, it needs to be repotted.

4. If the pot size is too large for the orchid it needs to be repotted to an appropriately sized pot.

5. When the orchid is showing signs of distress, it may need to be repotted asap.

Originally Posted by bellatrix

The leaves look rather crammed.

With orchids, it doesn't necessarily matter how crammed the leaves appear to be. What does matter is that the root size and the pot size should ideally be similar in size.

Originally Posted by bellatrix

It's still in the medium I purchased it in (from a grocery store). It seems to be in moss of some sort. I suppose the moss looks more compact and stays more moist than one would like it to.

Most people tend to have difficulties growing Phalaenopsis in moss, depending on what their growing conditions are like. Fir bark could be a good option. Another option is LECA/Hydroton.

I'm leaning towards recommending that you use fir bark because, imo, I think it could be easier for a total beginner to deal with.

Originally Posted by bellatrix

And today I noticed a thin yellow outline around one of the largest leaves.

Are you able to provide a closeup photo of the yellow outline of the leaves?

Originally Posted by bellatrix

I did water it the day I got it (is that bad?).

This action, in-and-of-itself is not necessarily bad.

Originally Posted by bellatrix

I poured enough water for the medium to look moist and didn't know I had to drain it. I happened to do some research that same night and learned that I had to drain it since the outer pot was holding the water that seeped out from the inner (clear) plastic container. The outer pot was one third full of water when I dumped it out that same (Tuesday) night. The plant seemed fine the next day. A few days later (on Friday) a faint yellow outline appeared.
I now have the inner pot sitting on the inverted cap of a bottle - and all of that is in the outer pot. I'm hoping this will allow it to drain further - the excess water can drip into the bottle cap if it wants to.

Just as long as you make sure the orchid is not sitting in standing water for days-on-end, it should be ok.

Originally Posted by bellatrix

2. What sort of fertilizer should I purchase for it? i.e. What concentrations should the three numbers be?

There are fertilizers that are in the form of water soluble powders that are generally formulated for epiphytic orchids.

Originally Posted by bellatrix

I know that Miracle Gro has some specifically for orchids, but would it be okay to use one that would be useful on other plants too? Such as one for flower plants in general. Or an all purpose one.

The N-P-K ratio, should be something on the order of 20-20-20. It doesn't have to be exactly 20-20-20, but close is enough.

I would stick to fertilizer formulations designed for orchids specifically.

Generally speaking, it is not ok to use a fertilizer made for other plants.

Originally Posted by bellatrix

Must I select one for acid-living plants?

No, you don't have to select a fertilizer made specifically for acid-loving plants.

Originally Posted by bellatrix

Is my plant acid-loving?

Yes, many Phals are acid loving. The pH for these are generally, slightly acidic, (pH 4.5 - 5.0).

There are a few exceptions.

Originally Posted by bellatrix

Also, should I get a liquid plant food or a powder?

It doesn't matter.

The powdered fertilizers are water soluble.

The liquid fertilizers take the measuring of the powder to add to the water out of the equation as that is already pre-mixed.

[bellatrix]

Thank you for taking the time and effort to give me such a helpful reply, Philip.

I'll take a picture of the yellowing leaf and post it here in the morning (in a few hours).

Is it okay to re-pot my plant in fir bark at its current stage in its growth cycle? Or do I need to wait for a certain phase (such as after the flowers are done blooming)?

There is slightly acidic water in an aquatic tank in my home. Would you advise using its water to water my orchid?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by bellatrix

Thank you for taking the time and effort to give me such a helpful reply, Philip.

You're welcome.

Originally Posted by bellatrix

I'll take a picture of the yellowing leaf and post it here in the morning (in a few hours).

Ok.

Originally Posted by bellatrix

Is it okay to re-pot my plant in fir bark at its current stage in its growth cycle? Or do I need to wait for a certain phase (such as after the flowers are done blooming)?

You can repot it now. There's no need to wait until the flowers are done. The flowers may or may not blast, but it'll re-bloom again on the next blooming cycle. If the roots are not disturbed much, chances are, the blooms will likely stay intact.

Originally Posted by bellatrix

There is slightly acidic water in an aquatic tank in my home. Would you advise using its water to water my orchid?

It's fine. I've known people to do it before. I've done it before when I used to keep tropical freshwater fish.

[bellatrix]

Here are two pictures of my yellowing-leaf-edges!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The yellow edges are normal for its type. It shows a tiny bit of variegation.

[bellatrix]

Yay; thank you!

[Cintirella]

this will help you get started. Orchid Fertilizer and Light Levels | River Valley Orchidworks

[bellatrix]

That link was extremely helpful to me. Thanks for posting that, Cintirella.

[dreamynights]

Hey Guys,

My orchid has been doing well for the most part since I last posted. It started growing a new leaf and lost an old leaf. There has also been LOTS of root growth with at least 5 new ones from the crown and lots of older roots splitting into multiples.

About a month ago, I noticed that my orchid was leaking a bit of sap under the leaves. These areas turned into small, slightly black spots though which I thought was weird. Sorry for the blurry photo but the first one (2705.jpg) shows that there are at multiple small black areas along the edge of the plant leaf. It has since stopped and I am thinking it just turned black from being too wet there?

I still had small bug problems but have just been trying to kill all the ones I see. When I water the plant, I will also try to drown them out and kill them. I have been thinking of using dish soap to try to kill them but I am unsure how to use it. I heard of spraying it but it does not seem like that would get the bugs from under the roots. Could I use a drop of soap to water the orchid and then rinse the soap or would that harm the plant?

My major problem here today though is that there is WHITE FUZZ all over the crown! I had previously cut the dying leaf at the bottom but could not completely remove it as it wont peel from the plant. I watered the orchid three days ago and today I noticed the white fuzz all over the dead leaf! I had watered extra last time to try to drown out of the bugs but I have always dried the crown area afterwards and have no moss around the crown to keep it dry. These do not look like mealy bugs to me and looks more like mold. Screenshots are attached! How should I try to get rid of this? Alcohol or hydrogen peroxide? Help!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by dreamynights

Hey Guys,

My orchid has been doing well for the most part since I last posted. It started growing a new leaf and lost an old leaf. There has also been LOTS of root growth with at least 5 new ones from the crown and lots of older roots splitting into multiples.

About a month ago, I noticed that my orchid was leaking a bit of sap under the leaves. These areas turned into small, slightly black spots though which I thought was weird. Sorry for the blurry photo but the first one (2705.jpg) shows that there are at multiple small black areas along the edge of the plant leaf. It has since stopped and I am thinking it just turned black from being too wet there?

I still had small bug problems but have just been trying to kill all the ones I see. When I water the plant, I will also try to drown them out and kill them. I have been thinking of using dish soap to try to kill them but I am unsure how to use it. I heard of spraying it but it does not seem like that would get the bugs from under the roots. Could I use a drop of soap to water the orchid and then rinse the soap or would that harm the plant?

My major problem here today though is that there is WHITE FUZZ all over the crown! I had previously cut the dying leaf at the bottom but could not completely remove it as it wont peel from the plant. I watered the orchid three days ago and today I noticed the white fuzz all over the dead leaf! I had watered extra last time to try to drown out of the bugs but I have always dried the crown area afterwards and have no moss around the crown to keep it dry. These do not look like mealy bugs to me and looks more like mold. Screenshots are attached! How should I try to get rid of this? Alcohol or hydrogen peroxide? Help!

That white fuzz is fungus. Change the potting media out and clean the plant up. Do not put moss in the pot. Use a pair of small surgical or cuticle scissors to get rid of that dried petiole. Increase air circulation.