Need Help

[bdelfiero]

I just acquired a Phal schilleriana yesterday and I'm bit confused about the culture of this particular Phal. Some of my research says allow the medium to dry completely before my next watering, and other suggest that it needs moist medium.

I hope you can share your experience on how your grow this Phal.

Thank you.

[PeaceLoveOrchids]

I am relitivly new to orchids but I have had a phal for one in a half years. I usally just water mine about once a week. This phal website said this would provide enough dry time i guess. This seems to work well since my orchid is flowering for the 4th time on it's stem!

[tucker85]

Here is a link to the American Orchid Society culture sheet for phals.. Phalaenopsis do not store water like some other orchids. For that reason they can not tolerate dry conditions for very long. I let them dry out but I water them as soon as they seem to be almost completely dry. When watering, take the plant to a sink and pour water through the medium until it is very wet. Then allow to almost completely dry before watering again. Phalaenopsis will usually do better if you repot them into a good orchid mix when you first get them. They like something called bright shade. Not direct sun but decent light in a shaded spot. Good luck.

AOS | Phalaenopsis

[Ray]

The only orchid I have grown that I am ABSOLUTELY certain MUST dry out is tolumnia.

Drying out between waterings is a requirement of the potting medium, not the plant.

When we water, most of it pours right through the medium, some is absorbed by the plant and medium, and some is held by surface tension in-between the particles. If the spaces between particles - whether due to decomposition and compacting of the medium, or simply too fine of a medium to start with - that "bridging water" can completely block the spaces. That, in turn, suffocates the roots, which is where the majority of gas exchange occurs in epiphytic orchids, so they die.

If you let the pot dry, the bridging water is eventually absorbed or evaporates, and the plant can "breath" again. Use a course-enough medium, and repot before it decomposes, and that is not an issue.

Incidentally, Phal. schilleriana comes from lowland rain forests on Luzon, where it stays pretty much constantly wet.

[silken]

Bakers' culture sheet says it is always moist when in active growth but has a 2-3 month dry season in the winter where it only gets some mist. However, in potted culture, I would be careful about keeping it real wet as in nature the roots are likely hanging out in the air and they could rot stuffed in a pot.

[schottd]

I have about 6 or 8 phals and some of them look a little sick. The worst one has little black specs that are coming out of the potting medium when I water any suggestions? The leaves are looking pretty bad too. thanks Dave... schottd@bellsouth.net

[bdelfiero]

Thank you so much Ray for your wonderful explanation and you took my worries and confusion. You are indeed a guru

All the best!

Originally Posted by Ray

The only orchid I have grown that I am ABSOLUTELY certain MUST dry out is tolumnia.

Drying out between waterings is a requirement of the potting medium, not the plant.

When we water, most of it pours right through the medium, some is absorbed by the plant and medium, and some is held by surface tension in-between the particles. If the spaces between particles - whether due to decomposition and compacting of the medium, or simply too fine of a medium to start with - that "bridging water" can completely block the spaces. That, in turn, suffocates the roots, which is where the majority of gas exchange occurs in epiphytic orchids, so they die.

If you let the pot dry, the bridging water is eventually absorbed or evaporates, and the plant can "breath" again. Use a course-enough medium, and repot before it decomposes, and that is not an issue.

Incidentally, Phal. schilleriana comes from lowland rain forests on Luzon, where it stays pretty much constantly wet.

Thank you so much ray for the

[bdelfiero]

Originally Posted by PeaceLoveOrchids

I am relitivly new to orchids but I have had a phal for one in a half years. I usally just water mine about once a week. This phal website said this would provide enough dry time i guess. This seems to work well since my orchid is flowering for the 4th time on it's stem!

Thank you for the information.

[bdelfiero]

Originally Posted by tucker85

Here is a link to the American Orchid Society culture sheet for phals.. Phalaenopsis do not store water like some other orchids. For that reason they can not tolerate dry conditions for very long. I let them dry out but I water them as soon as they seem to be almost completely dry. When watering, take the plant to a sink and pour water through the medium until it is very wet. Then allow to almost completely dry before watering again. Phalaenopsis will usually do better if you repot them into a good orchid mix when you first get them. They like something called bright shade. Not direct sun but decent light in a shaded spot. Good luck.

AOS | Phalaenopsis

Thank you so much for the website and information you gave me

[bdelfiero]

Originally Posted by silken

Bakers' culture sheet says it is always moist when in active growth but has a 2-3 month dry season in the winter where it only gets some mist. However, in potted culture, I would be careful about keeping it real wet as in nature the roots are likely hanging out in the air and they could rot stuffed in a pot.

Thank you Silken for the information