Help..

[Shinnok]

I went to visit my friend today whom i love going to cause she's got a lot of Phalaenopsis and alway blooming unlike my mini-phalaenopsis.

She's getting rid of 2 phalaenopsis due to space issues. (in fact, she just chuck it outside in the garden leaving it to die.) I ask if i can have them both and she say yeah i can have it . Now 1 is still in a good shape i think with 1 bud and droopy green leafs (Big problem she never repot it before and lot of roots are just hanging around) . While the other one have Brown leave and almost bare...
I have also attach photos.

Plant 1 with lots of roots and looks heavy













Plant 2 almost nothing





Please help me. as i really like to save them both. I am gonna get me some bark potting media tomorrow morning and get them repot. The lady told me that she actually let her phal sit on water and it keep blooming.

Kindest regards,

Shin

[mattryan]

The first 1 looks like it's in dire need repotting...how long was last repot? I'm no expert but I think all the roots in pot are rotted because of over-watering. The second I'd pitch in the nearest garbage can..sorry hun. Try to save the best 1 and not lose both because of some disease. I think you have all those airel* roots because everything in pot is rotted (would you put your foot in a sesspool?) lol. Hopefully someone else with more experience than me will chime in goodluck hun )

[mattryan]

Sorry my last post wasn't too helpful. I looked at you pics again. Firstly I would get some orchid mix not soil let it soak and unpot the biggest 1 first sterile everything with a lighter and cut any roots that are soft. Hopefully there will be something left if there are breaks in between leave the hard parts soak in peroxide if you can. I would cut off spike because sometimes if you put the air roots into the pot they die and now you have no roots to support the plants life and you've lost both. If you can see any new growth from base of plant you might be lucky. Definitly get a bamboo skewer and put in pot....Don't water if it is wet!!!! or you will lose the plant very quickly. Do same for second sterilze again..if no roots in pot going to very hard to bring that 1 back sorry hun goodluck!!

[tucker85]

I agree with the previous posts that the first one needs to be repotted and the second one needs to be dumped in the trash can. It won't harm the plant to trim the roots and even cut off some of the main stem. Just find what you think is an appropriate size pot and trim the roots and stem to fit that pot. I don't even treat the cuts but you can if you want. I'm sure the growing medium that you use for your mini-phals will work just fine. You don't need to fertilize until you start to see new growth. At that time I use a seaweed or kelp suppliment along with the fertilizer. I use Maxicrop Liquid Seaweed but there are many others and some people like KLN rather than seaweed. Good luck.

[RosieC]

I agree as well.

The first likely has such long aerial roots because all the ones in the pot are rotted/rotting. You said the person you got them from had them always sitting in water. That is probably why all the roots have tried to get out the pot, so they can get some air.

I would repot the first one, but personally I would try and only put some of the roots into the pot. Sometimes aerial roots don't adapt well to growing in a pot and if you were to try and put them all in you could risk loosing them all.

Use a good quality orchid bark. I'm not sure where you can get that from locally but I know you need to avoid the Miracle grow stuff, lots of bad things said about that for Phals here on Orchid Board. You can also try rePotme Orchid Supplies - Orchid Mix - Orchid Pots - Orchid Care - Orchid Fertilizer which has good stuff, but shipping can be expensive.

When you repot remove all dead roots (mushy/hollow). Soak the roots you want to get into the pot a lot to make them a bit more flexible.

After repotting you should water with lots of water, then leave it to dry between waterings (don't leave standing in water) when the roots you can see in the pot turn silvery down near the bottom it's time to water again.

As for the second plant, I agree with others that it has very little chance and personally I would trash it. If you want to try then it also needs repotting but that's about all the advice I can give.

[Shinnok]

Hi all thank you for the reply, just a quick reply before heading out to get the media. The lady had the phal for more than 3 years now and she didn't bother with repotting which results to roots hanging out like that. She have more which is exactly the same. It's actually some kind of bark media but it looks dis-intergrated looking more like regular soil.
I am not really sure about Maxicrop Liquid Seaweed/ Kelp suppliment as i live in switzerland and not sure if i am able to find these stuff.
Be back later with potting media and got me a bottle of cinnamons instead and will keep you guys posted with more picture when i repot it.

[PeaceLoveOrchids]

This may not be any help since this orchid has not been in your care for long, but the leaves also look a bit dark, esspecially since the crown is so much lighter than the leaves, this would probably make them quick to burn.

[Shinnok]

Well, i am sorry i didn't post after i repot the phal. I could not find anything bigger than the 12 cm plastic pot so i end up getting a 20 cm terra cotta pot instead. When i pick the phal out of the pot, there is only a couple of green roots left. I did have to cut some roots out and sprinkle loads of cinnamons on it.

Well Take a look at the picture & let me know what you guys think about it. This is my very first time repotting Phal and i hope i do it correctly.









Now i have a questions, my really Mini phal is pot in sphag and i haven't repot it at all. Since i got it, it's have put out loads of roots, new leaf. Do you guys think i should also repot it but i worry i can't fit the new potting media as the pot is really tiny. Please advise.

[Zoi2]

As a general rule, orchids like to be a bit underpotted. This allows for the potting media to dry out. Having an over potted plant means the media in the center of the pot will not dry at the same time as the media towards the pot. You will have to be very careful when watering if you keep your plant in such a large pot.
Joann

[Shinnok]

Well i am aware of Phal like to be abit underpotted but this phal have very long overhanging aerial roots and i don't know what to do with it. Do you suppose i should repot it back to it's original pot?)