New Phal in Moss--Moss advice? - Orchid Board

Blondie · #1 07-07-2007, 06:42 PM

Hello. I took my parents to Hausermann's yesterday and couldn't resist buy a new orchid!

According to the stick, this is:

Phal Brother Sara Gold (Sara Lee x Taipei Gold)

My other two orchids are in bark, so I would appreciate any advice about watering relating to moss. Thanks!

mayres · #2 07-07-2007, 06:57 PM

Hopefully the moss lovers will give you some excellent advice. Personally, I have never purchased a plant in sphag that had healthy roots. Any plant I get from now on comes out of moss immediately - whether in bloom or not. Good luck with yours! (beautiful plant/blooms) mike

Ross · #3 07-07-2007, 07:10 PM

mayres, I agree. I have NEVER had good luck with Phals in moss and I am near Chicago. I prefer loose bark mixes for Phals. That's just my preference, though.

dennis · #4 07-07-2007, 07:25 PM

you can leave it in the moss it will need to be repotted at least yearly due to the moss will only last this long. as far as watering it will depend on your condition mine i let get almost dry before watering. the main problem most have with moss is that after consistant waterings it will become compacted and start to hold alot more moisture which will cause your roots to rot, i will refluff mine every couple of weeks to keep this from happening. moss is a great choice for phals to grow in. you can use bark but you must soak it at least overnite so it will absorb the water. the problem with bark is that if it dries out it will not absorb the water any more and will start to repell the water causing the plant to act like it is being underwatered. the bark will last up to two years. there are numerous types of media which you can use all which have some advantage and drawbacks as well. i gave the exact same type of phal to my step daughter around a month ago (her first) it was in moss and she is doing great with it (so she says). you need to look at your conditions and decide. humidity and air movement are a big factor in how often you should water. you could look into semi hydroponics which is a great way for someone new to see if the plant needs water or not. most sites will sell a beginner kit to do one plant complete with pot and a gauge for it and the media never breaks down you just need to increase the pot size when it is needed. good luck and you need anymore help you know where to find it

Blondie · #5 07-07-2007, 07:49 PM

Because I was thinking I needed to repot the brassia before you warned me otherwise (thank you), I do have some bark. If I soak it, I could repot the phal. I don't want all of the beautiful blooms to die though... Do they die if you repot them like the other orchids?

dennis · #6 07-07-2007, 07:54 PM

most likely no but there is always a chance they may suffer but if they do not they might not last as long either

cb977 · #7 07-07-2007, 08:04 PM

Hi Blondie...I have repotted every single orchid I have as soon as it got home, whether it was in spike, bud or bloom. You never know what it's looking like underneath. I've never lost one but I have saved a number of them because the roots needed desperate measures to be saved.

I don't like sphag but have found that my Phal species like it...they are the only ones in sphag along with my one Bulbo which I just transferred into it today.

Blondie · #8 07-07-2007, 08:53 PM

Oh, so nervous. Don't want to kill orchid.

But I really don't want to deal with the moss. I think it would be easier on me to have it in bark so I can water them all the same way (well, not the same way, but I'll be able to check their moisture level the same way).

Orchidinterests · #9 07-07-2007, 08:56 PM

It is always a good practice to repot plants when you bring them home. There is always the chance of unwanted passengers, as well as decaying medium. If you have compacted moss, and you want to keep your blooms, you can wait till the blooms drop to repot. Moss can be tricky and for inexperienced growers it can be a death sentence. The reason people use moss is because it holds water so well. Used properly moss can encourage rapid growth. The trick is to let it dry almost completely. With moss, the center can stay wet even when the top and sides look dry. If you use moss, try to keep it loose, that will make things easier. Once you get the hang of it, it really is great stuff.

Ross · #10 07-07-2007, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cb977

Hi Blondie...I have repotted every single orchid I have as soon as it got home, whether it was in spike, bud or bloom. You never know what it's looking like underneath. I've never lost one but I have saved a number of them because the roots needed desperate measures to be saved.

I don't like sphag but have found that my Phal species like it...they are the only ones in sphag along with my one Bulbo which I just transferred into it today.

I agree with Sue. I have tended to repot every orchid soon after aquisition. I have not lost (to my knowledge) any orchid from repotting into loose bark mix (she didn't say bark mix, that was my add). I think when you get advice regarding sphagnum, it really depends on where the grower lives and where you live. In my climate, sphagnum plus Phals is a no-no combo. My house tends to be dry, but sphagnum holds way too much water, even loose, New Zeland type. So it would really help to know where you live.