Are phals hard to grow?

[Tim P.]

I have heard Mixed feelIngs about phals. Are they difficult? I would like to buy another one but I don't want to kill it

[fishmommy]

I've never had a problem.
Keep them warm, pot them loosely, water them often (water quality matters too!) and provide plenty of indirect light

[camille1585]

It depend on the person. For some, keeping Phals alive is mission impossible, and for others Phal seem to be impossible to kill. I think that people that are a bit heavy handed with watering tend to have more trouble. It also depends on the Phal. If it's cheap phal from a bix box store then chances are the roots are in poor shape, making it more likely that you'll lose the plant. But if you get a good healthy plant from a reputable nursery it's more likely to survive.

Another factor is the medium it's potted in. Unless you live in a hot dry climate, sphagnum moss usually causes trouble, especially since most orchids sold sphag are way way too tightly potted in it(plants are easily overwatered and the tightl sphag dries slowly). A bark mix is more appropriate for many people.

[fishmommy]

I agree - bark mix is awesome

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

While I understand the frustration of not being able to get an easy "yes" or "no" answer to your question, I hate to say it, but there will always be mixed opinions.

Your question may be simple, but I think the way the question is posed is too simplistic to obtain an answer that is to your satisfaction.

Maybe you can provide the growing conditions in which you would like to grow your Phals, and you'll get a better answer. Then based off of the answers you get you may see just how much of an easy or difficult time you'll have in growing them.

To get a much better response to your question about whether Phals are easy to grow, please do mention what kind of potting media the Phal you purchased was in, and how you were growing it prior to its demise.

There are 2 general aspects of growing a Phal, (or any other orchid for that matter), that you must take into cosideration:

1. A species Phal's habitat. Once you understand this, you get the framework for what makes your Phal hybrid tick. As an analogy, consider this the "constant" in the equation.

2. Horticultural practices. As an analogy, consider this the "variable" in the equation.

[fishmommy]

also mention how much and how often you water, and where the water comes from (is it chlorinated? hard? softened? etc)

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Part of the reason why I highly recommended you read the sticky "The Phal abuse ends here." was because there was habitat information (constant) and horticultural techniques you could try out (variable).

When you ask the question "Are Phals easy to grow?", the question implicitly only takes into consideration the horticultural aspects of growing a Phal, it implicitly ignores the aspect of how and where a wild Phal grows in nature which in my opinion should ideally not be disregarded.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Another approach to answering your question may be...

What are the specific traits and qualities of a plant that you look for or require in a plant in order for you to consider it "easy to grow"?


An example response to this question would be something like:

1. I consider a plant easy to grow if it doesn't need to be watered very often.


Based on your response, we'll compare that to how growing a Phal will match up with your ideals.

[Tim P.]

I will water it with reverse osmosis, only when the roots turn silverish, about once a week on average. It will be placed in a south window, but in filtered light.

I will be buying an orchid from orchidsbyhousermann.com and it is a hybrid.

Here is the link. What do u think, and what do u think about the plant itself?

Phal. K. V. Beauty '5701' IN SPIKE: Orchids By Hausermann

[Tim P.]

And I also plan on growing it in a bark mix.