When to water my phal :(

[Tim P.]

Ok. So I just got my phal in the mail 12 days ago, and it is a just add ice orchid. It says to water weekly, but I really am wondering. I have heard overwatering is the quickest way to kill a phal, and there is condensation on the inside of the pot that tells me that there is still water in the pot! So I'm teetering between what I have learned about orchids, and what I have been told by the orchid supplier. What should I do!!!!
Thanks. If you haven't noticed I am pretty new to orchids and really don't want to loose my beautiful phal

[WhiteRabbit]

follow what you have learned about orchids

you may keep the plant alive following the grower's directions, but would likely do better to water when roots are white or silvery - if they are green, they don't need water. I have skewers in all my orchid pots, and seems that by the time Phal roots are no longer green the media is dry, or very nearly so - so if not in a clear pot, use a skewer in the media, water when very nearly dry to completely dry ...

if it's potted in a lot of packed sphag, you may want to repot, or at least pick out some of the sphag - tho it isn't necessary, but helpful if you are worried about overwatering

gl

[Tim P.]

It is in a clear pot, the medum in the center looks like it still has some water left in it. It is currently in a bark mix, and the roots that I can see through the pot appear to be silvery with green showing through. But the fact that there are water drowlets showing through the pot alarms me what would you suggest? Just water it and hope for the best? It seems Like it is planted in a fine bark mix or coconut shells.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I recommend pulling the plant out to check on the rest of the roots that are in the middle of the pot that you can't necessarily see by looking through the pot.

I also recommend pulling the plant out to see if the roots towards the center has moss. Sometimes people wonder what's up with their Phals only to find out that there may have been bark on the outside, but in the middle there was still moss, and a large majority of the roots have been destroyed as a result of this.

[WhiteRabbit]

I'd wait to water. If you don't have a skewer - you can use a freshly sharpened pencil (so the exposed wood is fresh) - gently twist it into the media (don't force it, if you can't gently twist it in one spot, try another spot) - an inch or so from the rim of the pot. Let it sit there for 15 minutes or so - remove it, and you can see on the fresh wood of the pencil, if it looks damp.

You can also gently poke a finger down into the media an inch or so to just feel if it seems damp

Don't stress - especially if you see condensation in the pot - there IS moisture in there. Phals don't want to be too wet, so it sounds like it's good for now

If it does have coconut husk chips in the media - they are quite moisture retentive (less than sphag - at least packed sphag, but more than bark - also are much airier than sphag or bark), so sounds like a good mix for Phals, but can be overwatered.

[Tim P.]

Thanks. u were a help.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

I recommend pulling the plant out to check on the rest of the roots that are in the middle of the pot that you can't necessarily see by looking through the pot.

I also recommend pulling the plant out to see if the roots towards the center has moss. Sometimes people wonder what's up with their Phals only to find out that there may have been bark on the outside, but in the middle there was still moss, and a large majority of the roots have been destroyed as a result of this.

that has definitely happened to me!