Very new with lots of questions - Orchid Board

shortstubz · #1 01-31-2012, 11:42 AM

I purchased an unknown (and probably forever unknown) species of Phal. from Home Depot a couple months ago. I know these kinds of stores aren't ideal to buy orchids but I live in semi-rural Alabama so its the best I can do. lol But, I have been doing a lot of research on this forum and other independent websites. I believe I have been taking proper care of it but now that the last bud has blossomed the flower stem is turning yellow, while the blossoms are wilting. Is this normal? Plus I am not sure if what is on the leaves is sunburn. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

tucker85 · #2 01-31-2012, 11:59 AM

The blossoms wilting and the stem turning yellow is normal. The fact that the plants environment changed when you brought it home from the store usually means the flowers won't last quite as long as they normally would.
I can't see what you're talking about on the leaves. The leaves look normal to me but maybe my computer isn't giving me a good enough picture.
If the plant needs repotting, this would be a good time to do it since the flowing is completed. Good luck.

shortstubz · #3 01-31-2012, 12:14 PM

When I purchased it it had bark as the medium but spagham moss was PACKED into the top of the poor thing. I checked out the roots and they are in pretty bad condition and even the aerial roots at the top are past the point of brown and mushy they are dry and stringy. I assumed repotting during bloom would have done more harm than good. But the main flower stem has two secondary stems. Should I wait for the secondary stems to start to die back before cutting the stem?

My camera's exposure is rather fuzzy and dull. But essentially on the leaves it just looks kind of white to me. Also, I have another orchid that was in desperate need of repotting. While I was at lowes the other day I really could not find any type of bark mixtures and no one there seemed helpful or knowledgeable about orchids and pointed me in the direction of Miracle Gro Orchid Potting Mix. It has fine bark chunks and what appears to be pearlite. But it seems rather soily. Not sure if your familiar with this product but I need some advice on it before I go ahead and repot another one of my Phals in it. The one I planted in the mix seems to be doing well and is actually started to repair the sunburn it received before I received it.

Starla · #4 01-31-2012, 12:39 PM

You dont have to wait before repotting phals. They are really robust and it sounds like that poor thing is in desperate need of being repotted. Carefully pick off all the medium and cut off all the brown and limp roots. Then I would repot in bark in a nice clean pot as small as you can get away with. A bit of TLC should get it back on track. If the flower stem is turning yellow then the secondary stems might die back too so cut the yellowed part off!

shortstubz · #5 01-31-2012, 01:00 PM

Thank you very much! What would you suggest as the medium?

Starla · #6 01-31-2012, 01:19 PM

Bark chippings, orchid focus products are pretty good. You can buy it in most plant shops. I mix in perlite and medium bark for most orchids (the only exception for me being masdevalias which get sphagnum moss for moisture) I once got an "orchid potting medium" from a garden centre which was terrible. It was basically soil with bits of perlite in it. Don't pack it in too tightly as the roots like to air and when you water it, the water should run straight through the pot and out the bottom. Then its potted well

mattryan · #7 01-31-2012, 02:01 PM

Welcome the orchid board. I've heard nothing but bad things about miracle Gro orchid mix, try not to use it. Orchids must get air to their roots or they will die. Any kind of bark mix is much better than a soil like mixture, as starla has mentioned. Make sure whatever pot that you are using has holes in the bottom or roots will rot in no time (ask me how I know this!) Anyway good luck, I think the leaves look ok to me, they sure be a light green not dark= not enough light. There are lots of peeps here that can give you tonnes of info. don't be afraid to ask.

cheryl

tucker85 · #8 01-31-2012, 02:15 PM

It's really unusual that your Lowe's doesn't have orchid potting medium. I wouldn't use that miracle grow mix. Home Depot or Lowe's should carry a chunky orchid mix that is mostly medium size bark or medium size coconut husk chips. Like the others said use the smallest pot that the roots will fit in comfortably and make sure it has good drainage holes in the bottom.

shortstubz · #9 01-31-2012, 04:48 PM

Perfect thank you everyone!

---------- Post added at 02:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:39 PM ----------

But one more question,
On the main flowering stem there are two secondary stems. Should I wait until the secondary stems start to die back before I cut the stem? And where would be the ideal place?

tucker85 · #10 01-31-2012, 05:00 PM

You can wait until the flowers are all gone if you want to. When all the flowers are gone you can cut the flower spike off about an inch or two from the plant even if the flower spike is still green.