Advice About Newly Potted Phal - Orchid Board

butterfly_muse · #1 03-14-2013, 09:38 AM

Good morning, everyone! I am still new to orchids, and I have a NoID Phal which I bought and she was in DESPERATE need of repotting. So I moved her out of her tightly compacted moss, cut all of her dead and rotted roots and stuck her in some Better-Gro orchid mix with bark and charcoal in it. She was in full bloom when I did so, so I didn't expect the flowers to live (somehow they haven't dropped yet), but this morning when I checked, her new buds were all shriveled up and two of her bottom leaves are starting to get wrinkly. She also has an aerial root that is white and kind of shriveled looking.

I have spent the last two days trying to get through "The Phal Abuse Ends Here" thread in my spare time and I haven't seen a question like this yet (I think - I'm only on Page 39..It's midterms week, so it's slow going.):

I know the phal needs water, but since repotting can be such a shock to them, especially while they're in bloom, I assume it's not possible to remove her and give her a good soak? What should I do to help her get more hydrated? I do not have bamboo skewers but I do have a couple of smaller dowel rods stuck down in the bark of this phal and another that I recently repotted in the same mix. The other one I repotted is doing pretty well, but that one was in better shape to begin with. I checked both dowel rods this morning and they are only very very slightly damp. Should I water them? (I just watered on Monday so I'm paranoid) I have read so many things about overwatering I am scared to do so...but I do think my one phal definitely needs some water. I have also read that new bark (I soaked it for 24 hours first) dries out fairly quickly and requires more watering up front. I have also read that you can lightly mist the underside of their leaves? But I'm hesitant to do that too after reading some controversy about it.

The phals are in a south facing window that gets lots of bright filtered (blinds are down) light throughout the day. They are also about 5-6 feet under a vent that is only very slightly open for a little bit of airflow.

I attached a couple pictures of the leaf and the root. Advice? Thanks so much!

tucker85 · #2 03-14-2013, 10:01 AM

If the dowel is still coming out moist, I would wait another day before watering. One thing I do, to give the orchid some moisture while waiting for the media to dry, is to mist the aerial roots. Mist both sides of your aerial roots while trying not to get water in the crown of the plant. Use room temperature water, not super cold water. The easiest way to mist, or water indoor phals is to take them to the sink and do it there so you don't get water all over your furniture. When you do water the media, soak it really well. Good luck.

SlipperGirl · #3 03-14-2013, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tucker85

If the dowel is still coming out moist, I would wait another day before watering. One thing I do, to give the orchid some moisture while waiting for the media to dry, is to mist the aerial roots. Mist both sides of your aerial roots while trying not to get water in the crown of the plant. Use room temperature water, not super cold water. The easiest way to mist, or water indoor phals is to take them to the sink and do it there so you don't get water all over your furniture. When you do water the media, soak it really well. Good luck.

I agree with tucker about the watering

I still think your orchid will be fine it just got repotted and is probably stressed and it just went from moss to a bark two very different potting mixes.

Good luck and keep us updated

silken · #4 03-14-2013, 12:15 PM

I also agree with both previous comments. And misting the air root might help a bit. If it's allowed to get dry in the pot or VERY close to it, the roots will grow better as they seek moisture and in the end you will have a healthier plant with stronger roots.

butterfly_muse · #5 03-14-2013, 01:43 PM

Thank you all for your replies! I will do that for both my phals (the aerial roots on the other have dried up a bit as well - it also came out of moss) and I will let you know how it goes. How often should I mist them? Once a day? Twice a day? Only when the bark on the top is dry?

And when should I fertilize these guys? I have read once monthly or weakly weekly...is there one that is more advantageous than the other with newly potted plants? I haven't fertilized either one just because I've read it can add to their stress after they're newly potted.

SlipperGirl · #6 03-14-2013, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

Thank you all for your replies! I will do that for both my phals (the aerial roots on the other have dried up a bit as well - it also came out of moss) and I will let you know how it goes. How often should I mist them? Once a day? Twice a day? Only when the bark on the top is dry?

And when should I fertilize these guys? I have read once monthly or weakly weekly...is there one that is more advantageous than the other with newly potted plants? I haven't fertilized either one just because I've read it can add to their stress after they're newly potted.

I would mist it once or twice a day in the morning.

To fertilize you will need to find what works for you I would try a small amount about 1 tsp and if your plant needs more or less you can adjust it.

What kind of fertilizer to you use?

butterfly_muse · #7 03-14-2013, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mothorchidgirl

I would mist it once or twice a day in the morning.

To fertilize you will need to find what works for you I would try a small amount about 1 tsp and if your plant needs more or less you can adjust it.

What kind of fertilizer to you use?

I couldn't find anything local but Miracle Grow where for orchids where I live. I have read conflicting things about the orchids being able to absorb urea but I saw King of Orchids here on this forum say it was okay...so I am hoping that this fertilizer will be okay. I know MG can be a bit intense so I diluted it a little more than the box recommended.

And thanks, I will do that. =) Thank you!

SlipperGirl · #8 03-14-2013, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

I couldn't find anything local but Miracle Grow for orchids. I have read conflicting things about the orchids being able to absorb urea but I saw King of Orchids here on this forum say it was okay...so I am hoping that this fertilizer will be okay. I know MG can be a bit intense so I diluted it a little more than the box recommended.

And thanks, I will do that. =) Thank you!

Glad we could help let us know if you have any questions

butterfly_muse · #9 03-14-2013, 08:54 PM

I have one more question! (Sorry!) I did not have a spray bottle this morning (well I did, but the straw thing in it was missing. Stupid Lowes) to mist the orchids with, so I bought one on my way home today and misted right away. Thankfully, the roots on both orchids look more green and happy than they did. That said, I noticed that the wrinkled leaf, and the one underneath it on the orchid pictured above has yellowed slightly (moreso than it was this morning). Is this due to the water deprivation and will it fix itself? Or could this be due to something else?

The roots on this orchid were rotted and moldy and BAD when I got it, so I am not sure whether it's an issue with the roots that I did leave? OR I am wondering if the fact that the plant is still blooming has something to do with it. I am starting to think that it might be a good idea to cut the flowers (though it would make me sad) in an attempt to encourage the plant to focus its energy on growing new roots instead of trying to maintain its flowers. It has so few roots it's no doubt that it may not be able to sustain the flowers.

Biggest fear is cutting the flowers and then having the plant die anyway. Any thoughts? Thanks.

SlipperGirl · #10 03-14-2013, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

I have one more question! (Sorry!) I did not have a spray bottle this morning (well I did, but the straw thing in it was missing. Stupid Lowes) to mist the orchids with, so I bought one on my way home today and misted right away. Thankfully, the roots on both orchids look more green and happy than they did. That said, I noticed that the wrinkled leaf, and the one underneath it on the orchid pictured above has yellowed slightly (moreso than it was this morning). Is this due to the water deprivation and will it fix itself? Or could this be due to something else?

The roots on this orchid were rotted and moldy and BAD when I got it, so I am not sure whether it's an issue with the roots that I did leave? OR I am wondering if the fact that the plant is still blooming has something to do with it. I am starting to think that it might be a good idea to cut the flowers (though it would make me sad) in an attempt to encourage the plant to focus its energy on growing new roots instead of trying to maintain its flowers. It has so few roots it's no doubt that it may not be able to sustain the flowers.

Biggest fear is cutting the flowers and then having the plant die anyway. Any thoughts? Thanks.

I always like to cut the flowers off when the plant is in bad health.

You can not save the leaf that is going yellow it will get more and more yellow until it falls off.