Quick Question re: Sphag and Bag

[butterfly_muse]

Huzzah! It is now sitting on the baker's rack. So I assume I just leave it...? For how long? Do I need to remoisten the paper towels? How long will it take before there are new roots? I am really worried about these guys, I think they were outside in the 40 degree temps last night so I don't even know if they'll live. =(

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I wouldn't worry about the towel getting dry really fast, I'd watch to see if the paper towel is looking a bit grungy. If the paper towel is looking like it needs to be thrown out, it probably does.

If the towel dries out, and it still looks good, just re-wet.

I can't say how long the plants need to be in there, but whenever you start seeing significant root growth to the point where you feel comfortable potting them up, is when you can remove them.

Summer is right around the corner, and that is when the most dramatic growth happens with many Phals.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

I wouldn't worry about the towel getting dry really fast, I'd watch to see if the paper towel is looking a bit grungy. If the paper towel is looking like it needs to be thrown out, it probably does.

If the towel dries out, and it still looks good, just re-wet.

I can't say how long the plants need to be in there, but whenever you start seeing significant root growth to the point where you feel comfortable potting them up, is when you can remove them.

Summer is right around the corner, and that is when the most dramatic growth happens with Phals.

Thank you so much for all of your help! I am hoping that these guys make it. I totally thought the roots were fine bc they LOOKED plump (what I could see) and white, not brown and black, and those two tiny roots on the second plant were in the medium so I thought they went further down. The sphag was bone dry, so I was like, oh, I'll just soak them and water them up! Hahaha, derp! It's two plants!

Their flowers are a really deep purple, though (there were some dried up flowers in the pot with it) and I thought they'd be really lovely if I could get them to bloom again. So...*crossfingers* Thanks again!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

No problem. You're welcome.

Please post periodic progress reports. It's nice to see what happens.

[butterfly_muse]

Okay, sorry, last question: Ray's site says to make sure the plant is in a warm location and my window gets chilly at night. Should I move it to an area elsewhere? We've got a bookshelf that is about 3-4 feet away from a heating vent and inbetween the vent and the shelf is a window, so it'd be "shady"? Would that be better?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Since I don't really know how warm or how cold certain places in your apartment get, all I'm gonna say is this...

Keep them at a temperature range of around the high 60's F - mid 90's F. This should simulate summer time temperatures.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Since I don't really know how warm or how cold certain places in your apartment get, all I'm gonna say is this...

Keep them at a temperature range of around the high 60's F - mid 90's F. This should simulate summer time temperatures.

Okie dokie. I don't know how cold it gets over by the window either, honestly. I need to get a thermometer for over there. It's ~67 in the house at night so I imagine the window might be ~62-65ish? I moved it over closer to the heating vent so it could be up higher and get it. Isn't it sad that it's May and I'm still using my heater?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Well...you do live in Maryland...

While it isn't always sunny in Southern California, there isn't always a need to put the heater on during this time of year over here.

---------- Post added at 03:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:16 PM ----------

Btw, if your night temperatures get into the low 70's F, it's fine too.