Promote root growth for baby Phals

[clusty]

Hey,

I got a small baby phal pure blue violacea with 2-3 1" rootlets and a bunch of dead roots. It was planted into pure moss. Since i have bad experience with it i repotted into fine bark and sprinkled just a little moss in the mix. I planted this in a plastic net orchid pot.

Is there something I can do to stimulate the root growth ?
What about the watering schedule? Do I make sure the top part of the mix is constantly moist ? (2 mists a day)

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Increase warmth, and raise humidity.

Ideally, keep the day temperatures around 32.2 C (90 F). If you can't, then keeping day temperatures around 29.4 C (85 F) is good enough.

Keep the night temperatures around 15.6 C - 21.1 C (60 F - 70 F).

Try to shoot for a humidity of 80% or higher.

[clusty]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Increase warmth, and raise humidity.

Ideally, keep the day temperatures around 32.2 C (90 F). If you can't, then keeping day temperatures around 29.4 C (85 F) is good enough.

Keep the night temperatures around 15.6 C - 21.1 C (60 F - 70 F).

Try to shoot for a humidity of 80% or higher.

Warmth I could provide with a heating mat.
For humidity, could I put a small transparent dome over the orchid, or the lack of airflow is a sure way to rot it ?

[silken]

You could use some K-L-N, SuperThrive or seaweed which all promote root growth.

[clusty]

Originally Posted by silken

You could use some K-L-N, SuperThrive or seaweed which all promote root growth.

Weak superthrive and seaweed are already part of the usual regiment.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

You could use a 2 L clear plastic bottle and cut off the bottleneck end, as well as punch holes in it to use as a dome if the use of a dome is necessary.

[isurus79]

Keeping roots dryer than normal actually promotes good root growth. As said previously, high humidity is good and water less often than normal. Also, don't use KLN and/or seaweed fertilizers too often (ie. more than 1x every 2 weeks) as that can inhibit root growth too.

[clusty]

What about light levels bias?
Towards brighter or darker ?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by clusty

What about light levels bias?
Towards brighter or darker ?

If it had no roots, I'd say darker. Since it has 2-3, I'd say "normal" light for the species.