OPINION: Should I buy a NOID Phal with Terminal Spike?

[MrsH530]

I tend to agree with you, Andrew, about starting with the healthiest plant possible. I do not go searching for rescue plants for a couple of reasons, most notably because I'm too impatient to wait for it to decide to bloom again. Also because I really don't have much experience with nursing plants back to health. I have a couple phals that I rotted the roots on, and I'm trying to save them. That's the extent of my experience.

In regards to this TS, I thought the blooms were very pretty, I loved that it was a triple spike, and it seemed like it really wasn't in bad shape in the few minutes that I had to spare for it originally. I'm glad I hesitated, because when I went back to really look at it, I noticed things I did not see on first glance.

Anyway, I really appreciate everyone's feedback. I have a lot to learn, and value the opinions of more experienced growers

[Jinxy]

Very pretty plant you got in the end, enjoy :-)

[Wild Orchid]

[The "rescue orchid" mentality seems to have morphed into an educational right of passage where people feel the need to learn how to nurse a plant back to health. IMNSHO, in the time spent nursing a poor quality plant back to health, you'll have learnt much more about growing orchids and have more impressive plants to show for it if you started with healthy plants to begin with.[/QUOTE]

I know we've been through this subject times and times, and times again.... I just wish those who do not support rescue plants, NOID plants, etc, to each its own! - would be careful with their choice of words, so not to pass the judgment. Or - say nothing. I find this post rather judgmental and insensitive to others' personal choices and decisions made.

[Stray59]

I think you made a wise choice - I have both NoID and named varieties - if the plant is healthy, the blooms attractive and the price is right, NoID doesn't bother me at all - as said - to each their own. But, I also believe that almost any orchid deserves a "second look" - I have been attracted to an orchid, somewhat impulse bought it and then got it home and saw things that I missed during the initial "shock and awe" stage. For me I have learned to look over the plant, set it in my cart and walk around some more, or set it back where I know no one will look - - go browse some more and come back to look it over again. If on the second round I don't see issues and it still attracts me (or I haven't found another one I like better) I will buy it. But it is AMAZING how often I will overlook a major flaw because I am so caught up in the "ohhhh and ahhhh" of the initial sighting.
Just a little trick of mine - sometimes after the initial impulse dies off the plant is not nearly the bargain it looks like - and I HATE to pass up a bargain, but I have bought way too many that just became compost shortly after the purchase due to major issues that I did not detect.
That's my 2 cents!
Steve
P.S. Great choice! - I had a similar one a few years back. Very pretty and extremely healthy looking!

[mattryan]

Most of my rescues are from myself ;( Beautiful plant I have one similar and yes all it's roots rotted off and became a rescue too roflmao. Sometimes it's fun to see if you can bring them back. I don't have too many like that thank heavens. Some you win, some you lose. But I have found out what works for me!

Cheryl

[MrsH530]

Yes, I know exactly what you mean, Steve! I'm trying to get in the habit of doing that too. I'm definitely a NOID lover. The flowers are beautiful, and I'm not caught up in having a named species.

I do have a couple species though. A Phal equestris and a Phal hieroglyphica. But those guys are really, really tiny, and I don't expect blooms for a couple of years.

Thanks for the kind words for the beauty that I got on Monday. So far, seems like a really healthy plant and I'm excited for the rest of those blooms to open!

I'm finding that my bigger plants and my smaller plants do not necessarily do well in the same type of media. I seem to rot roots if I keep my bigger ones in sphag, bark, perlite mix, but my smaller ones do fine. I guess it's still "trial by fire" finding a good mix for the big ones, but I'm trying to keep them in something that's heavier on the bark side, and MUCH lighter on the sphag side. Bark dries out too quickly for me.. Oh well

---------- Post added at 08:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:45 AM ----------

Originally Posted by mattryan

Most of my rescues are from myself ;( Beautiful plant I have one similar and yes all it's roots rotted off and became a rescue too roflmao. Sometimes it's fun to see if you can bring them back. I don't have too many like that thank heavens. Some you win, some you lose. But I have found out what works for me!

Cheryl

Yes, my only rescues are from myself too! Live and learn!

[KrissieLynn]

Originally Posted by MrsH530

Bark dries out too quickly for me.. Oh well

Some thing I have found that helps with bark drying out too quick is a couple spritzes with a spray bottle in between waterings - just enough to wet the top layer of bark and roots that might be exposed. Doing that seems to keep mine happy.

[MrsH530]

Originally Posted by KrissieLynn

Some thing I have found that helps with bark drying out too quick is a couple spritzes with a spray bottle in between waterings - just enough to wet the top layer of bark and roots that might be exposed. Doing that seems to keep mine happy.

I've started to do that. At first I was worried that I was watering too much, but I just try to spritz only when the top roots are silver and then water when the bottom roots are silver.