Help, I killed my Phal after repotting/trim?

[hvlckvtnr]

Symptom: some flowers have petals whose edges seem to by drying up, into a paper-like substance (some other flowers are still fine). The petals are also collapsing / drooping. Some roots may be also drying up, turning to "wood". Also, some edges of leaves now have a brown, thin outline... I think this is new.

Background: recently, after finding this board and learning much, I decided to look at the root system of this Phal. I took it out of its decorative pot, and sure enough, there was still plenty moisture humidity in the roots, and they did not look healthy. In fact, some were rotting a bit, while others appeared yellow, which I have not heard about.

What I have done at that point:

• I took the phal out of the transparent pot
• I drilled extra ventilation holes in this plastic pot
• I dried the medium with hair dryer
• I trimmed the rotting or "wooden" parts of the roots
• I put the medium and plant back in the pot
• I did not water for another 3-4 days, until the top roots seemed to be shrinking

The other piece of background info is that I was likely seriously overfeeding the plant (could this lead to yellow roots?) I suspect.

So, help? I fear my repotting/care did more harm than good... What should I do to give the plant best chance to recuperate??

EDIT: also forgot that, this morning I found a small spider between the leaves of the plant. I removed it, but should I still spray the orchid with something, even though spider is gone?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Phal looks a little under watered. Water a little more frequently.

[Priya_H]

Here's some advice (this is what I do and have seen great improvement):

Dont measure days when it comes to watering. I give mine thorough drenching whenever they need it. I inspect all my houseplants daily. Sometimes my large orchid (potted in bark) needs watering every 2/3 days and sometimes once/week is enough. The mini ones (potted in moss, changing soon) need less watering but I don't measure days with them either.

Trim off the dead, shrivelled up roots, give the plant a GOOD watering. Mybe it's time for some of the leaves and flowers to go naturally. The other day I cut off a bottom leaf from one of the minis because it was turning yellow. The rest of the plant is fine and growing lots of new roots and a new leaf, so I knew it was just natural. A few days before that, I got rid off some of the old roots from the same plant.

Pay attention to your plant, get to know it. Watch it everyday. Don't move it around too much. Give the light and water it needs. I don't even feed mine orchid food. I just feed them a very weak dose of Miracle Gro water soluble fertilizer (which my other plants also get) maybe once a month. I also give them a good flush of water once/month to get rid off all the salt depositis that may have accumulated on the medium (I have hard water, I dont use water straight out of the tap. I use clean yogurt containers to store plant water. Greatly cut down on hard water spots on leaves. To clean leaves, soak a small piece of paper towel with enough milk to wipe the leaves easily. Don't have the paper towel dripping with milk, just damp enough. You won't believe the shine milk gives and the amount of grime it takes off. Don't have regular milk? You can use same amount of Half & half).

Mist your plant everyday, usually early hours of the day. Sit it on a pebbled saucer (Dollar stores have saucers and river rocks) with water thats only deep enough to partially submerge the pebbles. Check EVERYDAY and refill as needed. I have to refill my saucers almost everyday.

I recently found out that cutting and boiling a small piece of potato then using that as fertilizer helps a lot. Potato contains potassium and that helps in blooming. Just let the grated/minced potato cool down then scatter over the potting medium. I just tried it last night, yet to see any change. Crushed eggshells give much needed calcium too.

Good luck!

[WhiteRabbit]

Repotting while in bloom should not harm your plant, tho it MAY cause blooms to drop.

Spiders generally eat insects and other unwanted critters, not plants.

[Bill U.]

Priya gave you a lot of good advice.

Definitely watch your plant and give it what it needs that way- instead of watering by merely counting days and giving it water then.

Sometimes there are some roots that are just in need of trimming because they have died naturally. Roots and leaves have a natural life span, which means that they will eventually die off as they live out their functional uses. Leaves and roots will die off as the plant draws back any nutrients that it has and uses that for flowering or creating new plant parts.

There are several different thoughts regarding feeding your phals, but some popular thoughts are feeding once every 2 weeks with a feeding of 30-10-10 fertilizer and then another thought is to feed every watering with a fairly balanced fertilizer like 20-20-20 at approximately 50ppm. (A great website to reference is Orchid Growing Supplies Semi-hydroponics Hydroponics Orchid Books PrimeAgra. It's a great site for reference and Ray is a member of our forum)

Let us know how it goes or if you have any other questions!

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by Priya_H

Here's some advice (this is what I do and have seen great improvement):

I recently found out that cutting and boiling a small piece of potato then using that as fertilizer helps a lot. Potato contains potassium and that helps in blooming. Just let the grated/minced potato cool down then scatter over the potting medium. I just tried it last night, yet to see any change. Crushed eggshells give much needed calcium too.

REFERENCES???

[hvlckvtnr]

Thanks King, Priya, Bill... one more question then: if I am to go by when the plant is "thirsty", how can I tell the orchid needs water, what are the telltale signs?

I've been really conservative as I have a history of overwatering all plants in general, hence why I've been keeping the water back on the orchid...

[Carpe Diem]

If you can see the roots through the pot, water when the roots get silvery looking. When the roots are green they don't need water.
You can also use the skewer method. Put a Kebab skewer down the middle of the pot, half way, pull it out every few days, touch it to your cheek or wrist, if it feels cold/moist don't water. Put it back in the pot and test again in a couple of days, water when the skewer is almost dry.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by hvlckvtnr

Thanks King, Priya, Bill... one more question then: if I am to go by when the plant is "thirsty", how can I tell the orchid needs water, what are the telltale signs?

Ok, I'm not exactly sure which of the 2 you're asking for, but I'll try my best to answer what you might be asking.

1. If you're asking how I know that your orchid was in need of some more water, so that in the future you can tell whether your plants were under watered or not - here's the answer:

Look at the roots again. You'll notice that some of the roots are wrinkled and looking a little shriveled.

Other than the fact that you've told me your watering schedule, (which is good to know, btw), that's how I know.

2. If you're asking how to tell when the next time to water the orchid is - the answer is what Carpe Diem said...

Since you have a clear plastic pot, look at the root zone, and see whether the roots have dried out already or not.

If they still look wet and are green, then don't water.

If after you have watered the orchid, and the roots have started to dry off, pay attention to the roots and see if the roots have dried out completely. If they have completely dried out and look silvery white, then water.