does this phal look healthy

[AshleighJade]

Im very new to orchid keeping but I really have caught the bug! Not only have I purchased one recently and taken in my mums very unhealthy phal to try and sort out :/ I've now been asked by a friend to cast my eye over her orchid to see how I think its doing, to me it doesn't look the healthiest but it doesn't look in a awful state either! I was undecided so I thought id ask the experts, I've attached photos of the leaves for you opinions.

Thanks guys

[My Green Pets]

The leaves look healthy, but it's hard to tell without seeing the roots. The roots are the key!



Also you should know:

The first rule of Orchid Board is...you do NOT talk about Orchid Board

[SlipperGirl]

The leaves look good to me how are the roots?

[Dendy83]

If anything the media looks a little broken down, but I can't tell if the media is supposed to be smallerish or not. It could probably stand to be repotted and that will give you a great chance to look at those roots!

[kindrag23]

I agree with what is currently being said especially that the media is looking broken down slightly. You really cant ever tell without checking the roots out.

[Judi]

I also agree--and I would add that the pot doesn't seem to have much in the line of aeration for the roots. Hopefully the pot has some drainage holes in the bottom, but phals generally like better air circulation such as with the slotted pots. For quite a few years now I have been buying slotted pots, then I make the slots even bigger before using the pots. I really believe my phals are doing better with more air circulation around the roots.

[AshleighJade]

Its actually potted in a clear pot with drainage holes and slits down the side, when looking through the clear pot I cant actually see any roots - i did ask my friend about this and she said she recently repotted it a few weeks ago and the roots were ok but not great. Can I really take it out of the media again to have a look at roots after its ony just settle in the new media - seems a little cruel to disturb it! But like I said I dont know much about this!

Thanks for all your help and comments

[Dendy83]

Originally Posted by AshleighJade

i did ask my friend about this and she said she recently repotted it a few weeks ago and the roots were ok but not great. Can I really take it out of the media again to have a look at roots after its ony just settle in the new media - seems a little cruel to disturb it!

Yes, especially if she said the roots were not great. The bark needs to be larger, I recommend an actual orchid mix (NOT Miracle Grow). You or her can get the mix from Lowe's or Home Depot. And yes, it is important to disturb the roots again because if the roots are not healthy then that pot may be waaaay too big. The problem with that is if there aren't many roots then it will take longer to dry out and an invitation for rot.

It's up to you (and ultimately) her what to do next, but that's my two cents

[RandomGemini]

Lowe's carries Better Gro Phalaenopsis Bark. I use that for my phals and they seem to like it pretty well. When you go to repot this in the bark mix, make sure that you measure out the amount of mix you will need and put it into a bucket, then pour boiling water over and it let it soak overnight. This will open the mix up so that it will retain moisture better.

If you don't do this, it's not a big deal, but the plant will dry out more frequently for the first several weeks.

[My Green Pets]

Guys she's got her country flag as the United Kingdom; there are no Lowe's or Home Depots there.

AshleighJade they are home improvement stores with big gardening departments, UK equivalents could be Wicke's or Homebase for example.