My phal is wrinkly, help!

[FabianInAustralia]

I received a beautiful phal in August. It was doing well for a few months but after moving house it dropped its blooms and the leaves became extremely wilted and then leathery.

After doing much research I repotted it once the blooms dropped. It was in very dense and moist sphagnum moss in a pot with only one drainage hole at the bottom. I've cut plenty of drainage and air holes into the new pot (clear plastic) and have substituted the moss for a medium bark orchid mix.

The root system seems quite healthy with barely any mushy or brown roots. I have cut the spike right down to just above the fist node.

Is there anything else I can do to help this little guy? Should I be exposing this phal to bright, indirect light or giving it a bit of a break?

Any advice would be great!

[SlipperGirl]

After repotting you should give it less light then usual. If you could post pictures that would help (you need five post to post a picture) it sounds like you did the right thing to me as long as the roots are ok

Oh and if you would tell us the care you give it that would help as well

[FabianInAustralia]

Less light, got it. Thanks so much.

As for the care I give it.... well, up until now it was largely neglected. I guess this is where my problems stem from.

I was misting it every two weeks or so and that was about it (I now see that my phal didn't really stand a chance) I'll upload photos shortly.

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[SlipperGirl]

Did you ever water the plant or just mist it?

[FabianInAustralia]

I would water it every 2-4 weeks. And I wasn't watering it properly, just pouring a little water into the moss.

When I pulled it out of the moss to repot it the moss was like a damp brick.

Also, I now have the pot sitting on a plate with gravel and water in it to create humidity. The water isn't in contact with the pot at all. Right thing to do?

[SlipperGirl]

Originally Posted by FabianInAustralia

I would water it every 2-4 weeks. And I wasn't watering it properly, just pouring a little water into the moss.

What do you mean not watering it properly? All you need to do is put some water into the top of the pot, don't let it get in the crown of the plant and you should be good.

Originally Posted by FabianInAustralia

Also, I now have the pot sitting on a plate with gravel and water in it to create humidity. The water isn't in contact with the pot at all. Right thing to do?

Yep you can do that I have some of my orchids on a tray with pebbles

[FabianInAustralia]

That's what I was doing, although the water wasn't draining. I was under the impression I should have been soaking it and then letting the water drain completely from the medium before returning it to the decorative pot.

[My Green Pets]

I've read several times on here that roots adapted to moss have a hard time adjusting to bark, and that you may have to wait until the plant grows new roots before it is really acclimatized to its new conditions.

I think that for now you'd be best of keeping it in a warm place (25°C or so), indirect light like slippergirl said, humidity at least 50%, m¡sting the leaves and potting material to keep moisture around the plant (only in the morning), and giving it a good soak in room temperature water whenever the roots in the bottom of the pot are almost completely dry (pearly white).

Pics would help immensely as well. Keep us updated.

[SlipperGirl]

Originally Posted by FabianInAustralia

That's what I was doing, although the water wasn't draining. I was under the impression I should have been soaking it and then letting the water drain completely from the medium before returning it to the decorative pot.

Yes you should always let the plant drain before returning it to the decorative pot. You can soak it if you want I don't but that just me If you only had one drainage hole in it then it probably was not draining well enough, but as long as the roots are ok and you repotted it in a pot that has lots of drainage it should be ok

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by CambriaWhat

I've read several times on here that roots adapted to moss have a hard time adjusting to bark, and that you may have to wait until the plant grows new roots before it is really acclimatized to its new conditions.

This has not been my experience. I take it out of the "store" potting mix (moss) and put it right into lava rock and the roots stay fine. It is when the roots are unhealthy (rotting) when you change mediums that they will rot all the way. Healthy roots will remain healthy no matter what they are put in.
They are Air Plants. Their roots are not supposed to be in any medium!