Need Help With My Orchid (newbie)

[tbizi]

Thanks for the help so far everyone.

James, I just ordered some seaweed extract via Amazon. It will be here on the 9th. Also, the smallest pot I have is 3" in diameter. I hope that's still ok.

Lastly, would you suggest cutting off the section of dampened roots? They don't seem to be doing very well and I'm worried they are hampering the plants growth.

Thanks!

[RandomGemini]

You can go get 2.5 inch clay pots at most Wal-mart locations. Just make sure they are not glazed. You want a plain terra cotta pot. They'll be in the garden center.

[tbizi]

Thanks, I'll get going on all of this (already have!) and will update this thread in a few weeks with any improvements.

[dounoharm]

I would rather a bark chunk mix than a moss one...I do not like moss!...phals do well in a very large, hard, bark mix for me....that allows lots of air and drainage for the roots....a clay pot, yes about 3" is good....with bark, you can water every week to ten days, with moss, it could be two weeks before it dries enough in the center....you must make sure the center gets dry before watering!...fertilizer, yes....most phals require a 10 degree drop in temp in order to initiate blooming...maybe you should work on beefing up that plant this spring and summer, then allow it to bloom next winter...good luck!

[tbizi]

Hey all, I just repotted our little friend into a bark mixture and mixed up a solution of seaweed with a gallon of water. I haven't done so until now because I kept it potted in its original stuff while waiting for the new medium and seaweed to arrive and I wanted it to dry out.

My issue now is more of a mental one. I've drenched the newly potted phal with the seaweed solution and bark medium. But the bark doesn't seem to hold water well. I'm worried this guy will dry out FAST. I'm also heading out of town for 7 days tomorrow. Is it going to dry out before I get back?

Maybe this is normal, but it just seems weird... never had it in a bark medium before.

---------- Post added at 07:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:15 PM ----------

Hmm, ok... I just read that I should soak the bark overnight to prime it to absorb water. Doing that now and will repot tomorrow morning before I leave. I'm just going to leave my phal out of any medium on a paper towel until then. I hope that's ok.

[RandomGemini]

Yes, it should survive one night bare root just fine.

[tbizi]

Thanks for the confirmation Gemini!

In other news, it IS pushing out at least one more new root right now AND I spotted just the tiniest of tip of a new leaf poking out.

I haven't had a new life in quite some time and I'm hoping it is the product of changing its location in my home to a different window.

I'm soaking the bark in the seaweed solution so I'm hoping this seaweed really helps spur some new growth at a time when I'm starting to see some signs of it. Should be interesting and I'll keep this thread updated every so often for the benefit of others :-)

[lotis146]

The potting medium that will work best for you really depends on your conditions. If it's typically warm & dry in your house than it might not hurt to mix some moss in with the bark. I've learned here that the plant's roots really need good air circulation thus the use of bark mixtures, however at the same time some people may not be able to keep or get the bark wet enough.

Visiting Hausermann's greenhouse this weekend I discovered that most of their Phals, Paphs & more were potted in moss because that's what they found works best in their conditions. This is in Illinois, Chicagoland area. Then I met a woman who had repotted her plants in bark in Orchid pots (with holes in the sides) after which all of her plants began to decline/die. Don't get scared! I'm sharing this as an FYI bit. I think in her case she just simply couldn't keep/get the bark wet enough & the holes in the side, while great aeration, dried the bark much faster than she realized where she was used to watering once a week with moss. I'm learning more as I go since I repotted many of mine in bark and/or coconut coir. I also mixed some with moss so that it retained moisture a little bit more.

Good luck with yours! I'd say (newbie but growing I am!) soak your plant in say a bowl of water after you've repotted it for 15 minutes before you leave. I'd think it should be good while you're away.

Cheers!