Is this discounted mini Phal healthy?

[cjcayetano]

I purchased this little guy at a hardware store for $1.75. It was on clearance. I inspected it and thought it looked ok from everything that I've read on forums and online on the health of an orchid. Can anyone please verify that it is indeed healthy. It i'm not sure if that's also a spike coming out? I really hope he will survive because i love the colours.

[RandomGemini]

Maybe. Take a pic of the pot, so we can see what the roots look like in the pot. From what I can see, I would say that it is healthy and it was probably discounted because the blooms are dying back. It also looks REALLY wet.

Don't water it for 7 days. Trust me on this. I've gotten several of these in similar condition. Just leave it alone for a whole week. Maybe even 10 days. Let it dry out all the way.

[cjcayetano]

i guess a photo of the roots would have helped. Sorry, here they are. And it does seem like the moss is really wet. There is only 1 drainage hole at the bottom of the plastic container.

[RandomGemini]

They look great, but the plant is a bit water logged. Looks like you got it out of there in plenty of time though. I don't see any rot setting in.

Phal roots should be green, or white, or even a yellowish color. A grayish or blackish color is not healthy and I don't see any evidence of that going on in this pot.

You chose wisely!

Let it dry out for a while. Leave it in this pot actually. When I buy these, I leave them in the moss until the roots are crawling out of the pot. I don't repot them until I see new root growth. Why? Well, for one thing, I'm kinda lazy. For another, I think that new root growth acclimates better to a new potting medium and I use bark when I repot, not moss. When I repot them, about six months to a year after I bring it home, I put them jello pudding cups, or a recycled starbucks grande cup that I've burned a few holes in with a lighter.

It should take about a year for the roots on this one to get that plentiful. So you are fine leaving it in this pot for a while.

These pots like this one, I haven't had an issue with rot in them. I think it's because I let the moss go completely dry before watering again. Like I said before, 7 to 10 days.

Search the forum for the skewer method. This will help you judge when you need to water your plant.

[lexusnexus]

It looks pretty healthy to me as well. No, that's an air root not a blooming spike as a blooming spike will be dark green in color.

[cjcayetano]

I'm glad that it's pretty healthy! Jello cups and Starbucks cups...what an awesome idea! I would never have thought of using those. I'm pretty excited to see this guy bloom those pretty flowers in the future! Thank you for your help and advice!

[RandomGemini]

It's hard to find pots that fit plants of this size, so you have to get creative and come up with your own.

[OrangeAugust]

Yeah, it looks healthy but I agree that it should be repotted after the flowers fall off. The moss looks super old and I think it would be better for the plant if you planted it in new moss or in bark mix. It might also be better to plant it in a pot made for orchids- with holes in the sides for better air flow around the roots.

[RandomGemini]

Originally Posted by OrangeAugust

Yeah, it looks healthy but I agree that it should be repotted after the flowers fall off. The moss looks super old and I think it would be better for the plant if you planted it in new moss or in bark mix. It might also be better to plant it in a pot made for orchids- with holes in the sides for better air flow around the roots.

Um... NO don't do that, because that's not what I said to do. Do NOT repot until new root growth is showing. If you wait for new roots, it will establish itself in the bark more easily and it will not suffer a huge setback and it should rebloom for you in six months or a year, depending on the hybrid's parents.

Less is more here. Don't fuss with it!!!

I think that mini phals are more particular about their roots than the bigger phals are. They are more easily set back in their growth habits. You CAN repot it after it blooms if you want, but you will get better results if you wait!

Trust me, young grasshopper! I am not going to lead you astray on this one. I've been very fortunate so far on my mini phal reblooms. I've got several that are in spike right now.

[OrangeAugust]

Originally Posted by RandomGemini

Um... NO don't do that, because that's not what I said to do.

I didn't say you said it. Someone else said it but they must have edited it out. That's why I said I was agreeing with the person who said to repot it.