humidity problem?? aerial roots drying

[Dri312]

Hi nice people!!

I have 2 Phal and I'm currently having some difficulties to make them thrive. I live in Bakersfield, CA. Here in the summer, the temperatures reaches triple digits very often and, for example, the humidity today is 28% and the temperature is 80F.

My first Phal was a gift. I made the most common mistake and over water it. After searching on board, I repoted on bark and cut rot roots. It lost all the blooms and cut the spike close to roots to focus on roots recovery. (I still need to get the fertilizer to help it out. The only thing I had in hand was Miracle Gro spikes for orchids. Broke one in half and place under bark, close to pot as possible).

My second Phal I bought from Costco. It was beautiful! 6leaves (not very big but very green, shine, no signs of damage or infection), 3 green spikes with a lots of unopened buds. The roots as far as I could see, was green, plump, and even had a very beautiful aerial root coming down. When I got home, I checked the roots. They were in moss, super wet. I repoted in bark. No even one root rot or mushy. Great!

Yesterday they looked dry so I soaked both for 10 mins in water, let drip as much as possible and put them back on the east side near a window. Today I noticed the aerial roots aren't doing so well like before. They look wrinkly, not soft pump green like couple of days ago.

It's hard to see this happen... I even thought about to replant them in moss and bark, instead just bark. I don't know if the humidity isn't ideal here, if I under water... I hope I don't kill them.

To help with humidity, I place then under gravel in a tray with water on bottom. What else can I do!?!?

I was kind of desperate so I took a small piece of cotton ball, wet it and placed on top of the aerial roots (of my bigger Phal). I left for few hours and, to be honest they look much better. Is that ok to keep doing it?!?

I'd looked for threads with problems similar to mine but maybe with my pictures someone will be able to give me some more specific advice.

Thanks for reading though..

Feeling overwhelmed...

Thanks!

[Dri312]

The first 5 pics are from my big Phal, with 3 spikes and buds ready to bloom. The last 2 pics is from my first Phal, after lost bloom and cut off spike.

Thanks in advance!

[Optimist]

Do you have soft water? A water softener? What about very alcaline water?

Did the bark have added fertilizer like miracle grow bark?

I ask because these roots look like they may have had salt or chemicle burns?

It issomething to look at.

[Dri312]

No, I don't have water softener. I'm currently using distilled water.

I used bark pieces from Miracle Grow Coarse Orchid Mix. It's like "soil look alike" with some medium pieces of bark. The first time I repoted, I took only the bark. Today, few hrs ago, I took more "soil". I don't know if there is any fertilizer on this mix.

I just feel they were much more happier in the moss.

It's so frustrating... The first time I over water. Now I think they are thirsty. Where is my green thumb?!?!?!




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[Dri312]

Thank u so much Optimist for replying. I need to be more like your nickname says!


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[Optimist]

I believe phals come from very misty, steamy woody areas. They can be watered every day. Some people here are successful growing them hydroponically or semi. The problem you seem to have encountered is that of roots adapted to a costantly wet environment being moved to bark medium.

Yes, realistically you will have trouble with aridness and heat. I live on the texas pan handle. Cattleyas with lalia in them grow better here.

[james mickelso]

Bakersfield is very dry. Mix in about 50% chopped up sphagnum moss into your potting medium. That should help. Get a spray bottle or small pump sprayer filled with distilled water to mist the airial roots as often as you can. Couple times a day if you can during hot dry weather. Putting the plant on a tray full of pebbles filled with water won't raise the humidity. But growing phals in Bakersfield can be done. You need to put in a little more effort though. Cattleyas are a better fit there. but give phals a try. 50% chopped sphagnum moss and 50% medium and small bark. That should help a lot. Water when the mix seems dry.

[Dri312]

Thanks a lot for the advice Optimist and James!
I will buy sphagnum moss tomorrow and mix with bark and, water as often as needed.
Also I will search about Cattleyas. I heard Phal would be a good choice for beginners that's why I went for it. I forgot I live in a desert!
James, if you don't mind I ask, do you know which other plants would be good to grow indoors besides Cattleyas?
Thanks a lot!

[james mickelso]

Laelias. Brassovolas. Saphronitis. Epicats.

[Dri312]

More research to do. Thank you!