Mini Phal?

[lauraeli]

That looks similar to the break on my leaf. Im glad to see the rest of the leaf is fine. I always wonder about the way water and nutrients move through a leaf. Why can you break even the main vein in a leaf, and it only affects the break? I would think it would affect the growth of anything beyond it, but it never does.

---------- Post added at 09:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:52 AM ----------

So...if they like neglect, does that mean I shouldnt mist the roots that are out of the bark? My other orchid has roots that are not buried, and they dry out so fast! They were green and plump one day, and then the next, they were shriveled and gray. I have almost considered removing them, since the roots that are in the bark stay green and healthy.

[RandomGemini]

That's not a happy leaf. It's just sort of there. I'm waiting for it to dry up and drop off so that the plant looks less... sad, but no, there's no infection in it or anything scary about it.

You know Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree? This is my Charlie Brown orchid. LOL! I got it for half price because I showed the cashier at the hardware store the root system and the guy said it looked like it was going to die. I told him that was worthy of a discount and he agreed.

I would imagine that since the human body finds workarounds for such things, plants do something similar. I have scars, but all of my limbs still work.

If you are just misting the aerial roots, I don't see a problem with it. Do it in the mornings, and avoid getting any of the water on the leaves. I don't bother misting aerial roots. I just keep humidity in my office around 50% and whether the aerial roots live or die, is up to the plant.

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[lauraeli]

Yes, I suppose it makes sense to let the plant decide. It seems to have decided to keep the buried roots, and not the aerial roots. That makes me nervous because all of the potted roots were rotted when I bought it, and the aerial roots were dry. I cut off the dead roots, soaked the dry ones, and then repotted it. I would like it to keep all of the roots it has left, but from what i can tell, it has a different agenda. It would benefit if I relaxed and let it do its thing. A couple days after it was repotted, it told me it was happy (or, happier). I mean, it didnt TALK per se. But I have a sort of sixth sense for plants. This is why I can hear my plant think 'why are you messing with me now? I was perfectly happy just sitting there on the windowsill...' To which I say, 'no, you are a plant. You can't think. I will think for you XD' and then that little voice inside of me, doesnt say anything at all, but just sort of stares at me, like this (O_o)

My sister said Im the plant whisperer but that is mostly because she is bad with plants. Unfortunately this doesnt make my plant care fool proof. If it did, I would be a wizard lol. Instead, I am a crazy person who talks to plants.

[OrangeAugust]

I love mini phals. They are my favorite. I like the small flowers and the way they kind of bunch together on the stems. I have 4 of them. I am going to repot the 3 that I got this year after they finish blooming because they are packed so tightly in the moss.
Try not to go too big with a new pot. I did that with my first mini phal and it took 3 years for it to bloom again because the root system was too small for the size pot I put it in.

[Kari_Stein]

I personally think even four inch leaves are minis, at least compared to full size Phals. I have a rescue full-size and a mini with eight leaves (and growing a new one!). I think I'll lean toward minis. I like the size and my growing space is small -- just about three feet along the headboard of my bed.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by lauraeli

That looks similar to the break on my leaf. Im glad to see the rest of the leaf is fine. I always wonder about the way water and nutrients move through a leaf. Why can you break even the main vein in a leaf, and it only affects the break? I would think it would affect the growth of anything beyond it, but it never does.

---------- Post added at 09:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:52 AM ----------

So...if they like neglect, does that mean I shouldnt mist the roots that are out of the bark? My other orchid has roots that are not buried, and they dry out so fast! They were green and plump one day, and then the next, they were shriveled and gray. I have almost considered removing them, since the roots that are in the bark stay green and healthy.

Phals like water. Many come from humid, tropical swamp forests. They don't want to be drowning in water, but they like quite a bit of it.

I tend not to like leaving sizable roots hanging in the air because in our more arid climates, they tend to desiccate rather easily and quickly.

The roots in the pot should be watered, then allowed to dry out for half a day to one full day, and watered again.

I do not generally like to give watering regimen recommendations in terms of days to water, (for example, I don't like saying the following as much: "Water every 5 - 6 days."). What may take one person's potting media they have a Phal growing in, 7 days to dry out before needing to water again, may take another person's potting media they have a Phal growing in 3 days to dry out before needing to water again. This is why I like saying stuff such as: "water again when the roots and the potting media has completely dried out, but do not leave the plant dry for more than 1 day." Get what I mean?

[lauraeli]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Phals like water. Many come from humid, tropical swamp forests. They don't want to be drowning in water, but they like quite a bit of it.

I tend not to like leaving sizable roots hanging in the air because in our more arid climates, they tend to desiccate rather easily and quickly.

The roots in the pot should be watered, then allowed to dry out for half a day to one full day, and watered again.

I do not generally like to give watering regimen recommendations in terms of days to water, (for example, I don't like saying the following as much: "Water every 5 - 6 days."). What may take one person's potting media they have a Phal growing in, 7 days to dry out before needing to water again, may take another person's potting media they have a Phal growing in 3 days to dry out before needing to water again. This is why I like saying stuff such as: "water again when the roots and the potting media has completely dried out, but do not leave the plant dry for more than 1 day." Get what I mean?

I believe I know what you mean :-) I am so happy my mini phal is healthy because it gives me a little time to get to know it. I just put my finger up through the bottom every day to feel for moisture, and then look at the roots. A few days ago the moss seemed dry, and the roots looked healthy. I waited a day, and checked again. The roots had shriveled slightly. So I watered it. So that is what you mean by 'do not leave it dry for more than one day.' I left it a day longer than I needed to.

My other phal was unhealthy when I got it. At this point it has lost all of its roots but one so instead of being potted it is now attached to a stick over moist sphagnum. The two bottom leaves have turned yellow, one before the other. But I suppose that could be normal. I just put that one, stick and all, into the fish aquarium for 5 minutes every other day. LOL!...Thats just my lazy way of giving it opportunity to survive, if it so feels the need. I will let you know how it responds to such treatment after some time has passed. XD

[lauraeli]

Yay! My mini is putting out a new leaf, and an aerial root is resuming growth. See the green tip coming through? Im excited! It is in a north window with a single t8 grolux about 6 inches from it.

Im so much more comfortable with the sphagnum, compared to the bark that my other phal was in. Before it lost all of its roots. I know it sounds weird, but i think im more likely to overwater with bark. It is so easy to tell when sphagnum is dry or wet.

[RosieC]

I think in small pots like this Sphag can work well. I've not tried it myself on Phals but use it on other orchids in small pots. However it can stay damp in the center why dry on the outside when in a large pot, so if you start going up to larger pots just be careful of that.

[RandomGemini]

I use a bamboo skewer on my larger phals that are potted in moss, just so that I don't overwater.