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  #21  
Old 06-11-2014, 01:43 PM
Cntry Cntry is offline
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RandomGemini how does the skewer work when your checking for the moisture level for all us new growers. Can you fill me in that may help me out a lot.

Cntry
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  #22  
Old 06-11-2014, 02:05 PM
lauraeli lauraeli is offline
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In this pot, the center is open for airflow. No moss there. Not sure yet how well that will work with a larger pot, but I suppose someday I might find out.
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  #23  
Old 06-11-2014, 02:18 PM
RosieC RosieC is offline
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I think the size pot you have will dry quite well with moss.

Cntry, you put a wooden skewer down into the medium near the center and right to the bottom. When you want to test if it needs watering you pull it out and see if the skewer is damp/cold. If it is then it's still damp in the middle and not time to water. Put the skewer back in the same hole and leave it there ready for the next check.
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  #24  
Old 06-11-2014, 02:37 PM
lauraeli lauraeli is offline
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Of course, it dries well. I figure if there are no roots in the center, there is no need for moss there. And i like to be able to stick my finger into the middle to test for moisture.

My other orchid was in bark, and I used the skewer method. All of the roots rotted anyway. And I came across some very useful information, regarding the difference between aerial roots, and roots that are in the medium. The aerial roots (those that grow outside of the medium) contain 'air cells' which show up as little white flecks when they are watered. These roots should NOT be buried in the medium, as they are then at risk of rotting. I did not know this at the time.

ALL the roots that were left on that phal when I bought it were the aerial roots. And as soon as I buried them, they rotted away. Here is a picture of the 'air cells', as well as the air cells on my phal before it lost its roots. It now has only one root. And I will NOT be burying it if it decides to survive.
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  #25  
Old 06-11-2014, 04:13 PM
Cntry Cntry is offline
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Thanks Rosie I will have to try this method, since I already killed one from over watering it.
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  #26  
Old 06-19-2014, 09:28 AM
RosieC RosieC is offline
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Roots do tailor themselves to their enviroment and those that grow as aerial roots tailor themselves to be able to draw water in from the air, and those potted tailor themselves for damper enviroments.

I've not heard of those air cells before, but have seen the white patches.

It is possible to pot aerial roots, but you have to be careful. I've had most success when doing this in a very ariy medium or if they are only near the top of the medium and not further down. Some people say it's fine to pot them, but I have had problems trying that if they then don't get enough air.

All orchid roots like air anyway, but these have tailored themselves as they grew to like it even more.
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  #27  
Old 06-19-2014, 11:56 AM
greysister23 greysister23 is offline
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Very cute little one! I want to get a mini (or small for now) Phal. so bad!

Did you get it from Petco? I saw them on an endcap there a week ago and every single one was brown, black, or moldy broke my heart. But that petco doesn't have a great reputation to begin with, with their animals, so I'm not really surprised they killed a whole flat of Phal.s
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  #28  
Old 06-19-2014, 03:37 PM
lauraeli lauraeli is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by greysister23 View Post
Very cute little one! I want to get a mini (or small for now) Phal. so bad!

Did you get it from Petco? I saw them on an endcap there a week ago and every single one was brown, black, or moldy broke my heart. But that petco doesn't have a great reputation to begin with, with their animals, so I'm not really surprised they killed a whole flat of Phal.s
Yes, I did get it at petco :-) I went back there three weeks later, and the orchids were still doing fairly well. Still not on sale though lol. And of course not blooming either.
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  #29  
Old 06-19-2014, 05:00 PM
greysister23 greysister23 is offline
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They'll probably go reduced to clear around late July/August. Around when the back to school commercials start. If you go back every couple weeks you could probably catch them
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  #30  
Old 06-19-2014, 05:21 PM
JMNYC JMNYC is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lauraeli View Post
Of course, it dries well. I figure if there are no roots in the center, there is no need for moss there. And i like to be able to stick my finger into the middle to test for moisture.

My other orchid was in bark, and I used the skewer method. All of the roots rotted anyway. And I came across some very useful information, regarding the difference between aerial roots, and roots that are in the medium. The aerial roots (those that grow outside of the medium) contain 'air cells' which show up as little white flecks when they are watered. These roots should NOT be buried in the medium, as they are then at risk of rotting. I did not know this at the time.

ALL the roots that were left on that phal when I bought it were the aerial roots. And as soon as I buried them, they rotted away. Here is a picture of the 'air cells', as well as the air cells on my phal before it lost its roots. It now has only one root. And I will NOT be burying it if it decides to survive.
So interesting! But, when I repot phals, I often bury aerial roots and, with no downside! We must remember, all ephiphytic orchids grow high in the forest canopy...the roots clinging to the branches, and the roots are all exposed and are capable of photosynthesis!

Perhaps the real difference is velamen on aerial roots to as opposed to those buried in media.

In recent years, I have experimented with clear pots for my Phals... but have learned they don't make the huge difference I anticipated, tho the roots are often green, as one would expect, while those buried in media in opaque pots are white given they are not exposed to light.

Even drying of the growing media is also key.....and, with Phals, this is why, when I pot, I use 2/3 bark mix at the bottom and good NZ sphagnum for the top third. The medium drys consistently. And, I also burn additional openings around the perimeter of plastic posts at the bottom. I use two knives I heat on the gas flame. (I will make and upload a pic.)

My take is you may be growing yr Phals too wet altogether. In my experience, when you let them dry more than what is often recommended, they do splendidly.

Edit: K, made a bad pic, too light, but you will get the idea; in this case, opaque plastic pot. Affords getting more air into the pot. remember good clay orchid pots have slotted openings for a reason! I use those for all my catt alliance plants, etc.
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Last edited by JMNYC; 06-19-2014 at 05:32 PM..
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