BLC Green Paradise "Ching Hua" - Orchid Board

james mickelso · #1 08-03-2014, 07:38 PM

My BLC Green Paradise "Ching Hua". Had a little hic up the last two years due to neglect and moving it around too much. Starting to come back around now. Usually this has two to three big blooms on it. I've had it for a long time. This is just one of the divisions I have. I sold off three of them a couple years ago when I was going to get out of orchid growing. I kept this one and two others. Very fragrant and lasts three weeks.

james mickelso · #2 08-03-2014, 07:50 PM

Just another update on the phals I repotted last spring. Most went from moss to bark or lava rock. Some went from moss to moss. And two, in flower, went from small pots to one large pot and still have flowers. Don't be afraid to repot when in flower. Just take care. Notice the change in color of the roots in the third picture. That is what they look like when they become mature enough to absorb moisture. The newer ones haven't become mature enough yet to absorb moisture and so look nice, white, and shiny. You can put these roots under the media and they will grow just as well as not being under the media.

isurus79 · #3 08-03-2014, 08:03 PM

Looks good James. What was the inspiration to repot using lava rock? How often do you have to water the Phal now in lava?

Bulbofett · #4 08-03-2014, 08:14 PM

Beautiful yellow-green! I see why you decided not to get out of growing orchids

james mickelso · #5 08-03-2014, 08:20 PM

I repot in many different media as well as blends of different media. Sometimes to illustrate a concept to the beginners here and sometimes just because. No particular reason. I water this little guy every few days but if I miss that it gets watered at least once a week. I work a lot and can't always water when I should. I like the lava cinder I collect because it is like swiss cheese. Lots of small vesicles which hold water for a day. Phals are not as thirsty as some would think. Depending on the temps and RH they can miss a watering now and then without a problem. Folks think they are thirsty and so that is why the board gets so many requests to help save a dying plant. I keep posting pics of these phals to illustrate my point. Orchids, by and large, can be potted in any media as long as you understand the watering requirements of that particular media. Some folks decry moss and so here is a pictorial expose on repotting into moss. Moss to bark. Here's the proof it can be done and done so successfully. And lava rock. All that is required is understanding how to water it properly. It's boring to some here but may be of benefit to others too. I also post these to illustrate the point that socalled aerial roots are the same as roots underneath media. No difference. You can repot these socalled aerial roots underneath media and they will grow just fine. You can repot roots that are normally growing under media, above the media and they grow just fine. Just because an older root looks leathery and funky doesn't mean it isn't functioning. The roots are the same. And I also try and show how roots grow. When they are just starting out, they are white and shiny. They are immature and don't absorb moisture. If you only have a couple immature roots, they won't support the plant yet. Once they become mature, they will start to absorb moisture and you can see it. hence the pic of the color change on the root. If you are rescuing an orchid, the leaves and older roots support the growth of the new leaves and roots until such time as the young roots can absorb moisture. That is why the leaves wither and change color.

WhiteRabbit · #6 08-04-2014, 08:30 PM

Nice!

james mickelso · #7 08-05-2014, 12:42 AM

Thank you Sonya.

lauraeli · #8 08-05-2014, 01:19 AM

I have been trying out different mediums too :-) sort of. If I am repotting out of old sphagnum with damaged or rotting roots (which is the case with department store phals), I put them in 50/50 bark and sphagnum so they can dry out more. I also have some that I repotted into just bark and I am getting the hang of it now.

The one that is growing best, though, is in just sphagnum. Wow it is growing like a weed! But the roots are very healthy and have been since I got it so I didnt worry about the extra moisture that the sphagnum holds.

So for me they grow best in sphagnum, but I cant use it if I have to undo damage that the store has done.