I don't know how to handle it - Orchid Board

Cintirella · #1 09-30-2014, 10:14 AM

I was given this beauty 2 days ago and I FEEL PANIC COMING. Please advice me how to handle this double plant. It's my 1st time with an Orchid that IS ON MOSS or whatever that is. I own 4-5 other Orchids BUT they are all in Coarse Bark. I've never worked with Moss or spongy looking medium. The flowers are huge! PLEASE ADVICE?

nutgirl · #2 09-30-2014, 10:45 AM

Gorgeous!

If possible, can you tell the condition of the moss mix and the roots.
If there is no sign of sogginess or rot I would leave it as it is and enjoy it until the flowers fade.
Then it might be a good idea to separate the plants and repot them individually.

Maureen

cattspeciescollector · #3 09-30-2014, 10:56 AM

Hi Cinterella!

I am not claiming to be an expert on Phalaenopsis growth but here are my two cents on what you should do with your big(!) hybrid Phalaenopsis in moss.

The biggest difference between the moss and the bark, as you have probably already noticed, is that the moss has a greater ability to hold on to water. Each little sphagnum moss piece is like a sponge. Fir bark or coconut mix will not retain the water as well, instead it will flow right through the pot which is no doubt your experience.

Ok, what does this mean for you orchid? The roots need fresh air around them to thrive and this can occur when the media is drier and water molecules are not covering the surfaces of the roots. If the media remains very wet constantly the roots will suffocate and the plant will diminish. Additionally, the constant presence of water on the roots provides a perfect environment for microbes that chew away at the plant tissue leading to rot. It might be a good idea to get acquainted with the root system just by looking through the pot or putting your fingers down in the media to make sure that the root system is still intact. If you seem to have healthy plump roots with white surfaces and green tips, or plump slightly older brown roots, you are golden and the next step is just to make sure you don't over water. It will require less frequent waterings than the phals in bark and it might be a good idea to feel down into the medium and make sure it is partially dry a ways down into the pot before watering. This is one of the benefits of the sponge-like sphagnum moss in that it acts as a herald of the water content within the media, damp sponge is still plenty of water and crispier edges of the sponge mean that it is starting to be time to water again.

Then after the flowers die back, you could choose to repot it. This may give you a chance to view the root system in more detail and you may also choose at this time to put it into your bark mix or buy more sphag if you have fallen in love with it by then and you may want to plant them separately just because they are two different hybrids and this will increase your collection, plus they will like the individual space.

Hopefully this helps.

Patrick

Bill U. · #4 09-30-2014, 11:08 AM

Patrick gave you wonderful advice. Just to stress- it's almost better to underwater with moss than to overwater.

You can wait until after your blooms fade to repot them into your normal growing media or repot now- if you do it carefully, I have been able to transition many of mine without any adverse effects. But they will appreciate it if you separate them to give them individual room to grow.

Orchid Whisperer · #5 09-30-2014, 11:13 AM

You can repot it now into the bark that your others are growing in.

This will not hurt the plant or flowers at all. I do this all the time with Phals that are in flower, the flowers continue to bloom for many months. It is much safer than leaving the roots in moss if you are not comfortable growing the plant in the moss for many months.

PaphMadMan · #6 09-30-2014, 11:16 AM

Similar advice...

If roots are healthy and the moss looks like moss not muck, just be very careful watering (almost dry before watering, never soggy) until the plants are done flowering (or at least close enough to done that you don't mind losing the last couple flowers). Then repot in a bark mix more appropriate for long term care. You should separate the plants at that time - they'll be easier to manage. Other than that, relax and enjoy those gorgeous flowers.

If the moss does look like muck and stays soggy, maybe smells bad, or the roots look unhealthy, you should repot now. If you want the plant (and flowers) to last more than a couple weeks you really don't have much choice. Do it gently and there's a very good chance the flowers will come through just fine.

Commercial growers use sphagnum moss for plants almost ready for sale for several reasons, and they can get away with it short term in greenhouse conditions, but it isn't usually a good choice long term.

NYCorchidman · #7 09-30-2014, 12:13 PM

I wouldn't mess with the plants now.
Just enjoy them and repot if you wish after the flowers fade. A few times I did mess with phals in bloom, they dropped flowers everytime. so I wouldn't risk it.

With phals in moss, I always have great results, and the secret is in how you water.
When you water, you don't want to pour water all over like you would with plants in bark. Doing that will not necessarily hurt the plant, but it does raise possibility of bringing any root issues because moss does stay wet for a longer time than bark.
What I do is first to wait until the moss is bone dry. The top exposed moss might look bone dry, but the inside the pot could still be quite moist. You can tell by lifting the pot and feel the weight of the pot. It will be very light when the moss is dry and ready to be watered again.

Then, mist the dry moss on top before you water. You don't have to do this part, but misting once or twice makes the dry moss wet a lot faster than just pouring water over it. Try and you'll see what I mean.

Once you wet the dry moss on top, you can water by pouring about one cup of water slowly. This usually is good for a few days before watering again.
Make sure you lift the pot and feel the weight until you get used to how often to water your phals.
If you're not sure, always give a day or even three.
Phals will not suffer from being dry for a few days and err on the dry side is always better than the other way around.

Remember that people have issues with phals in moss because they do not water properly and suffocate the roots or invite other issues.

Moss is one of the best medium if you adjust how you water.
I have grown phals in moss with no repotting for a number of years with great results. So trust me.
and I'm not the only one who does this.

bil · #8 09-30-2014, 12:35 PM

Ok, now here's a question. A friend who is into orchids in a small way, pots his phals in plain bark, but he uses a big pot, 45cm in diameter (abpout 18 inches, and into this he plants 4 or 5 phals. He reckons to get better more aggressive growth and more flower spikes.

Your opinions please?

Cintirella · #9 09-30-2014, 08:34 PM

Thank you for all this info: even tho I haven't checked the roots, I can see inside has packing peanuts and several good drain holes. She feels like she was just watered tho, the moss feels cool. I am not sure I want to keep it on moss tho. I have a tendency to dry plants rather than over water.

---------- Post added at 06:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:26 PM ----------

I have a Phal and her babies on a big container for almost a yr now, and they are all thriving ! roots galore. And you wont believe that container I'm talking about it's a cover of those half cakes you buy a groceries store?! yup. I made holes on bottom and sides and light gets through. Now roots are everywhere. Plump fat roots. Babies are doing awesome too. But my point is, THE MEDIUM, I am a coarse bark blend kind'a gal. This spongy thing scares me stiff. ugh...

---------- Post added at 06:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:31 PM ----------

the moss is cool to the touch. I looked at the bottom and it has drain holes and packing peanuts. I am afraid to pickup the moss to see if the roots are visible. The flowers are quite big and I have to admit, I'm scare to mess with it. At least for now.

tarev · #10 10-01-2014, 12:16 PM

If that were my plant, I would also repot now. I have repotted a Phal in full bloom before, and like you I was afraid to upset the plant. But it did not miss a bit. And I was glad I did choose to repot, way too much moss stashed in there. Even if there were drainage holes, it was just too tightly packed, and I saw already then the beginnings of some roots suffering at the center, at the area not visible to me. I guess I caught it in time.

My preference is bark mix too. You just have to decide for yourself what you can deal with. I care more for the general health of a plant. Pretty much that plant has been in bloom for awhile, and those blooms will eventually go anyways, but knowing this plant can continue living later on and come back after a good rest, just have to ensure as soon as possible that the roots remain good and viable.

Now if you still have qualms about removing it from moss..it is up to you. Some have good success with moss, as long as it is not tightly packed, or they really wait till the moss has gone really dry before they water again. I find it harder to gauge if it is already dry enough, especially when the cold season comes. It takes quite awhile longer. You can use skewers to check if it is still wet or maybe gauge by the weight of the container before and after watering. It will be all up to you.