Phalaenopsis Amabilis help!

[wendyorchid]

Hi everyone, I'm a new user on Orchid Board and also new to the Orchid world.

I have two Orchid's I need some advice on as both are in awkward pots.

The first is a phalaenopsis but has smaller flowers than that of my amabilis. I bought it mid-December (Summer in Victoria/AUS) and it had stopped flowering/was bare by mid-March (beginning of Autumn). I had been told by a local nursery to keep it outside in the cold (~13C) at night and keep indoors (~18C) during the day.
It was given to me in a glass pot without a draining hole, yet has been packaged with what looks like very thin phagnus moss. It has since dried out but the bark down the bottom remains extremely moist and drenched in water. Evidently it hasn't reached the roots and they have become silvery/some have died.

I also cut off an inch from each of the stems once it had stopped flowering, but am unsure whether I need to repot it now, and/or how I maintain it until the warmer seasons when it starts to flower again? Do I need to keep it inside or outside? I have Yates Thrive Orchid liquid plant food but am not sure if I should make use of it now.

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The second Orchid (amabilis) is my most recent given to me by my husband on our wedding Anniversary in mid-March. There are 8 stems in total and is quite the handful. It is placed in a ceramic pot packed tightly with moist phagnus moss. I have seen on many websites that ceramic pots are not great for Orchid's as the roots can stick to it and break off if they are repotted. Luckily it has a draining hole underneath, but I cannot see if the roots are still healthy. It is in full bloom and has a few buds left on some of the stems.
I'm very nervous as to how to maintain it.

Any tips for post-flowering and to maintain the current Orchid would be fabulous. Thanks everyone.

Wendy.

---------- Post added at 04:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:35 PM ----------

Unfortunately I cannot post any photos as I'm a new user and it won't let me insert any or link any!

[wintergirl]

Welcome to Orchidboard Your wedding orchid is a phal species, so both your orchids are phals.

Phalaenopsis roots are silver when dry but turn green when watered. I would repot your first phal now if you haven't already, because it needs a way to drain. We have a thread here about phals : http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ends-here.html
Also here is the American Orchid Society page for phal care: https://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=217

You will be able to post pictures after you have 5 posts.

[Andre]

See all about phal species. rainwild.org. They have lots of information on phal amabilis and other species.


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[Alli Kat]

You said that the second orchid was planted in tightly packed phagnus (sphagnum?) moss. I don't recommend that type of medium because sphagnum moss retains water and basically prevents the orchid's roots from breathing (Because it's tightly packed). Oh, about sphagnum moss retaining water; Phals hate being over watered. I'd say switching to bark would be a good idea.