To repot or not

[2orchid]

Hey guys,

So I have this phal that I repotted about 4 months ago in bark/charcoal/that funny white stuff mix (it was my first ever repotted orchid, so go easy on me!). It started leaning to the side so I repotted it again to try and straighten it out, however at this point it just seems like it is falling right out of the pot.

Should I repot it again? or will it be unhappy getting moved around so much? (ps. it is potted in a plastic orchid pot with holes and put in the ceramic pot is just for looks).

I also noticed the leaves are kind of wilty and wrinkly. I've read this can be from under watering or heat. I water it about every two weeks and it is sitting with all my other orchids who seem to be doing fine. They get indirect light throughout the day, and sunlight for about 2 hours before sunset.

Any thoughts on how to best take care of this guy?

[Orchid Whisperer]

Hi 2orchid

First, if you have not already done so, read as much as you can of The Phal abuse ends here.

I'll address the leaning plant and repotting in a minute. More important is the wrinkly leaves. This usually indicates a Phalaenopsis that is over-watered (roots are dead, so the plant is not getting water) or a plant that is severely underwatered (plant is not watered properly). Your first photo seems to show live green or silvery roots, so I am guessing you have good live roots, but the plant is not watered enough (if I have misread the photo, and those roots are not firm and green / silvery, much of the following advice would change). I suggest a fix that involves a few steps. First, take the plant out of the pot and growing medium (you can re-use these with this plant later, assuming they are new or nearly new). Next, place the bare roots of the plant into an empty jar, drinking glass, or similar container that will just fit all the roots. Fill the jar with tap water, covering the roots to the base of the plant (but not covering the crown or leaves) and let it soak for 15 minutes, then drain. Do this each day (or as often as possible) until the roots plump up and the wrinkles are reduced (they might not go away completely).

Now for repotting. Your plant is tipping because it is not anchored in the pot. Growing roots will attach to the pot, and will anchor it in place, but it can take some time for the roots to grow and attach to the pot. There are a couple ways to anchor the plant until the roots can attach inside the pot. One way is to securely tie the base (stem) of the plant to a wooden dowel or bamboo stake before repotting, position the plant and stake in the pot, and place medium around the roots and stake to hold the plant in place. A second way of anchoring is to tie strings through drainage holes at the bottom of the pot, then tie them around the base of the plant and cover the roots with orchid medium. Sometimes this works better than staking, sometimes not; I would likely try staking first because it is usually easier.

After you have repotted, you need to change how you water the plant. Every time you water the plant, take the plant (in its plastic orchid pot without the decorative pot) to the sink and run plenty of water through the orchid medium, but avoid getting water in the center of the leaves (= crown). Let the plant drain before you return it to your growing area. I would start by doing this twice a week, adjust the schedule as needed (more often in winter/dry season, less often when the humidity is up). You should let the orchid medium reach barely damp/dry before you water again.

I hope this answers some of your questions. Good luck!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Most Phals naturally lean to one side.

The only ones that grow upright are the ones that used to be classified in the genus Doritis or certain hybrids containing species that used to be classified within the genus Doritis.

A lesson in orchid growing is to understand the orchid's natural growth orientation. Without understanding this, you will consider what is normal for the group of orchids to be "problems".

[2orchid]

Hi Orchid Wisperer,

That was very informative, thank you! I'm re-potting a couple newish phals in the next couple days, and am currently soaking the potting medium beforehand. I didn't do that with the orchid in question, and maybe because of that my medium is just having a hard time holding water as it's quite large and chunky.

I'll trying putting it in the jar with some water and see how it fairs!

[campchi]

Originally Posted by 2orchid

Hi Orchid Wisperer,

That was very informative, thank you! I'm re-potting a couple newish phals in the next couple days, and am currently soaking the potting medium beforehand. I didn't do that with the orchid in question, and maybe because of that my medium is just having a hard time holding water as it's quite large and chunky.

I'll trying putting it in the jar with some water and see how it fairs!

You can add Some chop up sphagnum moss to help retain moisture. Most phal will revover if you can keep the humidity high. I've manage to save with no roots by just giving it high humidity.

[2orchid]

My mix does have some sphagnum moss in it, good to know it'll help out.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

You have already been told how to take care of the wrinkles in the leaves, but you will still have the "problem" of the plant "leaning".

Once the issue of the wrinkled leaves are addressed, I recommend not repotting it again in order to reorient the plant in an upright position. This Phal will not grow upright. It will lean to one side every time you try to upright it.

When it is "leaning", it isn't leaning, it is in the correct position. The "leaning" position is the position it should be grown in, not the upright position. When you upright the plant, the plant will not like it, it will move on its own accord to correct the positioning to its liking.

If you try to repot it every time it "leans", this practice stresses the plant out.

Stressing the plant out by constantly repotting it to grow in an unnatural position is just as bad as the plant getting dehydrated. Dehydration shows immediately, and it is clearly a stressor; specifically, a more acute type of stressor. Repotting the plant and changing its position every time it wants to reorient itself into the natural position it normally grows in is a chronic stressor. This kind of stress may not show itself immediately, but it can still produce some undesirable results for the grower in that the plant's health will "mysteriously" start to decline in health in the long run.

Btw, attaching your Phal to a skewer will not really get it to stay upright in the long run. The plant will still "lean" and eventually dislodge or reposition the skewer.

[Orchid Whisperer]

You were advised to add sphagnum to the growing medium, I now understand that the medium you have contains sphagnum (which changes my recommendation on watering). The person that recommended the sphagnum lives in Los Angeles (a dry environment with low humidity) and sphagnum probably works well there. Would I be correct to assume Vancouver, BC is usually fairly humid? If so, I would be careful about the frequency for watering, you may not need to water twice a week in a bark mix that includes sphagnum. The key is to let the medium get nearly dry before you water again. When you water your Phals, I would still flush water through the growing medium at the sink and let it drain.

King of Orchid Growing is right, some Phalaenopsis do tend to grow sideways. I have a couple of these, and I don't try to correct them. My other Phalaenopsis naturally grow upright.

When you first got the plant, was it growing upright? Or was it leaning? Many hybrids available from the grocery, big-box home & garden store, etc. grow upright because that growth habit is easier to manage when mass producing plants, or when selling them; for most people, an upright plant in the grocery store seems more "natural" than one that leans, another reason this growth habit is likely selected for store plants. I would try to duplicate the growth habit of the plant as it was when you first bought it (leaning or upright) and stake it that way.

[bil]

Personally I would repot it in plain bark.. I'd use a larger pot and plant it deeper in the mix right up to the lowest leaves.
No sphagnum. OK, it might help now, but later on it will be a nuisance. Plant it upright. It will eventually grow over at an angle, but by then the roots should be good enough to hold it.
Best to mist it, leaves and all every day so that water also runs into the bark, and soak it twice a week.

The point is, that you don't want to have the medium hold much water, as that way lies root rot. Better to water it more often, but have the water pass thru quickly. The roots will grab water VERY rapidly, and a small amount every day is better than a soak every week.
The moisture in the bark is partly as a resere, but is also to keep the air around the roots humid.

[Orchid Whisperer]

2orchid, here you see a common problem with orchid growing and growers - each of us has a different opinion regarding the problems you are having!

I agree with bil that if it were mine, I'd probably plant in plain bark, but the other medium is not necessarily 'wrong'.

My opinion is that I would stay with a small pot and pot up to the junction of the roots and base of the plant, but no deeper. We also differ on the frequency of watering; I would recommend no more than twice a week in your conditions (cool Pacific climate).