Whole foods and other purchaised Orchids and care for them!

[Olgacerpita]

After a bad experience from past purchased orchids i had, which has died from roting, i have learned a lot by researching orchids, so now is my priority is to monitor further plants.

I just bought a new orchid from whole foods. Beautiful white Phalaenopsis orchid by Silver Vase company. They are based in Florida. Seem transportation has damaged a lot of them, it's better if you choose orchid, which isn't damaged at all, has healthy leaves and flowers. Its usually hard to see what's inside and how are the roots doing. So when you purchase an orchid it's good to take it out from the pot and remove the older media from the roots and see what is a condition of the roots, especially you don't know how long its been packed in that pot. This is what i did and i discovered at least half of the roots were broken and some started rot. I cutted off the damaged and roted roots and sprayed the left roots with hydrogen peroxide to prevent from further roting and infections. Then i repotted pretty light, so there would be better air circulation, i used a potting mix for the bottom stability and put a little bit of fresh spagnum moss around the roots, so it would have some better space than it had previously. Watering was a next step, i let to drain leftover water in the sink so it wont be left in the pot, only moss would get moisture so the roots can drink from it. The last step is to improve humidity, although its hard to do so in NY appartment, where outside is 40 degrees. Luckily i have a little humidifier and heating air-conditioning. I put a plate with a water moisten fir bark (wooden peaces), so the condensation would happen and humidity around the flower would rise. Depending on how dry air is in your appartment, and how quick condensation is happening, there can be different time frames for wattering. Its better to check moss. If it's get dry inside, then its most likely time to water. Its good to regularly spray the wooden peaces on the bottom to keep condensation happening, bring some humidity around the orchid as well as avoid straight sunlight to it. The last thing., as the orchid just been under repotting stress and environment change, its likely won't give any more flowers at the moment. Its important to monitor the flower now and see how it will addapt and is there will be any changes. Good luck!!! 😊😉

[Optimist]

Your plant looks very healthy.

[bil]

I would do it a different way.

I would choose a wider shallower pot for starters. You can get some nice plastic bowls about 6 inches deep for bulbs and the like, and if you only use 2" bark chunks, depth is no probleM. I have grown phals is 35cm diam pots which are very deep, maybe a foot deep? I have had no problems with them. The reason I went to shallower bowls is that a deep pot takes a lot of bark to fill, and a lot of water to wet it all.

A pot 35cm wide will be as stable as anything, and allow for plenty of growth.

I take the shop bought orchids out of their pots, and remove as much medium as possible. If I can, I spread the roots out, and place the plaNt in the pot against the side, so it is leaning towards the centre. I do not cut off roots. I then fill the pot with 2" bark chunks AND NOTHING MORE. I even sieve the bark to make sure all the smaller pieces and dust are removed. I want nothing to block the gaps between the bark lumps.

I settle the DRY bark around the roots to the best of my ability. I then place the pot where I want it and do not water for two days.
If the plannt was too dry to start with I will put it in a bucket of water for long enough that it is well hydrated.

That's it. It really is that simple. Moss is fine for mounts and other types of orchid, but it is a handicap for phals.

[Orchid Whisperer]

bil, with all due respect, a flat pot that is 35 cm wide works great outdoors, but takes up too much room for growing orchids in the home. Conventionally sized and shaped pots with good drainage are fine for Phalaenopsis.