How are You growing your Phals?

[Sandy4453]

WOW, first, I'm amazed at all the mounted Phals. Haven't tried this but after looking at some of these pics, maybe I'll try one.

One of the biggest reasons why I want to change is, you don't always see the root growth when they're in bark. Even the clear, plastic pots can hide what's going on and I've been surprised to sometimes find a lot of failing roots. I don't like when I don't know for sure, what's going on down there.

I'm noticing that the few I'm trying in the spagh. mix, need watering more often than in bark. I've got about 25 Phals that have all been in bark and some have roots growing in, out, all over the pots while others, are not doing as well?

Gloria, I've never worked with peatmoss. Is it similar to coir? I was using coir a while back but noticed that it retained too much water and was rotting the roots.

Jackie, your display is fantastic. How often do you water? If I only had the room.....

Yvan, what are marble chips?

Susanne, there's a nursery near to me that grows all their Phals in Hydroton with a little coir. My Catts. love LECA, the best thing for them. How often do you water the Phals you have potted?

edwardwang, I looked at your other thread in the link you provided. Fantastic! How often do you water your mounts?

Undergrounder, how often do you find they need watering in the sphag.?

[whygreenberg]

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

Yvan, what are marble chips?

Sandy...it's just pieces of the rock, marble. Sold in bags at the big box type stores as a soil additive for aeration that is also attractive. I like it because of its surface quality – rough but not too rough – and weight.

I think the most important thing to come out of my switch is the way my Phals have taken root in their pots. Before, using bark, the roots never seemed to really want to get anchored, there'd always be some wiggle. Now, they've really solidly established – I will probably have to break the pots to remove them come repotting time.

[Sandy4453]

Originally Posted by Gwenchanter

Someone else mentioned marble chips which sounds good too.

Yes Gwen, Yvan uses them...

Originally Posted by whygreenberg

Sandy...it's just pieces of the rock, marble. Sold in bags at the big box type stores as a soil additive for aeration that is also attractive. I like it because of its surface quality – rough but not too rough – and weight.