PHAL ORCHID LEAF - Orchid Board

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #1 12-02-2009, 01:40 AM

I know this message was long, but there was a lot to cover. And this really wasn't everything.

I can also recommend a book to you.

Steven A. Frowine's Phalaenopsis book "Moth Orchids: The Complete Guide to Phalaenopsis".

aries23 · #2 12-02-2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

I know this message was long, but there was a lot to cover. And this really wasn't everything.

I can also recommend a book to you.

Steven A. Frowine's Phalaenopsis book "Moth Orchids: The Complete Guide to Phalaenopsis".

Yes very helpful information! I dont keep them in the bathroom all the time. I just put them there in the morning for a short time. Then I take them out and put them in my living room again. I wanted to repot the phal orchid but was advised not to bc it was in bloom. But the roots were great when I purchased it. I def think that the misting is causing the roots to rot on the top because I was very careful and made sure that I cleaned the water out of the crown , with a tooth pick and cotton. When I get a chance to go to the pet store I will buy a type of wood and mount them on there , I think thats my best bet! Thanks for all your help I really apreciate it alot! (the pot was not sitting in water. What I meant was inside the plastic container where the roots are there is styrofoam peices, then I put that pot inside a clay pot for stability and then that pot sits on pebbles with a little water .)

quiltergal · #3 12-02-2009, 10:16 PM

Aries, if you decide to mount just remember you will be looking at daily watering. I don't know how much time you have to play with your orchids on a daily basis. Just something to consider.

aries23 · #4 12-03-2009, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Aries, if you decide to mount just remember you will be looking at daily watering. I don't know how much time you have to play with your orchids on a daily basis. Just something to consider.

Thank you very much for this info , I do have a fair amount of time. I will add some sprag moss just for some added moisture . I dont think the conditions in my house are good for potted ones. I ll take pictures ad see how it goes!

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #5 12-03-2009, 02:20 AM

I re-read your post. So I'll make a few more additional comments. I hope you don't mind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aries23

I wanted to repot the phal orchid but was advised not to bc it was in bloom.

Repotting the Phal when it's in bloom will usually not affect the flowers unless the roots are damaged during the process.

Let's say the repotting does make the blooms drop.

I come from the school of: "It's better to save the plant and see it blossom the next cycle, than to lose the plant not see flowers and buy a new plant."

See how much of a pain the latter part of the saying was?

Quote:

Originally Posted by aries23

But the roots were great when I purchased it.

The plant's health and condition can change unexpectedly. Need I say more?

Quote:

Originally Posted by aries23

I def think that the misting is causing the roots to rot on the top because I was very careful and made sure that I cleaned the water out of the crown , with a tooth pick and cotton.

While I'm not doubting the misting may have caused the top roots to rot. I think there's a bit of confusion between what root rot is and what crown rot is.

Crown rot and root rot may be caused by the same bacteria or fungi, but they occur in different areas of the plant.

Root rot is self explanatory.

Crown rot occurs within the folds and recesses of the Phal's leaves. Usually as a result of a critically damaged apical meristem (the apical meristem is a tiny cluster of cells at the growing ends of the plant, if this group of cells die, it's game over - the apical meristem I'm referring to with the crown rot scenario, lies within the folds of the leaves and usually is the source of new leaves).

You can look up apical meristem on the internet if you want to learn more. There should be lots of information about it. But I won't go too deep into it because it's too technical.