Phalaenopsis NOid Saved from Walmart...

[marydaniellesantos]

In June I bought a Phal that wasn't looking too good, well I re potted it soon after I had it established in my home. Before I did this I decided to do a experiment, I potted it in pebbles and bark, mostly pebbles. It was in a 4 inch pot, and I used a 6 inch, well it had black roots before, not rotted, but black with very little green. I up rooted it today and to my suprise it had EXTREMELY healthy roots that are really long, no sign of black and this particular one has been blooming since before I bought it, just dropped the flowers, and there are still buds starting!

I know everyones theory of when you want a Phal to grow new healthy roots, pot em tight, but this one is proof that it isn't always the case! I don't know if it was so much the pot or the medium used, but I am very pleased with the results!

The pictures were taken off of my phone, so not the best quality.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5280220...in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5280220...in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5280220...in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5280220...in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5280220...in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5280220...in/photostream

[Zoi2]

The pebbles are the reason for much of your success. There is nothing in your potting media that holds much moisture so the roots got plenty of air. Good job with your "experiment"!
Joann

[marydaniellesantos]

Thank you Joann, why do you suppose won't use pebbles more ofter if this is the end result? Would it be wise to try this on any other orchid?

[Call_Me_Bob]

you will have to water more often if you use pebbles. if i could find them, i would use them!

[marydaniellesantos]

Originally Posted by help

you will have to water more often if you use pebbles. if i could find them, i would use them!

I actually just bought some pebbles at the dollarstore, and washed and rinsed, then set them in water for 24 hours. It was cheap, and the Phal I saved was also, so I decided what the heck? It was really interesting, I found a couple sites that mentioned pebble use, but never anything profound. So I had to try it! and since it's a mixture of pebble and bark, I ofter have to water less than I do with my regular bark mix!

[Call_Me_Bob]

hmm! thats weird that you water less. i thought it would be more, since the rocks dont hold water. i guess the rocks act like leca

[marydaniellesantos]

possibly, but I think it doesn't drain all too much either since they aren't large. It would make sense if you could see it.

[Call_Me_Bob]

i guess it would make sense if i could see it. how big are the pebbles?

[marydaniellesantos]

anywhere from 1/2 an inch to an inch. They vary in size, so maybe it creates a good mixture of tightness, air flow, and moisture. It could possible help with humidity, I think?

[Call_Me_Bob]

i MIGHT help with humidity, but i dont know anything about that. but that is a god size, and the same size i was imagining