Saving a store bought Phal

[LittleWatty]

The orchid I bought today just fell off of my desk spilled sphag everywhere, and ended up breaking the flowers (not off, but damaged the lips and sepal). None of the leaves were damaged anymore than they are already, and the roots seem ok. Just a little depressing that the flowers were damaged because I usually press them when they start withering

[Wynn Dee13]

Originally Posted by LittleWatty

I don't have choice for now. I'll be re-repotting it in a week or so when I actually have access to some good potting material (Schultz's orchid mix, if I remember the name right). But, as a temporary housing location, it is in the old sphag. I tore it completely apart, breaking it into as many small pieces as I could, but its also just temporary.

Okay. Another thing about using sphagnum moss is that it is actually better to use it as long strands instead of small chopped pieces. The small pieces compact together and hold too much moister and fill up the air spaces. Chopped sphag can be used for seedlings and you can add it to other medium mixes for more water retention. The trick with growing in moss is that you shouldn't pack it too tightly. It actually is a great medium when used properly. I use it on almost all my orchids. I prefere it over bark.

Good luck and it is nice that you are rescuing those mistreated orchids out there. The grocery and big box stores just don't know how to take care of them. I bet a lot end up in the garbage can. At least they have people like you to save them!

[silken]

Sorry to hear about the fall of your orchid! I don't know if Schultz orchid mix is going to be good for your Phal. I don't remember which brand, but one of those is very fine and has a lot of soil like particles and it too fine for most orchids other than some terrestrials. I use a mix of sphag and medium bark chunks and my Phals love it. Others use CHC (coconut husk chunks). The Schultz stuff may be OK but just a heads up.

I have sometimes used the old moss with half removed and the rest put back in loosely just until the plant is done blooming and then do a proper re-pot. Yours will be fine till you can re-pot properly so long as you don't over water. Any media you choose should be based on your watering habits and growing conditions but it takes a while to figure that out.

[Wynn Dee13]

Originally Posted by silken

Sorry to hear about the fall of your orchid! I don't know if Schultz orchid mix is going to be good for your Phal. I don't remember which brand, but one of those is very fine and has a lot of soil like particles and it too fine for most orchids other than some terrestrials. I use a mix of sphag and medium bark chunks and my Phals love it. Others use CHC (coconut husk chunks). The Schultz stuff may be OK but just a heads up.

I have sometimes used the old moss with half removed and the rest put back in loosely just until the plant is done blooming and then do a proper re-pot. Yours will be fine till you can re-pot properly so long as you don't over water. Any media you choose should be based on your watering habits and growing conditions but it takes a while to figure that out.

The Miricle Grow Orchid mix is the brand you want to stay away from. It is more soil like with small particles. I think Schultz it fine if I remember correctly. As long as it is a bark mix it is fine. The Miricle Grow is more of a peat moss mix.

[LittleWatty]

Yeah, I looked at the Miracle Grow stuff, but was turned off by the fact that it was just soil. The Schultz mix, if I remember right, is conifer bark, charcoal, and bits of fired earthenware. I could be wrong on the last bit, but the first two I'm pretty positive on. I've got three orchids that I need to repot (one that's healthy, and got from an actual Orchid garden center, the other two being the ones I saved), but I won't be able to do them for a couple days yet. At the earliest I'll be able to do it Thursday.

[LittleWatty]

I finally have access to some decent orchid mix (Schultz's). I'm in the process of repotting both the sick orchids. The newest, with the white freckled flowers, is currently potted. I gave it a good, thorough soak to rid the mix of the small substrate that would only hinder the airflow. The purple orchid that I've had for about a month now is currently soaking in a water+Superthrive mix. It had two more rotted roots, but they were roots that were very touch and go when I first got it. It is showing growth on some of the healthy roots, which I will take as a good sign! It also hasn't dropped its last two flowers, despite being repotted. As soon as its done with its soak, I'll be transferring it to a much smaller pot to accommodate its few roots. It was grossly overpotted in the last pot, but as I didn't have any others available, it had to do as a temporary home. The purple orchid's leaves actually have firmed up at the base, with it being very noticeable on the youngest leaf.

I'm going to try and upload photos, but my internet connection is less than ideal, so no guarantees! If the uploads work, first one is the leftover roots on the purple phal. Second shows the difference in the newest leaf. Plump and firm near the center, dry and limp as it goes out (I think the plump part of the leaf is new growth, but I'm not 100% sure). Third is the difference in pot size. The bigger (which is a decorative pot, no drainage, which my orchid is currently soaking in) is the pot it originally came in. There was a slightly smaller (not much) clear plastic pot with drainage that actually had the orchid in it. Even still, you can see how big the pot was compared to the orchid sticking out of the top. The little pot is the one I will be putting it in. Its the pot my first orchid originally came in, and is big enough to fit the few roots of the purple orchid. Last is just a closer look at new growth on the roots (Yay!!!)

[silken]

Hope the potting went well! It does have roots and leaves so there is hope! And what a different pot size! The smaller one is best till it fills it with roots. Best of luck!

[LittleWatty]

I have great news My second rescue (the freckled one) is putting out a new leaf and is growing several of its existing roots. It fell over the other day, and got itself uprooted, and I lost a lot of the bark that was covering the roots. So, I've had it sitting in its pot with what bark I have left, and have been misting its roots twice a day (my orchids dry out really fast in my apartment). I just noticed today that its got a new leaf, but have seen the roots growing for about two or three days now. Both of my rescues are on the mend!

	Mistking Looking for a misting system? Look no further. Automated misting systems from MistKing are used by multitude of plant enthusiasts and are perfect for Orchids. Systems feature run dry pumps, ZipDrip valve, adjustable black nozzles, per second control! Automatically mist one growing shelf or a greenhouse full of Orchids. See MistKing testimonials

[silken]

Glad to hear this good news!

[LittleWatty]

Figured I'd post an update! So far, both phals are doing well. The tiny one is putting out a new leaf, and the other is putting out new roots. Looks like they're definitely on the mend I would have pictures, but I've been so busy lately, haven't had much of a chance.