I think my phal is trying to commit suicide

[mayres]

Ross - your plant looks EXCELLENT. Many people (including myself in the past) successfully use bark and use it WELL. However, they have done studies at universities with large plant populations and proven that "IF" you can appropriately control other factors - a less course media will grow bigger and better orchids. Check out this very good series on growing phals like the pros - (change the 201 to 202, 203, & 204 to get the other three parts) - this information is based on one of the studies I am eluding to. http://www.hrt.msu.edu/faculty/Runkl...20part%201.pdf

[CoolPhrog]

The plant really doesn't look well in person. The leaves are wrinkled and leathery and have no ability to "stand up" on their own so I have no idea what to do.

[CoolPhrog]

Thank you very much for all of your advice...

As to the question of if the bark is that large throughout the pot, the answer is yes. I did not soak the medium and the roots before I launched this poor thing into the pot and the roots looked pretty good when she was "plopped" in and I did not trim any of them. There are foam peanuts in the lower .5 to 1" of the pot and the remainder is bark and charchol chips. I've been watering her about every two weeks as the weather here in NE Florida has been in the high 70's to lower 80's even as recent as yesterday. The humidity has been around 60 to 65 and I've been keeping her in a very shaded area.

[quiltergal]

OK, I think you have a couple of issues going on here. Bark needs to be soaked a good 24 hours before use otherwise it won't hold water. Did the leaves look wrinkled before you repotted? Assuming your roots were good and the leaves looked OK before repotting and your average temps are in the 70s to 80s and RH is only 60% AND you're only watering once every two weeks the plant is dehydrated. I would be watering at least once a week with those condtions. I'd presoak some more bark for 24 hours and pull out the plant and repot in the soaked bark. Ray has also suggested if time is of the essence and you don't have any more bark to soak to unpot and pour boiling water over the existing media. I'd put the bark in a bowl and pour the boiling water in that and let it sit for a little while. The boiling water opens up the cell structure of the bark allowing it to absorb and retain more moisture. Then repot and water more often. Good luck! Let us know how it turns out.

[CoolPhrog]

Did the leaves look wrinkled before you repotted?

Yes, the plant looks exactly as it did when I repotted it about a month ago with the exception of the spike..that's only appeared in the last week or so but I will do the boiling water trick in the morning. That never even occured to me...Thanx!

[Lagoon]

Your plant is thirsty. You can add half teaspoon of dish soap to 1 QT of water and pour thru the orchids pot.
Soap softens the bark and helps retain water, no need to unpot at all. You could be watering as early as every 3 days, depending on the heat. To make sure, check with a wooden BBQ skewer, this will help guide thru out the waterings. Just stick 1 inside the pot and check from wet to dampness daily until you able to determine the watering times.

Good luck to you

[CoolPhrog]

Thank you Gloria. I didn't think of that either

[Lagoon]

... Ok yeah but thats why we're here for you

[CoolPhrog]

CLEARLY and Thank God!! My chids thank you too

[Lagoon]

hee hee! Let us know how she works out.
Keep in touch!