Sick Phal?

[Ro3bert]

Just noticed this morning one of the Phals seems sick. The leaves seem to be turning a bit yellow.

When I first got it I couldn't get the plastic container it is planted in out of the ceramic pot. Today I used a pair of long nosed pliers and got it out. Then I tried to get the plant out of the plastic but it wouldn't budge. I had to cut the plastic in two places before it would release the plant.
The planting medium is very compacted and a little too damp (I think) though the roots on the outside are green. I don't have any sphagnum moss to re-pot it so not sure what to do with it.


This plant has much darker green leaves.


The first picture is of a Phal I got last Saturday and was among a group that was just recently delivered.

Do I have a sick Phal? Should it be re-potted? If so I'll have to find some sphagnum moss.

Robert

PS: I wanted to leave the plants in the pots they came in until I have the terrarium finished.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I would re-pot anyway, to get the roots out of the moss. Moss works fine in a big nursery setting where water and conditions are specifically managed for growing in Sphagnum moss. It takes experience and patience for the average hobby grower to not over-water in moss (I lack that experience after only 30 years of growing orchids).

My recommendation is to look for orchid bark in garden centers at stores like Home Depot, Lowes, etc. This material drains well. Replace the moss with the bark. You should be able to do this while it is still blooming. After re-potting, water very thoroughly (in the sink, water flowing through the pot), but only once a week until you know how often your conditions and climate will require you to water. The bark should be almost dry before you water again.

BTW, I suggest skipping the "decorative pot". Use any other pot that has really good drainage holes. Maybe slip your regular, well-drained pot into something decorative when you have visitors, etc.

---------- Post added at 01:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:22 PM ----------

BTW, I don't see anything else that indicates the plants are otherwise sick. Take care of the re-potting and they should stay healthy.

[RandomGemini]

I respectfully disagree with repotting these plants right now. One shock to the roots of going into a terrarium from a pot should be enough for these plants for one year. They look healthy. I would water weekly, allow to drain well on a towel, then return to the cache pot until they go to the terrarium, presuming the terrarium is happening quite soon.

If it will be a year or more before you set up the terrarium, then yes, repot now into Phal bark.

[Ro3bert]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

I would re-pot anyway, to get the roots out of the moss. Moss works fine in a big nursery setting where water and conditions are specifically managed for growing in Sphagnum moss. It takes experience and patience for the average hobby grower to not over-water in moss (I lack that experience after only 30 years of growing orchids).

My recommendation is to look for orchid bark in garden centers at stores like Home Depot, Lowes, etc. This material drains well. Replace the moss with the bark.

If I do as you suggest will I be able to mount them on wood limbs when the terrarium is ready for the orchids?

You should be able to do this while it is still blooming. After re-potting, water very thoroughly (in the sink, water flowing through the pot), but only once a week until you know how often your conditions and climate will require you to water. The bark should be almost dry before you water again.

Sounds good but, unfortunately, we have well water that has high concentrations of iron and acid. No problem with drinking, cooking etc., but it can't be used in any coffee pot with an aluminum heating pot; it rots the (explicative deleted) out of them.

For plants we use mostly spring water.

BTW, I suggest skipping the "decorative pot". Use any other pot that has really good drainage holes. Maybe slip your regular, well-drained pot into something decorative when you have visitors, etc.

The "decorative pots" are something I could do without but that is what they came in so until the terrarium is finished. BTW the Phals are planted it little plastic containers (no holes except at the top and bottom)

BTW, I don't see anything else that indicates the plants are otherwise sick. Take care of the re-potting and they should stay healthy.

I certainly hope so and thanks for the info.

Robert

[silken]

As an alternative to re-potting, you could gently remove a lot of that sphagnum and leave a more open area at the root zone. This is assuming you will be ready for the terrarium soon. You could easily shift the looser moss and roots to a better pot with more air holes. This would barely disturb them. I do that sometimes when it is in bloom and I don't want to upset them (even tho Phals aren't that easily disturbed). I can easily remove 1/2 the moss and there is still lots in there but then it dries at a better rate and prevents root rot.

[Ro3bert]

Originally Posted by RandomGemini

I respectfully disagree with repotting these plants right now. One shock to the roots of going into a terrarium from a pot should be enough for these plants for one year. They look healthy. I would water weekly, allow to drain well on a towel, then return to the cache pot until they go to the terrarium, presuming the terrarium is happening quite soon.

If it will be a year or more before you set up the terrarium, then yes, repot now into Phal bark.

Thankfully I've only had them about two weeks but the way I watered them (only once so far) has been it the decorative pots, didn't take them out so from no on I'll try your way. Thanks for the info.

I hope it will be less than a year but having never done something like this before I am taking my time researching. I have a pretty good idea what the design will be but planning where and how to put the plants is another thing altogether.

One of the major things I have to figure out is limbs and branches and where to put them. I want it to look as natural as possible so things like manzanita roots are out of the question. Well, I'll figure it out.

Robert

---------- Post added at 02:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:10 PM ----------

Originally Posted by silken

As an alternative to re-potting, you could gently remove a lot of that sphagnum and leave a more open area at the root zone. This is assuming you will be ready for the terrarium soon. You could easily shift the looser moss and roots to a better pot with more air holes. This would barely disturb them. I do that sometimes when it is in bloom and I don't want to upset them (even tho Phals aren't that easily disturbed). I can easily remove 1/2 the moss and there is still lots in there but then it dries at a better rate and prevents root rot.

Probably a good idea. The moss (or whatever planting medium "Water With Ice" uses) is packed pretty tightly. Guess I have some pot hunting to do.

Robert

[Leafmite]

When it isn't a good time to re-pot an orchid, I do the same thing: I remove some of the medium to let the roots breathe better.
Your orchid looks not only healthy but also quite pretty! Good luck!

[Ro3bert]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

When it isn't a good time to re-pot an orchid, I do the same thing: I remove some of the medium to let the roots breathe better.
Your orchid looks not only healthy but also quite pretty! Good luck!

Thanks, I'll keep posting more images as I do that. I got some sphagnum at HD this evening along with some plastic drinking cups at the grocery store so I can start tomorrow.

Robert