Phalenopsis not surviving - Orchid Board

starfire5 · #1 10-25-2007, 03:36 AM

Hello My name is Leighton Upton I am 70 and I live on South Stradbroke Island Just off Australia in the Coral Sea and I am the kiss of death to phalenopsis and i think my cattlyas have been gien birth control pills.
My wife lives on the mainland and I regularly give her phals which thrive for manths then she gives them to me for my "collection" - Roots rot, leaves yellow and the plant dies eventually.
I have them mounted on a verticle wooden pot holder - 4 each side - They are watered weekly by an irrigation cascade fed at the first pot and thence down to the lower. No water is allowed to fill leaf centre. They get fert once a month when growing. The light is correct and lots of breeze. I have repotted several without great effect. Sorry about the sad intro Leighton

shakkai · #2 10-25-2007, 03:52 AM

Welcome to Orchid Board, Leighton! Sorry to hear about your trouble with Phals... they are ones that are a challenge for me as well. There are many experts here that have been growing Phals for years and years, so I am sure that someone will be able to give you some tips that might increase your chances with Phals.

When you say you have them mounted, does that mean that they are in pots and the pots are mounted? What type of potting medium are you growing them in? I assume you have quite high humidity, so maybe the potting medium is staying too damp down inside the pot and not really drying out in between waterings?

Buds! · #3 10-25-2007, 04:36 AM

Hi Leighton,
Welcome to the OB!
Glad you can join us!
I used to kill tonnes of phals until this board introduced me to semi-hydroponics. No more over watering.
Do a 'search' on semi-hydroponics (s/h), there are heaps of information here.

starfire5 · #4 10-25-2007, 06:35 AM

Ok Shall do!! and thanks

Lagoon · #5 10-25-2007, 08:23 AM

It's nice to meet you, Leighton. Welcome aboard

You say, Your phals are mounted. If there is no media around the roots ... I would have to wonder IF your orchids are being watered enough - once per week?

Sandy4453 · #6 10-25-2007, 10:36 AM

Nice to meet you too Leighton. Phals. are always on the list of easy growing and they are but, they require very specific conditions. The biggest one (for me) was the watering. If you over water, sure death, if you underwater, sure death again. Phals need drying inbetween watering but they don't like being dried out completely. Of the choices, it's a bit safer to slightly underwater (talking frequency, not amount) as they will usually rebound. There's no way to recover from over watering without compromising it's health.

After this is controlled, then you've got to decide what you're potting them in or if mounting, what you're providing along with that, humidity and light. Light is essential as well but unlike other genera, they can grow well in less light than most others.

Stick around here and read up on all the info. provided. There's lots of it here!

Tindomul · #7 10-25-2007, 10:42 AM

Welcome to the Forum. If you have them mounted, bare root, not inside a pot, then go ahead and water everyday, early in the day. This way they can be dry by the night and ready for a drink the next day. This is how I treat all my mounted specimens, and for the most part(with the exceptions of some mistakes I have made) they are all healthy.

starfire5 · #8 10-25-2007, 07:22 PM

Thanks for the advice I think I shall try mounting them - any advice sources on how to do it?
Leighton

starfire5 · #9 10-25-2007, 07:52 PM

Thank You all I'm sure Semi- hydro is the answer to my problems Has anybody any knowledge of suppliers of PrimeAgra in Australia I can't see any on google. Also any photos/guidelines that show correct perforation of the containers
Leighton

Buds! · #10 10-25-2007, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starfire5

Thank You all I'm sure Semi- hydro is the answer to my problems Has anybody any knowledge of suppliers of PrimeAgra in Australia I can't see any on google. Also any photos/guidelines that show correct perforation of the containers
Leighton

I am using Hydroton from Bunnings (in the hydroponics section)

Useful information:
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...re-series.html

The ultimate Semi- hydroponic site- all you need to know and more:
Welcome to First Rays Orchids

I love s/h. I have all my phals and catts in s/h. This is the right time to change over because of the new spring growth!

Have fun!