Totally a freshman!! From Bakersfield, CA

[lexusnexus]

Costco does have some very pretty phals. I haven't purchased from them yet. Congrats. As you have probably already read phals do not like "wide open spaces" for their roots. They enjoy close living quarters.

[Dri312]

Costco does have some very pretty phals. I haven't purchased from them yet. Congrats. As you have probably already read phals do not like "wide open spaces" for their roots. They enjoy close living quarters.

Thanks Dan! Costco does have gorgeous Phals (they are sold as "premium"). And to be honest, I'm happy to see the size and length of the roots. They were in sphagnum moss but they looked very happy. I made a mistake to repot the Phal I mention earlier (in a small clear container with holes for air circulation) while it had buds. I was so scare of the moss and roots rotting. Now, some buds are aaaalmost blooming but not really. looks like I will loose all of it. The roots that I can see looks so so. They are hanging in there, being patient while I learn more and more about the basics. I hope I discover the perfect balance of choice of medium, humidity and water schedule to make them, at least, grow more roots and get stronger. Wish me good luck!

[tarev]

Welcome to the orchidboard! We are both on the baking hot Central Valley of California! Happy to meet you too!

[Dri312]

Welcome to the orchidboard! We are both on the baking hot Central Valley of California! Happy to meet you too!

Hi!! Are you around here?!?! OMG! Maybe you can give me some advice about medium... please! What kind do you use on your Phal (guessing you have those!)?

Having these beautiful flowers in the house is a lot more difficult than I thought. I'm struggling with them! The aerial roots are getting dry and wrinkly and, doesn't matter how many times a day I spray them, they still looking dry.

I've bought some hydroton and I'm thinking very seriously to give s/h a try. I just have to find the time to wash it and soak it and read all the instructions....! And what worries me the most is the fact you need to wait the roots to start growing to transfer to s/h. But if my Phals aren't doing so well, how new roots will show up?!? I used maxi crop seaweed to help with roots but so far, I can't see any difference.

I will try not to stalk you on this forum, I promise! Lol

Have a great 100F day!

[tarev]

I am in San Joaquin County, not in Kern County, but we are both Central Valley

Just 100F eh..we got 102F earlier

Okay for my Phals, I have most of them in bark mix. I grow them indoors, never outdoors, I feel it cannot take our heat here. With my Phals, especially during these warmer months, I have to dunk water the plant, root zone area only, for about 5 to 10 minutes. Then I let the water drain out and I always make sure the ceiling fan is running for a few minutes too. IF my AC is not on, I run my ceiling fans especially in this triple digit heat. Some of my phals grows aerial roots, I just let them go ..I do not bother putting them back in. I just make sure they also get moistened during watering time.

Now I have another Phal that has been really cranky in bark mix, so for that one I used first stocking baggies. The baggies have some sphagnum moss and styro peanuts. I used baggies since it is easier for me to check the media, not too messy. It worked too, saw how the roots really went in through the bag. I had some hydroton clay rocks which I used as filler in and around the root zone too. I sandwich the roots with the baggies, so there is still good air movement with the roots as it continues to get moisture without being suffocated by sphagnum moss. This is the only time I used moss..I normally try to avoid it.


But I changed this again, since I really do not like sphagnum moss..so I used hygrolon baggies and I have in it some hydroton rocks or sometimes just styro peanuts. Again I sandwich the roots with the baggies. It also works as well, hygrolon can hold some water for awhile without worries of it decomposing.
In both ways, I dunk the root zone, so I am sure the baggies and roots gets thoroughly watered, and always draining out excess water from the container.



Lovely happy roots


So see which might work for you..that is how I grow mine..and so far doing good!

I am not a fan of SH, but it works with some..it is a matter of preference.

Phals will make its flower spike around late Fall to early Spring. Right now I have one in bloom, it is 4 years old in my care and has been consistent in blooming every year during Spring lasting sometimes 6 months long. It has rebloomed on an old spike, so I keep the flower spike as long as it is still green.


Good luck and Happy Growing!

[Leafmite]

I tend to find phals difficult to water so I grow all my phals in either straight red lava rock or with either styrofoam peanuts or red lava rock on the bottom and NZ sphagnum moss on the top. I always use basket/net pots set in another pot (for humidity) so I can lift them out and easily see if the roots are healthy. I, too, find it useful to give them a good soak and then let them dry out completely before watering again.
Good luck!

[Dri312]

Thank you tarev and leafmite for the detailed explanation. I really appreciated!

I'm surprised to see how you use baggies, tarev. Never heard of it before but, for sure it's a lot more convenient than deal with a lot of hydroton pellets. Good thinking.

Next time I repot, I will do same thing that leafmite did, using net pots inside another container. My containers are all wobbly! And I need to find a spike stick that isn't wood. The wood is getting all moldy.

I have a lot to learn yet. My first PHal is in "the bag" (sphagnum bag method) at this moment... I see it like an ICU. Almost gone, without roots... Just waiting for the green of leaves become yellow and fall.

Congratulation on your plants tarev!! Amazingly beautiful! I can't imagine having blooms in my house for 6 months!!! That's is my goal.

Thanks again for all the info.