My very first Phal in trouble

[Tindomul]

I repotted my first Phal 3 months ago from Sphag to orchid bark mix. Today I looked at it to water it, and found that the leaves are getting wrinkly, kinda soft, NOT MUSHY, but more like I need water so Im turning soft kinda soft. Have I been underwatering this plant? Overwatering? ITs has lots of roots on top, and quickly checked some of the roots just below the substrate. They all seemed fine. I don't get it.

Thanks.

[Djarum Black]

Hey Tin,

If it was used to sprag it's probably going to take a while to adjust. Bark dries out a good deal faster then sprag. Plus depending on the stage of growth the plant is in, it uses more water. When my phals are blooming for example, they suck up a boat load of water.
Sounds like your just going to need to find your phals happy place

[Ross]

Yeah, I have rarely had a problem with Phals except when I had hale damage or when they were getting used to a new regimine. As a side note, if you have any KLN solution, why not water exclusively with KLN for a few weeks until new roots are forced out? I wouldn't hesitate to water every other day for a while until the new roots emerge. As DJ says, a major change in medium like that will probably lead to wilting (I think that is what you see.) You might also try putting a plastic bag over the plant to increase humidity for a few weeks. Keep us informed.

[justatypn]

How ironic Tindo...looked at mine yesterday and had repotted 3 of my phals 2 months agao, one from bark to mount, the other two alike medium. Yeppers soft but not mushy leaves with one of them in bud. Was told I needed to water a bit more...so like you...time will tell. Stinks that over and under look-a-like in ways to make us wonder....gl with yours...

[Lagoon]

I can't say I've really ever had problems transplanting phals in bloom or out, Perhaps I've been just lucky. Even spikes can tear thru the leaves. It can get pretty wild

You also might be seeing these kinda sickly leaves becuz roots and forming in place of the older leaves. When I have peeled back some of my not so great leaves, since they we're on they're way out anyways .... I've seen new roots trying to get thru.
Your leaves are probably going, it just time now.

Are you seeing growth from the tops, any newer leaves comming up?

[Tindomul]

Thanks guys, Cheryl, DJ, Ross, Lagoon.
This is the best kind of problem to have in my opinion. Underwatering.
The Phal has lots of new roots outside the media, not to sure about under. I repotted when I noticed the Phal putting out some new roots. I'll try that K-L-N thing. I have some at home.
Lagoon, to many of the leaves are wrinkly, like an old prune. So I don't think its ment to loose them all. And I don't see any new roots.
Poor little phal. This is the one that grew a seed pod last year, and did a lot of growing at the same time. Then a few months ago I dropped it and damaged all of its leaves.

[Lagoon]

Not too discourage anyone, But this is alot of the problem I had with bark, seems I couldn't keep the proper moisture level. It was either to wet and rotted away quickly along with my orchid or dried out and very difficult to reclaim good moisture level.

So for me me, It went, Overwater, underwater, overwater, then again underwater.
Ok I hate bark -- I said it

Tin, New roots are a good sign - Don't forget it's growing season
You may loose some leaves and it sucks I know
But growth is super fast when our summers are here - Thank the lord

How about the other thing Ross said -- To bag it to gain more moisture

[Dorothy]

Originally Posted by Lagoon

Not too discourage anyone, But this is alot of the problem I had with bark, seems I couldn't keep the proper moisture level. It was either to wet and rotted away quickly along with my orchid or dried out and very difficult to reclaim good moisture level.

So for me me, It went, Overwater, underwater, overwater, then again underwater.
Ok I hate bark -- I said it

I too, hate bark.
While at the GYNOS in NYC, I picked up a bag of KK's Special Orchid Mix by Kelly's Korners. (Kelley's Korner Orchid Supplies)
It's a mix of coco husk chips, Diatomite, sponge rock and charcoal. It is suppose to hold up for about 3 years. It less prone to breakdown which brings unsightly little creatures .. spring tails and other bark decomposing pests.
I found that the orchids I bought have been sitting in their medium so long not only was it broken down but it was stained with fertilizer salts .. yuck! ..
I am very pleased with it so far though I have just started using it and will transplant more plants this year if need be .. I would eventually like to go to S/H as I have heard nothing but good news about using it.
I will try the KK for now and I think it will outdo the bark mixture I have used.
You do have to keep an eye on watering as it tends to dry out quicker than the bark. (I was told that in time it will hold more moisture.) My water scheduling in a state of change going from one medium to the other. But no biggie.
I, also like the way the KK mix looks with the orchids. The light brown with the green leaves is a nice palate compared to the dark icky brown of the bark ..
but hey, that's me

Remember when repotting to soak the material at least for a few hours if not overnight.

Good luck!

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Lagoon

Not too discourage anyone, But this is alot of the problem I had with bark, seems I couldn't keep the proper moisture level. It was either to wet and rotted away quickly along with my orchid or dried out and very difficult to reclaim good moisture level.

So for me me, It went, Overwater, underwater, overwater, then again underwater.
Ok I hate bark -- I said it

Tin, New roots are a good sign - Don't forget it's growing season
You may loose some leaves and it sucks I know
But growth is super fast when our summers are here - Thank the lord

How about the other thing Ross said -- To bag it to gain more moisture

For me, I tried S/H and the plants didn't like it but the bark works fine. I guess that's why they sell all this stuff - 'cause everything works for somebody! I make up my own mixes and have not had a problem yet (knock on bark )

[Lagoon]

Soaking bark for me didn't help much at all. I would have to soak my catts in the sink on a daily basis. Bark broke down less then 1 year.
Some bark I got nothing but fungus and mold, Can you see why I hated this stuff???

I'm glad to hear it works well for other, and if it worked that well for me ..... I think too would be using it more. I think the mix with bark, charcol, etc .... Is easier to put together.
But having slippers, peatmoss and sphag do work best for me
Bark does have it's place, Just not in my house