Please Help My Sick Phals

[jennyrjd]

Hello Everyone,

This is the second time I have posted on this forum and I have taken some pictures of two of my orchids that I got at Lowes. I was going to repot them but I am pretty sure they are sick. When I was pulling out the old potting medium I found dead black bugs and I am scared to prune and don't know exactly where to prune or what size pot to put them in. I have bark, moss, little white rocks, I even bought new Orchid pots but they seem to be way to big for my size Orchids. I don't know what to keep them in until they get bigger.

I have sprayed both of these with 70% alcohol before putting them in a glass of water. I hope the pictures will give you some clues to tell me (clueless!) what to do to help them! Thanks.....Jenny

[james mickelso]

Get them out of the water immediately if not sooner. These are air plants. they grow on tree brances in the wild. No soil. They look alright to me so they can be potted. Pot them in the smallest pot they will fit into. You can bend the roots around the inside of the pot if need be as they will take some bending with no problems. I twist the roots into the pot. As you put the plant down into the pot, tuck the roots into the pot asnd as you drop them deeper into the pot, twist the plant. Just do it and you'll understand. I don't understand why people think they need to sterilize the roots when the plant, other than being overwatered was doing just fine. Just get them out of the water and pot them. If you can't pot them right away, just put them back into the glass jars (without anything) and once a day take them out and run water over the roots. Shake them off and put them back into the jars. These are air plants. Epiphyts. They grow without soil of any kind so they will be happy in jars of air. Really. If you need help potting them up, just ask us. I have pics of the process. Good luck.

[WhiteRabbit]

The one has very nice roots, the other, while not as good, has enough roots that it stands a good chance.

I'd just pot them. You can make small pots by putting holes in any small plastic containers, cut down water or soda bottles.

Bark and perlite (small white rocks - very light weight, very porous, will crumble easily with not too much pressure - is that what you have?) would be a good potting mix.