Why these splotches??? =(

[SueZB]

Hello, I am a newbie. I joined because I got a cute phal from Lowe's. It looked so sad so I brought it home, repotted it into a larger pot that drains, watered it (little guy was bone dry in the humid, scorching Houston heat next to a large window) nipped a couple stems whose flowers had fallen and then an hour or so later I see these splotches on the leaves.

I know you should wait til flowers fall before re-potting but I wanted to move it to s pit that drained.

Please help!

[RJSquirrel]

its got Phalaenopsis schilleriana in it and its a mottled leaf phal. It looks fine and could have a tag inside down in the bottom of the pot.

and I add a mighty fine looking plant too

Lowes on occasions have these and phal timothy christopher also.Those are the small little white ones with many spikes and lots of blooms if you catch them off the truck before they kill em

[vjo]

That is a very nice looking Phal. My schilleriania has larger splotches and some bars onthe leaves. This looks just like my stuartania tho.
Jean

[SueZB]

Thank you both so much!! This is my second Phal... the little tag from Lowes didnt specify what type of phalaenopsis hehe... I was actually buying my purple one food when I saw this pink one (I can see this may be the beginning of an addiction).

Geez, I was worried I hurt it by repotting. Does the mottling become more distinct after watering? I didn't see them until after watering.

Thanks for your time! My heart was breaking lol!!!

[RosieC]

Yes looks natural patterning inherited from it's parents to me.

[Island Girl]

^+1 Yep, definitely looks natural! It's a very pretty one too! Great find! She's got such beautiful leaves ... Actually, I take all that back... it's sick... just send it to me. Heheheh J/k

Oh, and Welcome to the O.B.! (Orchid Board )!!!

Also, with Phals, a lot of times, they r ok if you repot while they're in bloom. They r usually able to keep their spikes/flowers afterwards, unless there was a lot of damage done during repotting. One thing, it might just be me?, but it looks slightly over-potted... Is it in a smaller pot (like 1" or so, smaller?), inside the decorative one? (If so, that's prob ok) Do u have the moss spread out to cover the gap btwn the large & smaller pot? Or is it in a pot basically the same size as the decorative one? (Sorry, I can't tell)

I'm not sure if spots show up better after watering Maybe the distressed condition it was in, (i.e. not enough water, too hot, or too bright?), caused it's spots to not show up as well? I don't know? Interesting, tho

EDIT: ...They do get addicting! Lol

[SueZB]

Hi Island Girl!

Hehe, I would send her to you but I have fallen in love with the pink petals!

I made sure the media was soft before removing from the pot.. just tipped it and let gravity do most of the work - the roots looked nice just shriveled at the time. There is a smaller pot within the larger one and they both drain. I do have a concern now though as the inner pot is not much much smaller than the larger one. I put bark at the bottom and just set the orchid with its original moss at the top (moss looks new so I am reusing) to make it look completely full but there is space for air to get to the roots.

I hope that's ok, if not... I can look for a smaller pot... though I am hesitant of re-potting it again before the blooms fall.

Thanks for replying! I am eager to learn all I can to have happy orchids

[Island Girl]

I think you might be able to leave it like that for now... Next time u repot, go smaller, but as long as u r careful w/ watering, & the roots get air, I think it'll be fine... If someone disagrees, feel free to Enjoy those blooms!

[RosieC]

If you leave it in that pot be very very careful about watering. I've repotted a couple of paphs recently that were in quite small pots, and still found that while I thought they were dry there was a damp section in the center, and that was with small-ish pots.

Personally I like smaller pots, or recently I've started using lecca for them instead of bark or moss, because I know there is good air flow and it's drying in the center.

[SueZB]

Hi Island and Rosie,

I will be very careful with the watering I actually started a spreadsheet with watering dates and will add potting and fertilizing activity possibly in a month once the flowers come down. Of course a spreadsheet is no substitute for checking the soil though!

I have now (since yesterday) added another member to my orchid collection and so I will NOT get another until I am successful with the ones I have... I'm sure I will not at least

In the meanwhile I will look for smaller inner pot but I may just wait til the blooms fall before repotting.. dunno kind of nervous..

Thank You!
Sue