Weird purple growths on phals stem

[Orchid Whisperer]

Lamia, leaving a plant with a root sitting in water all the time may not work, and could make things worse.

Soak - then drain - allows plants to take up water, but then allows the roots needed drying time. The half hour soak fits with descriptions of the maximum time roots will take in water before they have had enough and stop taking in additional water.

There is a semi-hydroponic method that some use - I don't grow using that method, but others do. I have heard it does involve longer exposure of roots to water, but that sometimes there is root loss as the plants adjust. Your method is a bit like semi-hydro (but I'm no expert). I would not want to risk the few precious live roots you have trying to get the plant adjusted to semi hydro.

Reconsider the vase method I described earlier. It is well tried, and usually successful.

[Sharon's Sheepdogs]

Can you tell us a little bit about your growing set up, indoors or outdoors & how you provide humidity to your orchids?

I could never grow phals until I started growing them in sphag. What I would suggest is that you drench the orchid in Kelpmax or KLN to see if you can stimulate some root growth. I would actually soak the orchid for up to an hour. I then would turn the phal upside down & let all of the liquid drain out of the crown. I usually leave it in that position overnight to dry.

I would then pot the phal in moist sphag. Sphag is known to increase the humidity around the orchid's root zone. If you have a heat mat, grow the repotted phal on that. Phals like warmth & the heat also helps with root growth. Water the sphag thoroughly but not overly or you'll end up with a rot. Use a bamboo skewer to check the moisture level of the sphag. When the sphag is almost dry, rewater. As long as you have enough humidity, you can grow phals on the drier side.

I sometimes spray water on the top of the sphag when the top is dry but it is still wet inside the pot. This helps any new roots receive moisture until they grow down into the medium.

Let us know about your growing set up.

[estación seca]

Many people have trouble with sphagnum moss, but when used properly it works really well for some people who post here. I gather the key is to let it get almost, but not quite crisp dry, between waterings, and not to completely soak it when you do water. I think using a clay or transparent pot helps as well.

If you tend to overwater, or if you can't get to your plants sometimes and you let them get crisp dry for a while between waterings, I think sphagnum may not be a good choice. It doesn't work for me. I fall into the second category.