Phalaenopsis Schilleriana 2N which pot? - Orchid Board

gardengirl13 · #1 01-02-2013, 02:31 PM

All my orchids are in the same style of pot as it makes watering easier for me. They're in glazed orchid pots with the cut designs, the ones I get locally don't burn the leaves or roots, so that's fine. I use a mix I do myself (slightly) of the bark/charcoal/perlite mixed with moss. I would put some peanuts in the bottom but the only ones we get at work are the ones that dissolve in water. Everyone seems very happy so that makes me happy!

I got a Phalaenopsis Schilleriana 2N, and in looking around I see many seem to be mounted or put in hanging baskets. I see they can be in pots and can either be staked or let the spikes flow down. With the real cold starting to come now that it's jan my humidity has been suffering a bit. So I do worry about putting something in a basket. Also when the plant gets rather large for it how would I do about re-potting? Would the roots adhere to the wooden slats? Would it be best to do it in a slightly larger basket and just keep it there forever, just carefully pulling the old moss out and replacing it without taking the plant out? Would it be better to keep it in a pot and let it kind of hang out or stake it up?

So I need people's opinion. I think it's in spike, so I won't re-pot like I normally do when I get new orchids if it has flowers/large buds. If everything looks great I'll leave it for now. If it's just a small spike with no buds yet I may re-pot it right away. Otherwise I'll wait until the blooms fade then do it then.

Brooke · #2 01-02-2013, 05:20 PM

The schillie loves to be mounted but in your zone, assuming you grow in a house, it would be hard for you to deal with.

Mine is mounted, the hanging roots are over 2 feet long and the spikes get over 4 feet long. Three years ago the weight of the long spike and the multiple branches and growing buds, snapped the spike. I found it laying on the ground one morning when I opened the g/h up.

Here is a picture but you can't see the long roots or the full length of the spike.

Phal schilleriana 'Highjack' AM-AOS LUR_5704 by kentucky4, on Flickr

If you can handle the mount, it is a gorgeous way to display it but if you can't deal with daily watering, then the pot would be your best decision.

Brooke

Call_Me_Bob · #3 01-02-2013, 05:34 PM

If I were you, I would just pot it the way you would any other phal. Its how I have mine potted. And just adjust your watering accordingly. Compared to other phal species, they like to dry out a little more, but only by like a day or two watering difference.

gardengirl13 · #4 01-03-2013, 10:00 AM

Yeah I'd love to have it in a vanda type basket, but I woke up to 1 degree outside and the furnace running like mad. I was too nervous to even look to see what the humidity was reading! I don't think she would be very happy in a basket, I think I'd have to water more then once a day when it's this dry! I've upped my watering quite a bit this week with everyone in the pots so not being potted I think would be bad. I just love how they look hanging down all pretty!

I have seen some in pots staked and they look very nice too. I wonder if the heavy spikes would be better staked more upright to avoid breakage, even though they look better cascading.

gardengirl13 · #5 01-03-2013, 11:28 AM

Still thinking (read- obsessing) about this. I really want her to do well, she arrives tomorrow (in this cold I hope the shipping isn't too damaging!!!!) and I want the best for her. I've only ever had hybrid phal and most of them NoIDs. Would a vanda basket with moss be ok in a house? If I water her daily would that be enough, or with a good amount of moss offset this dryness and be ok? To get personal here I'm losing my job in a few months due to health reasons. My orchids are like therapy for me. I love taking care of them. When my pain is so severe I'm crying, looking over at them makes me smile. I don't mind making one a special case and having more daily care then every few days. I do look over everyone every day, and mist often. So having just one who needs special care won't be too hard on me. But if it's too hard on her I'll put her in a pot.

tucker85 · #6 01-03-2013, 12:09 PM

I don't have Schilleriana but the phalaenopsis species that I do have seem to like to dry more quickly than the hybrids. On the other hand growing mounted or in baskets requires a lot more attention to watering and higher humidity. It's best done in a greenhouse or outdoors in the tropics. Although some growers do manage to do it in a home environment. I didn't start growing on mounts until I retired and had time to give my orchids more attention. In my opinion I think you should start out with your normal phalaenopsis culture that you've had success with. If the orchid doesn't seem to do well, you can alter your culture a little bit later.

As far as baskets, I love growing orchids (mostly catts) in wood baskets but once an orchid is in a wood basket, it's pretty much impossible to get it out without severe damage to the plant. It's also not practical to try to change the medium. I use large chunks of cork for medium and it never gets changed. Luckily with phals you often get keikis that you can repot. I only have one phal in a basket. I prefer to grow them in pots because they're more delicate than cattleyas and I can manage them better in pots.

gardengirl13 · #7 01-03-2013, 12:30 PM

Thanks tucker! I would love a greenhouse some day. We rent right now with no home ownership in sight, but a cool landlord who says to treat the place like we own it. We have done tons of garden stuff outside, but unless we do a greenhouse that can easily be moved that won't happen. Plus with our weather I don't think we could heat it well if it's not a more perm. one.

I'll keep her in my normal pots for now and she how she is. She's only in a 3.25" pot so putting her in a slightly larger basket to grow into probably isn't a good idea anyway. I think a 6" basket would be way too big now, and way too small in a few years. Pots will be easier.

Now it'll just be to stake or not? I plan on keeping her in my dining rooms east window (which is rather close to the south window so the humidity will all be close thankfully!) all by herself so she can spread her wings how she likes! The windows are below hip level so if i put her in a nice pot on a table/stand she'll have about 4 feet of window space to grow up if she's staked.

The other big problem is I hear they're slow growers. I'm already getting impatient to see how big and beautiful they get!!

tucker85 · #8 01-03-2013, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gardengirl13

Thanks tucker! I would love a greenhouse some day. We rent right now with no home ownership in sight, but a cool landlord who says to treat the place like we own it. We have done tons of garden stuff outside, but unless we do a greenhouse that can easily be moved that won't happen. Plus with our weather I don't think we could heat it well if it's not a more perm. one.

I'll keep her in my normal pots for now and she how she is. She's only in a 3.25" pot so putting her in a slightly larger basket to grow into probably isn't a good idea anyway. I think a 6" basket would be way too big now, and way too small in a few years. Pots will be easier.

Now it'll just be to stake or not? I plan on keeping her in my dining rooms east window (which is rather close to the south window so the humidity will all be close thankfully!) all by herself so she can spread her wings how she likes! The windows are below hip level so if i put her in a nice pot on a table/stand she'll have about 4 feet of window space to grow up if she's staked.

The other big problem is I hear they're slow growers. I'm already getting impatient to see how big and beautiful they get!!

Well, you don't need to decide whether to stake or not right now. I find that the orchid will give me some clues what to do and the environment that you display them in may sometimes make it necessary. I let all my phals bloom naturally, with no stakes, but often I can tell that the spike isn't going to look right or might be too heavy for the plant so I stake those. Good luck.

bballr4567 · #9 01-03-2013, 01:19 PM

Shoot, where did you find one at? Im looking all over the internet for a schilleriana that has fragrance (most 2ns do) and coming up with zilch.

If you want a faster grower, try finding a 4n.

Call_Me_Bob · #10 01-03-2013, 01:37 PM

Pica when it comes! And do tell where you found it!! I would just put it in a regular pot (good choice!) and you can stake whichever way you think would look best. If you have somewhere to display it where the spikes could cascade, do that. I know some people stake them up a little bit, so they don't snap, but then let them hang lower.