Mini Phals & Pudding Cups - Orchid Board

SHag42 · #1 06-26-2013, 10:08 PM

OK after doing a lot of looking around on this site. I figured out what was wrong with my mini noid phals. They were over potted and had root rot. I looked around today for some small clear pots to put them in and could not find any. Then as I was sitting on my porch eating a cup of pudding it dawned on me that they were just the right size. So I ate three of them one for each phal. Cleaned and bleached them then tried to make holes in them. I had no drill and a knife did not work well. Thought some more and had the idea to use my wood burning pen. Set it up on the porch and turn on a fan to blow away any fumes and was able to make nice round holes and slits in no time flat. Cleaned them again and then went about unpotting my babies. I had bought them off the clearance rack at lowes about a year ago they had hardly grown any. Of course knowing what I have learned on here I am surprised the lived at all. the leaves had started wilting and getting wrinkled. When I pulled them out of the clay pot the middle of the media which was a standard orchid mix was very wet and the poor thing had a bunch of rotted roots. All of them did have about 3 to 4 roots each that were OK. I cut off the bad roots. Rinsed off what was left then let them soak for about an hour in RO water and a couple a drops of superthrive. Took them out and let them dry some Then potted them up in my modified pudding cups with a mixture of bark, perlite, lava rock and a very small amount of spag. moss. Cleaned a little larger clay pot dried it off and set the plant inside. They already look better. I am hoping that they do well. Being in clear pots I will be able to monitor the roots and hopefully water them correctly. I had no idea that they should be not be in a larger pot like you do most plants. Thank you everyone for all the great advise you have posted here. Maybe now I can stop being an orchid killer and become a dedicated orchid grower.

SHag42 · #2 06-26-2013, 11:21 PM

Here is a picture of my mini pudding orchids

Wild Orchid · #3 06-26-2013, 11:47 PM

I use manicure scissors to drill most of the containers.

Another way of doing it - is sort of "mounting" plants on the empty wall of the bigger container with the wire. Then you can control how much media you want to place around the roots or - leave it bare feet.

This way the roots are not burried in the media for the sake of supporting the plant. I put some lava rocks on the bottom to stabilize the plant.

Good job!

Necessity is a mother of inginuity. Welcome to the club!

SHag42 · #4 06-26-2013, 11:58 PM

Sounds like those would work well also. Thanks Wild Orchid I am really enjoying it here.

---------- Post added at 11:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:53 PM ----------

If you left it bare root would you have to spray it daily or more. At some point when I learn a little more I would like to mount one. Seems like the most natural thing to do. But I guess I better go 1 step at a time.

Wild Orchid · #5 06-27-2013, 12:05 AM

Yes, it would have to be sprayed daily, unfortunately. Or sometimes even twice a day.

Technically, this is NOT the classic mounting but I just call it this way for an illustration. The same idea, really.

The good news, Phals really don't need media, so it's up to us how much we lay around the roots, which is mainly for our convenience.

Best of wishes!
WO

SHag42 · #6 06-27-2013, 12:16 AM

I see. So how do they get their nutrients when they are bare root? Only by what we supply them. Or do They get them from the air? Probably a silly question but I am not sure how they do it in the wild. They only orchids I have ever been around in nature were the ones I grew up with lady slippers and showy orchids which both grow in the ground.

Wild Orchid · #7 06-27-2013, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHag42

I see. So how do they get their nutrients when they are bare root? Only by what we supply them. Or do They get them from the air? Probably a silly question but I am not sure how they do it in the wild. They only orchids I have ever been around in nature were the ones I grew up with lady slippers and showy orchids which both grow in the ground.

Sorry if I made it confusing. You're right, orchids need nutrients. But they don't get it from being rooted into bark or sphag. They get it from being watered with the fertilizer.
In nature, Phals grow on the trees and some experienced growers advise to feed with smaller amounts of fertizlier but frequently. You can also use seaweed as natural fertilizer and root stimulator.

The bare feet technique is mainly to let the roots breath and dry quickly after being watered. Roots store water inside. When the roots turn from green to silver - time to water again.

I keep new plants bare root and attached to the inner wall of the container as I descrbied and monitor the roots - for a week or two, or longer. Depends on the roots conditions.
Then I add just tiny bit of bark so it holds moisture and relieves me from having to water/spray it so often.

What you've done is fine too. There are many ways to grow orchids.

Hope this is helpful somewhat..

Cheers,
WO

silken · #8 06-27-2013, 12:18 AM

They look great! I think you orchids will be thanking you!

SHag42 · #9 06-27-2013, 12:25 AM

Thanks Silken, I sure do hope so. I would love to see these things bloom since I have no idea what color they are. When I bought them they were finished blooming and mostly dead. I just don't seem to be able to stay away from that discount isle.
And it is not so much about saving money which is nice but I want to save the plants. I will post updates if I have any changes. I am so so thankful I found this forum and so are my orchids. I am sure they are saying "Well its about time she learned what we wanted"

Wild Orchid · #10 06-27-2013, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHag42

Thanks Silken, I sure do hope so. I would love to see these things bloom since I have no idea what color they are. When I bought them they were finished blooming and mostly dead. I just don't seem to be able to stay away from that discount isle.
And it is not so much about saving money which is nice but I want to save the plants. I will post updates if I have any changes. I am so so thankful I found this forum and so are my orchids. I am sure they are saying "Well its about time she learned what we wanted"

There are lots of us here who just LOVE saving orchids from the clearance shelf!