Repotting a Phal from Wal-Mart

[fredi*frogi]

So I did make it to a big city today! Got two kinds of potting medium, miracle grow and shultz I like the miracle grow better, it's a coarse medium. I also picked up two clay orchid pots. The pots were my only choice! LOL. I repotted today. The first orchid I got wasn't in good shape, it's roots were mostly rotted off. I had a one good root and two air roots which I left out of the pot.

My newest one looked to be potted in dirt with some sand, some peralite and some pieces of bark! It's roots were still VERY good, some rotted ones in the middle, but there were A LOT and they were mostly healthly looking!

One question, my oldest orchid, with the bad roots, has a spike, that had three flowers on it, two of which have just not dried up and fallen off. One of which is still good, it's sending out another spike from the same spike. Should I go ahead and cut off the spike to encourage root/leaf growth instead of flower growth???

I also came home with a deep purple calla lilly house plant. Two black eyed susans, two deep blue iris and two butterfly flowers for outside. Hmm now I remember WHY I don't go the big city looking for flower/plant stuff .

I did refrain from purchasing: another orchid (oooo but it was all white and sooooo nice) a pot of lithops and several other various cacti Me and cacti don't usually get along, but I've managed to keep the ones I inherted from my gramma alive for two years!

Edited to add: the newest orchid also had pieces of foam rubber (painted green) mixed in it's medium!

[kindrag23]

I would suggest maybe going ahead and cutting the spike off to let the plant rest and allow it to push its energy down to making new roots and leaves.

Oh no worries I am just as bad about going for one thing specifically and getting 10 other things!!

[fredi*frogi]

kindrag, that's what I thought. I will go ahead and cut it off.

I'm keeping an eye on how wet/dry the new medium is too. I repotted on Saturday, and so far, it's still damp. not soaking wet, and not bone dry, but looks good.

[tarev]

I have been observing my Phals..one thing I do notice now, since they eventually lean over, it seems what it really wants is to have their very bottom end a bit above the media. Then only the roots below the media. Then if it wants to send out aerial roots I just let them be. I am thinking now maybe that is where most of the early failures start, planting the bottom end too deep into the media, taking longer to dry and rotting ensues.

Then if roots are too tightly packed, then more rotting since the roots wants good air circulation too. Eventually older roots do die, which is normal part of their growth, but by then it would have sent out new roots.

Just my thoughts..

[fredi*frogi]

they are not very far down into the media, which they weren't before actually and the medium is not tightly packed at all! I did really good not packing it in. At least I think I did. The top of the medium is now dry, but when I dig down a bit it's still damp, I don't plan on watering unitl it's dry a bit further down.

I think the clay pots will hold in the moisture...at least I hope they will.

[tarev]

That's Good! A big good luck! Take another photo after a month, just to compare how your leaves look before and after..hopefully you see more active root and leaf growth!

[fredi*frogi]

I've taken several photos, but I can't figure out how to get them here. I need to read the how to add photos info! LOL

I cut off the flower spike and stuck it in a cup of water...the 2nd bloom is sort of wilty this am, but the one on the end is still nice, so I'm gonna leave it, till it's dried out

[fredi*frogi]

the second bloom finally fell off the cut off spike yesterday morning!

The repotted ones are doing well, I think. I did water them 7 days after I repotted. They were light and dry. So far so good. It's been on the cooler side (and rainy...ugh...) since I repotted so for the most part their window has been open...I'm sure they are enjoying their lovely breeze! I'm going to try and post pics...we'll see what happens! (it worked! Yay! These are beofre pics of both orchids, the smaller one is the one i've had the longest!)

[RandomGemini]

Looking good!!

[fredi*frogi]

And the first orchid I ever bought is now going to give me some new leaves!!!