Dehydrated Mini Phal

[flowerchild29]

Hi (again) everyone,

I purchased a mini Phal a few weeks ago from Lowes. I couldn't help myself. It's leaves were kind of wrinkly, but its roots looked okay! It was soaked with water from a previous storm (I'm guessing). I was going to wait to repot it until the blooms dropped, but I couldn't see the condition of the roots on the inside of the Sphagnum moss. Once the leaves wrinkled even more, I decided to remove the moss.

The roots inside the moss were very short, and they didn't look good. I replanted it with orchid bark inside of a tiny, ventilated cup. I read that I was going to need to water/spritz it often as the bark is too big for the plant. I'm cool with that. I'll water for 2 days then I'll give it a break for one day. I'm terrified of over-watering. It's still super dehydrated. It's growing a new leaf, and it's possibly growing a new spike, but the other leaves are wrinkled + limp. The roots are greyish white.

I'm going to repot it into a pudding cup (with holes) because I'm worried the cup is even too big for it. Has anyone done this? What's your watering schedule for mini phals in bark, and are there any more ways to get it hydrated without over killing it?

Thanks so much for any help!

[ryrycochinco]

Sounds like you're doing everything right. Just let it grow. Maybe throw the whole plant and pot into a gallon bag to keep the humidity up. Just spray a little water into the bag when it looks dry.

[fishmom]

Flowerchild, when you water, be sure the grayish roots turn green; that is your signal that the plant has absorbed the water it needs. If you are using chunky bark, you will not be able to overwater as long as you let the roots dry enough to turn gray/silver again. The cycle between green and gray will keep your plant healthy and growing.

The wrinkled leaves will stay wrinkled, but with good care the new leaves will be plump and fine.

[flowerchild29]

Thanks to you both! I didn't know that the leaves would stay wrinkled. Poor thing. I'm excited to see what the new leaf will look like. I will try the bag method. I water until the roots turn green, but they don't stay that way for very long.

Do you still think that I should put it into the pudding cup (it's smaller than the cup it's in now), or should I just water its roots daily?

[fishmom]

I suspect that the cup size won't make any real difference if the roots have water, drying, and humidity.

[flowerchild29]

Thank you! I'll keep it as is because I can see its roots better, and I'm sure the plant is stressed enough because of me. I feel much better. Thanks again.

[greenpassion]

Flower child, you've gotten some good advice. I've been making my own little pots for my mini phals lately with a soldering iron. It gives them the ventilation they need, and as they are in bark, I water them frequently.