Moth orchid care
 

Have usually ended up killing all house plants given to me...Just been given a Moth orchid and want to change my wicked ways:)...So have been reading up on how to take care of it..It says on the internet that "root rot will set in if the plant is allowed to sit in an old soggy medium".

Does medium mean the pot or the soil??

Experienced gardeners don't laugh at the question please...I'm new to this! - and would dearly love to see this plant survive.

Am I also to immerse the whole pot in lukewarm water overnight once a week?

Your guidance would be appreciated.

medium is like soil but not in the orchid case, spag moss, bark chips, charcoal etc are used. The pot should be one with many holes for drainage. Is it planted in spag moss now? Hold it under the faucet and run water through it for a minute or so, no overnite soaks, maybe do this weekly depending if it is drying out or not. A skewer put in the pot, that you can pull out to see if it is wet before watering..is helpful

It means what it is growing in or what the roots are in. I use bark, but you may have it in a moss or clay rocks. I repot mine after they boom, but whenever is fine. And no questions are stupid here, I am sure that some of my questions people think are easy, but are glad to share knowledge.

You want to be sure that the Phalanopsis dries out between waterings, but not bone dry. Good drainage is very important.

Welcome to the O.B. and your new vice. We all started with one.

Agree with all above, but would add that you should probably look at the roots. Many (but not all) orchids are sold "overpotted" in sphagnum moss, so they don't dry out in the store. Unfortunately, that means many of them already have root problems from being too wet when people get them. If yours is overpotted in sphagnum, it may also be too high up the plant (so it looks pretty in the store).

Your decisions should probably be:
Is it in sphagnum - if yes, then remove some from the top until roots are visible (if roots are already visible, it was probably growing in the medium it was sold in).

If it is actually growing in sphagnum, can you grow it that way (I can't, but many can)? Sphagnum won't absorb water easily after it completely dries out, but can hold too much water for too long if it is drenched. If you can be very judicious in your watering, you can grow it in sphagnum.

If it is growing in bark, what is the condition of the medium? Is it soggy? decomposing? really musty smelling? If so, you need to repot soon.

What is the condition of the roots? Once you start digging in, you might as well repot. A phal should have firm white, tan, or greenish roots. Black or mushy roots are rotten. A thin thread-like fiber is the central core of a rotten root, not a root. If you have root issues, repot NOW.

Decide how you want to grow, how often you want to water, and how (misting, soaking, dunking, rinsing, etc). Pick a medium that fits YOUR style and your conditions. Search this forum for the hows and whys.

Good luck, and send us pics (of your orchid(S)) when you can.

I prefer sphagnum, But with lots of drainage. Styrofoam peanuts in the bottom, and maybe even a few holes in the sides of the pot. I like shagnum, because you can poke your finger down into it to see if it is dry.

Partially damaged phal roots
 

I've been reading your discussions for a few months now and signed up today to actually be a member. :waving Thanks for all of the great info! You've helped me keep my growing phal collection alive!!! (I'll follow up with pics of my babies as soon as I figure out how to do so).

Today I have a questions about trimming dead roots. What if the root in question is damaged in the middle? Some of the phals I've repotted have been green and healthy on either side of a bit that's got a bit of root rot or has dried out. I've been trimming just before the dead part. Should I be leaving it alone if the second part of the root looks super healthy and green?

Also, does anyone know where to find small terra cotta pots for my mini phals? I was looking for something tall and narrow so they can be noticed above my ferns but can't seem to find anything in my local stores or on line!

Thanks for any help!!!

Beth

Welcome to OrchidBoard!

When I trim roots, I do it like you have been doing it. My logic is that no nutrients will make it past the damaged section to the plant, and that the part beyond the damage just probably hasn't turned black yet.

Sorry I can't help with the tall pots. I grow mainly in baskets, and when I do use terra cotta it's usually as short as possible so it doesn't tip over. I do have a couple of glazed terra cotta talls that I recycled from Lowes orchids. I hang them like a basket using the holes to slide the wire through, and fill the bottom half with either LECA or styrofoam so I have better drainage. Unfortunately, the styrofoam makes them even more prone to tipping if you don't hang them

Best of luck, welcome again, and look forward to your pics.

Thanks Bob! Appreciate your input. Whew! Glad I haven't been sacrificing viable roots! This will make repotting much less stressful when it comes around again!

Beth

Beth, I found small unglazed terracotta pots at arts and crafts stores like Michael's. They sell 2"-5" in different heights and very inexpensive.