Getting a new orchid armed with good information!
 

I am still a beginner but now have the confidence to try a new orchid. I must say although there are lots of phal fans out there, I do not like them at all. Every phal I have ever had I have killed in a horrible way. Not true with oncidiums and cats. I totally swore off phals, but today came home with a huge phal with 2 spikes, willing to start over with phals. First, I inspected the roots! Great, green, totally healthy! The medium was a fine-ish bark chip rather than Spag (I hate that stuff!). So the medium will need to be changed. I got out my razor knife and cut some holes in the clear pot without damaging the roots for more air flow. I will get a new pot and change the medium when the roots are white. I also noticed some moisture still in the pot-- no need to water for a few days, no rush.

So in the old days I would have watered it to death, kept lurking over it, and eventually killed it with kindness!

I did not buy a rescue. I bought a newly stocked plant, in the first few days of being in a store. Totally healthy and ready to keep growing for many years.

Thanks, Orchid Boards!

I am confident!

My name is Optimist! (Cue "Superman" music!)

Yes!

Too much love will kill. lol

I'm glad you got your hands back on phals, but starting with a good one this time around.

Glad you're giving it a shot with a very nice Phal!

I cringe when I think of some things I tried before I got better with the orchids! But, at least I knew orchids that I was growing were epiphytes. A friend of mine and I gave his dad a Rynchostilis retusa and told him that it needed grow the way he saw it, with roots in the air (much like vandas typically look). Much to my horror the next time I saw him, he'd cut all the aerial roots off and stuffed it into a regular pot with potting soil! He just refused to believe a plant could grow on trees that way! LOL

My secret for phals is if it is in a clear pot look at the roots. If they are green, they are damp and do not need water. If they are silver/grey they are dry and ready for a drink. I haven't killed one yet with this method. Good luck!

That is just what I was going to say! Also, with the clear pot you can see if the medium is drying out.

Took me a few years before I kept any Phals alive! Had success growing some other types ... I tried to swear off Phals, but it became the principle of it ;)

I killed a few in the beginning, but now I have no problem with them. My neighbours keep giving me theirs when they can't get them back in to bloom

I am also using RO water on all of them, and non urea fert.

My phals get regular water out of the well (pretty hard) most of the time, though I also use water from the fish/turtle tanks (pre-fertilized, lol). Since the water is pretty hard (aka liquid rock) I dilute it 50/50 with rainwate when I have it. So far things seem to be growing (and spiking!)....I do find I have far better success with phals if they're mounted--my house temps are in the 60's, RH hovers around 40-50% in the winter, and I grow in south facing windows with supplemental light. The phals are in dappled shade behind the taller plants and seem to love it.

Bottom line--don't be afraid to experiment and find what works for you. Good luck and happy growing!

Catherine

Living in New mexico I think your major challenge is going to be one of humidity. Phals like both lots of heat and lots of humidity. You seem very eager to change its potting but the best way to treat any new plant is to just water it and observe how it reacts to a new environment. New Mexico probably gets intense sunshine, so you will have to be careful to avoid sunburning the plant. If it adjusts to its new home you may consider sphagnum because you will need a potting medium which won't quickly dry out in an environment with very low humidity.