SH test appears to be failing with two phals? - Page 2 - Orchid Board

Ray · #11 11-30-2019, 08:33 AM

Generally speaking, phalaenopsis are "hot growers" that tend to be tolerant of the temperatures we prefer, but definitely do not like cold, wet roots. Allowing them to get into the 60's may be OK in traditional culture, but the evaporative cooling from the moist, airy medium means the roots may have gotten even colder.

Forget misting the plants. What they need is humidity, not wetness. Invert a clear plastic bag over the plant and pot to trap evaporation. Maximizing the RH slows transpiration water loss, giving the plant more time to regrow roots before it desiccates to death.

If you want a good root growth stimulant, look into KelpMax.

camille1585 · #12 11-30-2019, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

Forget misting the plants. What they need is humidity, not wetness. Invert a clear plastic bag over the plant and pot to trap evaporation. Maximizing the RH slows transpiration water loss, giving the plant more time to regrow roots before it desiccates to death.

If you want a good root growth stimulant, look into KelpMax.

I think this was linked to my suggestion of just misting the base of the plant / exposed roots, to try to encourage some brand new root growth. I often see that happen with my Phals, and do recall a few other people here noticing the same thing.

SouthPark · #13 11-30-2019, 03:51 PM

Also --- an item known in Australia as "ezy-root gel" can work well for root activity. Sure - corny name heheh - but workable. This could go nicely in tandem with the other nice recommendations provided in the thread already.

kvet · #14 12-01-2019, 12:37 PM

Thank you all again for the advice. Both phals appear to have mealy bugs again, several more removed this morning. This, combined with the possible mushy roots, I decided to take them out of the jars and see what's going on.

Phal #1: new root growth, at least three within the medium! #1 was there when I began potting, it was tiny little nubbin' and has grown. The rest are new, and within the hydroton. Majority of the dark-colored roots are NOT mushy, in fact, they are strong. I'm not going to trim anything on this one.

Phal #2: pretty much every root appears to be decaying at this point, with scant green roots that are not mushy. I don't see any new root growth yet. This will be major clipping. When I did the transplant, majority of these roots were questionable, based on all the reading I had done, none quite fell into the category of dead or alive, so I left them to be safe. Guess now I know.

I'm letting them dry for a couple hours, then I will replant, place in filtered-bright-light window on a seed pad, and cover loosely with a plastic bag. I'll consider the south african kelp extract product as well.

kvet · #15 05-24-2020, 08:31 PM

Hi! Just about a six-month update. One of these died, the other has remained stagnant despite a number of attempts to revive it. However, while watering today, I noticed what looks like a new root and leaf beginning to show! Yay!

Since phals prefer to be warmer instead of cooler, and SH creates a slightly cooler environment, would it be better off to change the medium now that some growth has begun, or stick with the SH a bit longer?

WaterWitchin · #16 05-26-2020, 01:36 PM

Don't change again. New roots adapt to the medium they grow in. Start them in bark, switch to SH, means new roots and starting over. Start in SH, switch to bark, starting over for new roots. Throw sphagnum medium into that mix, same thing. Decide on a way to grow, and then give it LOTS of time to settle in. (More than six months) And you're in zone 10a. Heat should not be a problem. I grow in 6a and don't have problems.

SouthPark · #17 05-26-2020, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kvet

Hi! Just about a six-month update. One of these died, the other has remained stagnant despite a number of attempts to revive it. However, while watering today, I noticed what looks like a new root and leaf beginning to show! Yay!

That one is definitely back in action.

kvet · #18 09-11-2020, 11:22 AM

Let's throw the towel in on this one, it hasn't done anything but drop its leaves since May. I think it'd be better to move this back to bark medium.

I moved a few other non-orchid plants to SH in June, and they seem to be doing well (one of them looks almost root bound now and needs watering nearly daily wtf in only 3 months?!), so I'm pretty sure it is simply the phal plant doesn't like the medium. I will research and see what orchids would do better in SH, it is fun exploring this and I have quite a bit of leca to use up haha. Although after some experimentation, for house plants, I am torn between a "gritty" mix and SH.

WaterWitchin · #19 09-11-2020, 11:36 AM

Just clean up the dead leaves. Aren't there two new little leaves coming up there in the middle?

---------- Post added at 09:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:32 AM ----------

And is this the one in Picture 3 in your very first set of pictures on this thread? If so, looks about as expected to me. The leaves in that one looked like they weren't going to make it anyway.

kvet · #20 09-11-2020, 12:02 PM

It's one of those two, actually it may be the one in #1 and #2, I forget - that was nine months ago. It has two little green leaves. The green nubby you see in the May photo hasn't done anything.

Total time in SH for this one has been about a year now... this lack of anything but stressed-ness just doesn't seem right?