Phals in S/H

[Ray]

Originally Posted by grasshopper

Once a plant has fully established itself in S/H (new roots replacing the old ones) there is no die off because those roots adapted to the S/H environment.

...unless you let it get too cold!

[tinabee]

Low 50's outside (which it has been the last several evenings)translates to high 50's/low 60's on my screened in porch according to the thermometer I have. If I know it's going to be in the upper 40's outside, I bring all my phals in. Believe me.....I learned the hard way this winter.

[tinabee]

UPDATE:

My phals are doing well! Out of the five I have planted in S/H, three of them are growing new leaves, one has two new bloom stalks with the first bud about to open up. There is one I repotted while still in bloom. I didn't cut the bloom spike off of it. It's like that plant never missed a beat and is still going strong. The aerial roots just keep getting longer and crazier on it.

One phal. I have in S/H does have the two lower leaves all yellow, but the remaining two are still green. I'm hoping that one is just experiencing a bit of stress from the repot. I plan on just being patient with it, because when it is in bloom, it is beautiful.

[Connie Star]

I have three phals in semi-hydro, and one, a Phal schilleriana has a sib in generic orchid mix. I did this as an experiment, and so far they are about equal. I've found that with my rather hard well-water, I have to watch salt build-up on the surface. Someone on OB suggested that I remove the top stones periodically, which I did, and then I spritz every (well, most every) morning with rain or distilled water. The new roots seem to like that. I'm very curious to see how yours do. Pictures?

[tinabee]

I will have to wait until I get back home from work before I can do this. My cellphone camera isn't the greatest, and right now it is not sunny enough outside to take photos. However I do have to say that so far, I'm happy with S/H.

[tinabee]

Photos:

[Connie Star]

They look great to me. My phals in semi-hydro are ones I bought as seedlings, and they are growing slowly in either S/H or orchid mix. I have a lot of phals, but most are ones I bought in bloom. I haven't transfered any of the bigger ones to S/H yet, but I think I will when they stop blooming, as they will be due for repotting then. You don't seem to have the salt accululation problem that I do.
Until I started removing and replacing the top stones and spritzing daily, the root seemed to shrink back from the stones or turn black and crusty

[tinabee]

When I posted that pic. of the phal. with the two yellow bottom leaves, I noticed yesterday the beginning of a brand new leaf getting ready to push through the center of the crown.

This makes me really happy, because that phal. was a brand new one with gorgeous pink and white blooms I didn't want to lose.

Hopefully, this thread will give someone more confidence in repotting plants in bloom. In my particular case with phals, it can be done.

[trdyl]

Originally Posted by tinabee

Hopefully, this thread will give someone more confidence in repotting plants in bloom. In my particular case with phals, it can be done.

I have repotted several in bloom and they never missed a beat.