Phal New owner : Am I doing this right? - Orchid Board

mothinuk · #1 03-05-2012, 08:57 PM

So I received a Phal about 2 weeks ago as a present. I have never owned an orchid before, but am very interested in learning the proper way to care for it. It is a dual stem Phal with about 8 flowers on both, and 3 unopened buds on both stems as well. Since having it, 2 or 3 buds have opened nicely. There is also a grabber/root that is growing (silver tipped) I have a wooden peg in it, to test when I need to water it. It has a moss on the top for the plant, that half is green and half is brown (looks dead). I try and keep the moss moist, and I do this without watering the plant. I soaked the plant in water for about 15 minutes the other morning, and then drained the extra water. I realized that I have very hard water, so I went out and bought some bottled water for the next time I soak it. I have the plant actually away from the window at the moment, as it is drafty, and typically overcast outside (although I do open the curtains to let some real light in. I have a 100000lux lamp on the desk that is beside the Phal, but not directly shining on it. I did the shadow test and it does not appear to be too much light.

Hopefully I am doing things right so far.

I am unfortunately in a drafty area as I said. I have a radiator that I can manually turn on for about 2 hours, getting the room toasty, but otherwise it shuts off and the room gets to about 50- 55F. Hopefully it will get a bit warmer soon. The radiator dries the room out, so I have put the plant (it has a clear plastic pot with holes inside a glass pot) in a tray, and have a washcloth damp in the tray. I was wondering if I should take it into the bathroom with me for showers (sounds extremely odd to say that)? So it can get some humidity? The bathroom is so small and gets no natural light, that I didn't think it would be the best permanent place for the Phal, but please correct me if I am wrong.

Today one of the first blooms (bloomed prior to me having it) has wilted. The stem has shriveled, and the flower is wilted, though appears to be still in good color as the rest. And secondly I noticed that one of the leaves near the bottom leaf has turned a bit yellow in color and has some indentations in the middle of the leaf. There are 7 total leaves, 4 on one side, 3 on the other. This leaf is in between a smaller one (lower) and a larger one (upper). I don't know if this means I am doing something incorrectly or if these are the natural deaths of the plant parts.

Also when do I cut the dying flower back? I have heard that they can sometime come back, although I am not sure what circumstances they do that. Also if the leaf is dying, do I need to cut that back ? Or let it naturally fall off?

Many thanks

Bud · #2 03-05-2012, 09:17 PM

WELCOME AND HELLO !

It would be nice if you posted pictures.
I am glad that you trust your instincts, you have already found out for yourself the basics of how to care for this kind of plant.
You have to find a watering and fertilizing regimen that will work for both of you.
I put some of my plants on the sink while I shower, they love the hot steam especially my vandas...
You want to let the blooms wilt and naturally fall off...if the spikes are still green dont cut it off...you might get a baby plant or another set of blooms from it...
Good Luck and read the posts of some of the members and learn from their years of experience on growing orchids...
this may be quite a long reading but it sure helps:
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ends-here.html

mothinuk · #3 03-06-2012, 06:25 AM

I actually attempted to attach photos yesterday. Is there some trick to it? I resized them, yet they still were too large in KB.

Secondly, I have read some mixed opinions about fertilizing when the plant is in bloom? Any suggestions?

Paul Mc · #4 03-06-2012, 07:32 AM

Without a picture, I can't comment on the medium it's in. I can tell you that the roots need to breathe and if the moss topping is pressed in on the roots or naturally collapses as a result of watering then it may be smothering the roots. However, some people grow in sphagnum moss, so this may not be an issue for you. In fact, given your low humidity, it may work out better by adding humidity and trapping humidity around the root zone.

The key here is to remember that they grow in trees. In nature, they don't get fertilized a lot as a result. Weakly weekly is the usual recommendation, but watch out for salt build ups. You may want to feed for two weeks and then flush on the third (plain, distilled water).

50-55F may not be good long term for this particular plant, depending upon it's parents if it's a hybrid or the type of species. The wilting flower may just be from the shock of the new environemnt (your home) as opposed to an issue. It could be natural, but it may be the low temperatures as well. If all of your flowers "bust" and fall off then it's possible it's the shock of the new environment. I would not take it into the shower with you for a boost in humidity because you will shock it again when you bring it out of the humidity back to it's home/resting place.

If the absolute bottom leaf is shriveling up and yellowing, then it's probably just it's time. Have you checked the roots though? Roots are a tell-tale sign something is wrong. Without roots or with dying roots, your plant will not survive long. If it's not a very bottom level leaf, then it may be a sign that something is wrong. It sounds like it's the second leaf up on the left (or right) side of the plant, so this has me suspicious.

We generally cut the spike when it has turned brown and dried, back down to about 1 or less inch from the plant.

---------- Post added at 06:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:26 AM ----------

As for pictures, you may want to look at the signature line of Rosie C's (a moderator here) comments. I believe there is a link to picture tips. Many use internet based photo albums such as flicker and post links.

mothinuk · #5 03-06-2012, 02:57 PM

Alright here are photos! The nicer photos were taken about 4 days ago of the blooms, and it shows the now wilted bloom looking quite fine.

http://flickr.com/gp/77681605@N03/6uo628/

mothinuk · #6 03-06-2012, 06:27 PM

So I have just come back and found another wilting flower. It is on the opposite stem than the other one. It is the 4th flower up too. I feel I am doing something wrong and not sure how to save the remaining blooms. It does not need water. I wish I had a better environment for it, as the colder temperatures are not ideal for it I know. Is there anything that I can do?

Bud · #7 03-06-2012, 06:38 PM

the blooms will not be there forever...at some point in time it will all wilt and die...the flowers might only for 3 weeks or less...so dont panic.
after the blooms; you want to repot...you have moss in your pictures...I think bark, charcoal, lava rock and hydroton mix will work best for you...unless you know how to skewer and water...
just read and research about this plant...
Baker culture of phals...
There is a very good British Phalaenopsis culture section:
'Phalaenopsis Culture in the UK'