Help with re-potting a Phal

[SDK]

A few more questions…

Just repotted Phal #3…..

What was this one potted in? (see pic). It looked like peat moss (not spaghnum), but when I started pulling it apart it felt more like a brown sponge? It broke apart more readily than a sponge would though, but was a real pain to get out of the roots. It also made it impossible to inspect most of the root system before purchasing, and this is the first one for me that had some dead roots. Fortunately there were plenty of live ones as well. These seem like tough plants at least. Should I avoid buying any more plants potted like this? Maybe it’s ok but I feel like I dodged a bullet.

This one also had an alligator clip holding the spike (see pic). It was actually starting to damage the spike so I removed it. I’m assuming that it’s fine to let the spike just hang horizontally, which is more natural, correct?

I attached a pic of all three together on their shelf. This new one has the white blooms. So far so good with the first two, so hoping so with number three as well.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Probably was peat. The best way I've found is to gently remove it with the aid of running water. A garden hose will work wonders.

[estación seca]

That also might be coconut fiber.

[Hazeldazel]

I'm in California and sometimes there's this sponge-like material as the center plug. Awful stuff if you don't know to repot right away.

Anyway, welcome and in the enabling spirit have you heard about the summer blooming phals like Phal. bellina or Phal. violacea? They are sequential bloomers meaning they won't bloom with 20 at once, rather a couple at a time all the time. Oh did I mention they have a sweet fragrance?

[Dimples]

Looks like the Root Riot plugs I use for rooting cuttings. Lots of other brands make them too. I’ve also found similar plugs on a few of my orchids. They’re made of sphagnum and a biodegradable binder and are actually quite good at retaining a lot of moisture without loosing air spaces. In the middle of a pot they can stay too wet but overall they’re nice to have around.

I used one to help rehabilitate a friend’s phal that lost all but one short root. Slid the plug onto the root and kept it moist until it grew more roots.

[SDK]

Hi all and sorry for the slow reply. Kid stuff and a fractured foot had me running behind all week.

The substrate had a spongy quality and did not rinse out, so I am suspecting it was the above-mentioned plugs or something similar. Either way, the new Phal is doing well so far after some TLC and a repotting.

---------- Post added at 09:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:36 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Hazeldazel

I'm in California and sometimes there's this sponge-like material as the center plug. Awful stuff if you don't know to repot right away.

Anyway, welcome and in the enabling spirit have you heard about the summer blooming phals like Phal. bellina or Phal. violacea? They are sequential bloomers meaning they won't bloom with 20 at once, rather a couple at a time all the time. Oh did I mention they have a sweet fragrance?

Thank you for the A level enabling. I am already looking into both lol...

On that subject, with my foot being a bit messed up, my plans to do some sort of indoor greenhouse/cabinet might get put off until next year.

Can anyone recommend some additional genus or species that would work well in my current plant area?

Cliff notes-

I am in cold New England and my house faces north, so I have almost zero help from windows and/or natural daylight in the winter.

I do use full spectrum plant lights on a 12/12 schedule and am able to ramp up that intensity if needed. I can also reliably keep the plant area at 50 to 60% humidity with a humidifier, pebble trays and light misting. Room is set to 63 degrees, but the lighting in that corner keeps it a few degrees warmer when they are running.

Suggestions are appreciated. The good news is my tree filled yard is my south side, so providing the orchids with a dappled light outdoor summer retreat is also in the plan. They just need to be indoors until around April...

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[Hazeldazel]

I have my orchids on a shelf in an unheated room (only one that is closed off to my plant eating cats). I just have the ones which don’t want a winter chill on a cheapo 10x20 seedling heat mat. They’re only about $12 on Amazon and don’t use much electricity. The rest of the room gets down to 63F.

[estación seca]

63 F / 16C all winter is very cool for Phals, especially because it may dip lower on cold nights. Consider getting seedling heat mats to put under your Phals.