New to orchids, and I have a question about my only orchid friend

[lulu]

I bought my first orchid a few weeks ago at Lowe's (pretty much like Home Depot, in case they are not in your area). It's a phal, and I got it because there were TWO happy-looking phals in the pot, one of them with two beautiful blooming stalks. Couldn't walk away from it!

Anyway, I have been watering it once a week and both of the stalks have lost all their flowers. One stalk is dead-looking, the other still looks quite vital. The plant that was not blooming originally is putting out a new stalk that's covered with buds, which is very exciting for me as a newbie.

I have not re-potted, nor even checked the innards of the pot.

I live in Maryland, where it is usually in the upper 80s to mid 90s during the day this time of year. It's not uncommon to have a few days with the hear index hovering around 100. It's often pretty humid here. My phals are on the front porch which is North-facing and covered. They are in a corner, close to the house, up on a plant stand that allows air circulation all around, including below the pot.

Should I take the new stalk as a sign that my conditions are all good? Or should I do a bit more homework and make adjustments to make my new friends feel really welcome?

Thanks for your advice.

[Ray]

Sorry, but no, you cannot take the credit for that.

The process of initiating an inflorescence, having it grow, and then develop buds can be as long as two months of more, depending upon the species in the plant's background.

The temperatures and humidity are just fine, though, as long as there is no direct sunlight. My only concern is that you're "flying in the dark" about watering.

You really should check the condition of the medium. If it is decomposed and too compact, when you water you risk suffocating the roots (the plants are epiphytes, after all, so need lots of air to the roots), and killing them. Conversely, as you wait a week between waterings, maybe it's not enough.

As a first shot, judge from its appearance what condition the medium is in. Then, if it looks a bit dense, try poking a freshly sharpened pencil down into the medium, reaching about the center of the pot. Let it stay there for about 15 seconds and remove it. If it's wet, don't water.

You probably don't want to repot the plants while in bloom, so if the medium is a bit "wet" and compact, cut back on your watering a bit - the humidity these days will slow the evaporation anyway.

Let us know what your assessment is and several of us ought to be able to offer more specific advice.

[Blondie]

Congrats on your new orchid! Do you have a picture? I always see about a gazillion of those at Lowe's and Home Depot. They are always so huge. But usually I see that they are in moss--is yours is moss? I was a little terrified of the moss, so I replanted my phal in bark.

[puddin]

You should really check the roots. At my Lowes, they are really bad about having horrible roots. I mean I sometimes cut 85% of the roots off because they are dead. I have one right now, and it had a great flower show, but I had to cut the spike off and I'm really wondering if it will make it. Really hope it will, because the flowers are beautiful.

[gixrj18]

Do more homework, it can't do anything but help. I would also suggest "Jack's Classic" 20-20-20 all purpose fertilizer, and 10-30-20 blossom booster. Breakfast of champions!

[justatypn]

Lulu, may I start with an OB

Sounds like you have been bitten by the orchid bug. Here is a cultural sheet on your orchid from the AOS website..

http://www.aos.org/aos/uploadedfiles...lturephals.pdf

Please take a walk to the "Break the Ice" thread and introduce yourself to our members.

Just remember we love s....

[lulu]

Thanks for all the info, you all have been so helpful and kind.

I took them out of the pot and HORRORS! There was mold among the roots! It looked like the soil was moss. Although there were definitely some dead roots, most of them looked juicy and worm-like. I will cut back on watering until the blooming is done and then re-pot as Ray suggested.

I read the info sheet provided by justatypn and now I'm concerned I'm not providing enough light. The corner where the pot sits is fairly dark. I will have to find a better spot for them.

I had difficulty uploading photos. I thought I saw some info on how to shrink photos here on the Board, but I couldn't find it when I needed it. If anyone can point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it.

[cb977]

Here ya go

Thumbnail pics in posts

Gallery Photos

Resizing Images...originally posted 6/13/06 by Marty

[gixrj18]

It probably wouldn't hurt to spray it with a little algaecide. I use pool algaecide (10%), it's a lot cheaper than plant algaecides, and works just as well. I mix it 250 parts water to 1 part algaecide. Although, it has a blue tint to it, so I use it in a spray bottle.

[justatypn]

Lulu, if you would feel better about repotting you can go ahead and repot now either with or without bloomin'. Many of the members here repot every orchid that is introduced into their collection.

I am not comfortable with your post stating mold around the roots. Yes, it is caused by over-watering, but once it has set in its' never a pretty site if not taken care of. This is one down-fall with potting in different types of sphagnum moss.

If your lighting is not sufficient phal's are very forgiving and easily adaptable to a new enviroment, might take a season to get a grip. What I have learned with growing phals indoors is that I have mine in a breakfast nook with east, north, west light an all are on the west side with a shade cloth but the different lighting with each level (4) of racking and have taken on there own lighting changes. It does not hurt to keep moving your orchids until they let you know they have found a happy home.