Phal Repotting- Sphag or Bark?

[tucker85]

I think it's much easier to manage a phal in bark or a mix based on bark or coconut husk chips. Phals can grow well in sphagnum if they're in tiny pots (no more than 3"-4") and the moss is allowed to dry and is changed once a year. Fertilizer salts can easily build up in sphagnum and phals decline quickly when that happens. No matter what you use for a medium I've found I have the best results when I use the smallest possible pot that will accomodate the roots. Good luck.

[Kelo]

LOL! We are high maintenance. I wonder if that's why my sphag on some of my mounted phals is going brittle and not holding water? - waiting until it's bone dry. Think I should change some sphag now lol.

[Jayfar]

A key problem with spag as used by nurseries is how tightly packed it generally is. One major well-regarded grower is known to endorse tightly packing spag, but I haven't heard his exact reasoning and I don't subscribe to that belief, especially in light of the root condition of some plants I've received from him.

Spag can probably work well for most growers if it is packed loosely enough and is closely monitored. The skewer method is the most reliable way to know when to water. Stick a pointed bamboo skewer into each pot and leave it there. You then test periodically by pulling it out and feeling; if it's almost bone dry, then it's time to water.

I repot most new plants at the earliest opportunity, unless it's a small seedling and the spag appears fresh through the clear pot. You'll notice a near consensus on this board for repotting on arrival.

Currently, I'm using CHC (Coconut Husk Chips) in clear slotted plastic pots for almost all my Phal repotting.

I've stopped using styro peanuts at the bottom after too many incidents of accidentally tipping over a top-heavy Phal. Now, I use a small amount of river pebbles at the bottom to make the pots more tip resistant, as well as for drainage.

[keithrs]

Phal. will grow in many combo's of potting mixes. I also grow both....Moss and bark. The two keys for me is allow the roots to turn silvery and use a clay pot with holes on the sides, basket, or net pot. This allows good air circulation and the moss dry's evenly. Humidity tray is also a good thing if you grow in bark.

Let face it, The reason there in plastic pots packed tight is so the moss stays wet longer because the chain stores don't water them. This way the plant don't have to be watered for several weeks.

[silken]

Originally Posted by keithrs

Phal. will grow in many combo's of potting mixes. I also grow both....Moss and bark. The two keys for me is allow the roots to turn silvery and use a clay pot with holes on the sides, basket, or net pot. This allows good air circulation and the moss dry's evenly. Humidity tray is also a good thing if you grow in bark.

Let face it, The reason there in plastic pots packed tight is so the moss stays wet longer because the chain stores don't water them. This way the plant don't have to be watered for several weeks.

I agree and they mostly come from Taiwan so must make the trip here too withough getting too dry.

[Kelo]

Moss is also a medium that makes exporting them easier in the respect of bugs and diseases - so I was told by an importer/exporter.

[tucker85]

Commercial growers are trying to make a profit. Tiny, thin plastic pots with sphagnum moss are very light an inexpensive to ship. The sphagnum holds moisture so the grower doesn't spend a lot of money on water. Since they use the same size pot and the same medium for all their orchids, they know exactly how much water to use. They also use fungicides in the water regularly to prevent root rot.

[Cerey]

Originally Posted by Eyebabe

Lots of tricks to being successful with Sphag and thus many find bark easier; especially if you water frequently.

Your sphag is way too soaked! You are over watering

Gently remove the sphag around your roots and trim any soggy flat or brown roots.
You have lots of healthy plump green ones.

To prepare your sphag...use a high grade material like New Zealand Sphag which probably will last one year.
Soak it in a solution with some fertilizer or root stimulant like KLN and then wring it out very firmly so it is more damp than wet.
I prefer some medium perilite in my sphag to create air pockets but that is my preference.
Pack the new sphag in firmly and repot.
Leave about 1/2-3/4 inch from the top of the media to the top of the pot.
I like a clear plastic pot so I can see the roots and the roots can also photosynthesize.

Now the key is to only water like Kelo said when the top is almost bone dry...when you pinch the top sphag and it begins to crinkle between your fingers.
When you water, you only fill the 1/2 inch space from the top of the media to the top of the pot.
That's it!
Let the water soak in and don't water again until it is almost bone dry.

Never soak a plant potted in sphag like it is recommended with bark.

Sphag will hold humidity better than bark and if you don't overwater the plant, it will do great.

Another trick: If your plant is pretty large the sphag may inadvertently still hold too much water. So take some styrofoam peanuts and stuff them in/around the bottom core of the plant. This will prevent the "crown rot from the bottom up" syndrome.

Sphag is a nice low maintenance potting material for phals and that is why most of the phals you get are potted in it.
The problem is that many of us are high maintenance people

Good luck!

Thank you! This was really helpful. And yes it is too soaked! but I watered it a week ago. When i first got it, it would be dry in a week. Now it's taking longer, so I'm wondering if its degrading already.

[Cerey]

Thank you all for your advice. It really helped. I think I'm going to go with a mixture of moss and bark. I don't want to use full bark because I'm scared it will dry out and I won't have time to water it. I'm busy with school and such, and when I do want to water it, it's usually still moist. So bark/moss combination sounds perfect for me!

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Cerey

Thank you! This was really helpful. And yes it is too soaked! but I watered it a week ago. When i first got it, it would be dry in a week. Now it's taking longer, so I'm wondering if its degrading already.

As the weather cools down it can start drying slower as well. Always water based on how it's drying not on a set schedule, weather can really dictate how often it should be watered even if you are growing inside.