has my orchid died?? :-( - Page 4 - Orchid Board

beckie_boo22 · #31 07-03-2012, 07:46 AM

i've repotted my phal, hopefully not killed it in the process! :-(
what do you think, does it look alright?
thanks everyone for your help and advice i really was at a loss before i stumbled across this website
so grateful

Paul Mc · #32 07-03-2012, 07:52 AM

At the moment, it looks fine to me, but you need to get the water off the leaves and especially the crown where the leaves meet as that type of orchid is especially prone to rotting in the crown when water is left there.

beckie_boo22 · #33 07-03-2012, 07:56 AM

Thought it was good to water leaves too, always done it oops :-(

Paul Mc · #34 07-03-2012, 08:12 AM

Generally speaking, we don't water leaves. I know some people on here fertilize/water by leaf application, but that is very different than just watering. And I'm not so sure they do this with the type of orchid you have as it is very prone to crown rot, and can quickly develop, killing the entire plant fast. Glad you posted pics and I was able to see that!

beckie_boo22 · #35 07-03-2012, 08:31 AM

My bad, won't do it again

Paul Mc · #36 07-03-2012, 08:42 AM

Don't make me come down there!!! LOL!!! Seriously glad to help out though.

Wynn Dee13 · #37 07-03-2012, 11:56 AM

If you get the crown wet or the leaf axils wet just make sure you dry it out with a paper towel or something. It's ok to get it wet but it isn't ok to keep it wet.

What kind of medium did you use? From the pics it looks kind of soil like but it might be because it is wet. Make sure the medium you are using doesn't have soil or peat in it. Do not use Miricle Grow Orchid Mix! It is too soil like and will suffocate your plant. A good mix is bark, charcoal, perlite, and for some more moisture add some chopped one inch pieces of sphagnum moss to it. The leaves look good and you have healthy roots so it should start growing soon. Good luck.

beckie_boo22 · #38 07-13-2012, 05:13 AM

I didn't kill it when i repotted it, it's growing a new leaf!!!
Sooo relieved

beckie_boo22 · #39 07-13-2012, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wynn Dee13

If you get the crown wet or the leaf axils wet just make sure you dry it out with a paper towel or something. It's ok to get it wet but it isn't ok to keep it wet.

What kind of meadium did you use? From the pics it looks kind of soil like but it might be because it is wet. Make sure the meadium you are using doesn't have soil or peat in it. Do not use Miricle Grow Orchid Mix! It is too soil like and will suffocate your plant. A good mix is bark, charcoal, perlite, and for some more moisture add some chopped one inch pieces of sphagnum moss to it. The leaves look good and you have healthy roots so it should start growing soon. Good luck.

this is what i've used, packet says it's organic matter, bark and wood fibre

Westland Orchid Compost 10L from Homebase.co.uk

Wynn Dee13 · #40 07-13-2012, 05:58 AM

I'm not sure about that product. I don't like the word 'compost' in it. It sounds a lot like a peat mix which is too dense and soil like for your type of orchid because Phals roots need air around them. If they don't get enough air and stay too wet the roots will rot and it usually kills the plant. I read all the reviews on the site you gave and many people said their plants seemed to like this medium but most of these people sounded like they didn't know much about orchids. They were reviewing way too early to tell if the orchid would do well in it. One person who sounded like they knew some things about orchids said it barely had any bark chunks in it and it was mostly peat moss. They also said it was a terrible mix for Phals since it is so dense. If that is true I wouldn't use it. This brand isn't sold over here so I have never seen it. What does the mix look like to you? Hopefully someone who lives in the UK can tell you if it is okay to use or not.

I would find a bark mix containing fir bark, perlite/sponge rock, and charcoal. If it is too chunky and you are finding it isn't holding enough moisture, you can add some pieces of sphagnum moss to the mix for more moisture. Cut it into one inch pieces and mix it in.

Hopefully someone can tell you where to get a good mix. I usually need to buy my supplies online since there isn't many good mediums around where I live.