Advice please! - Orchid Board

orchidlover442218 · #1 07-31-2013, 06:56 PM

Been reading the phal abuse ends here thread but haven't had time to finish it as it is such a long thread. My hubby bought this phal for me from sams. Im determined to make it live as i haven't had luck with previous ones. Couple questions...i took it out of the pot and inspected the roots. For the most part they looked ok but there were some brown mushy ones so i cut them off (pic below) and also some yellow ones that im leaving alone. Did i do the right thing?? I realize i cut at the wrong spot on one of the roots :/ rookie mistake! Also there is quite a bit of bark filling the bottom of the pot (filling approx. half the pot) is the pot to big for the orchid since they like some what tight places? Also a couple of the air roots are shribbled up and "crunchy" should i cut those? Anything else i should do to it? Thanks!

orchidlover442218 · #2 07-31-2013, 06:58 PM

Ps its not letting me upload more than one pic at a time. Im new to this board! Also dont know why they are being rotated when i upload them.

orchidlover442218 · #3 07-31-2013, 06:59 PM

orchidlover442218 · #4 07-31-2013, 07:00 PM

Overall pic...ignore the ice. Im not using it anymore since reading phal abuse thread

Bud · #5 07-31-2013, 07:19 PM

your instincts are correct. the pot is too big. you have removed dead roots now repot it in a smaller clear plastic maybe 5 inches diameter. You have enough healthy roots to sustain your plants.
You have three plants in a 8 inches pot. It was an artistic florist who did the presentation who thought you will just thrash it after the blooms.
Remove the moss on the surface of the pot= it might retain water and give you crown rot.

---------- Post added at 06:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:10 PM ----------

make sure you have holes on the new pot. The original tin bucket probably do not have holes that is why the roots were dying from stagnant water.

orchidlover442218 · #6 07-31-2013, 07:22 PM

I actually put a bunch of holes in the bottom of the pot yesterday and put it back in. I will have to order a clear pot from repotme.com as i cant find one in any of the stores here. Will remove the moss now!

Bud · #7 07-31-2013, 07:36 PM

You inherited your plant from a florist not an orchid grower/seller who does business with Sam's Club.
Hence, there were no holes on the tin bucket.
It was created for showcasing and selling the magnificent display of blooms. It must have cost a lot.
Orchids do not like the cold especially these kind. Please! No ice! =orchids are mostly tropical plants and they love warmth....the lowest temperature it can withstand is 50F

Cactuseed · #8 07-31-2013, 10:24 PM

i see alot of healthy green roots around the perimeter which is good. I see a few new roots headed straight down; new roots are always good.
In addition to others opinion that the pot is too big, to me, the media looks a little fine for your phal, I would suggest a coarser media.

orchidlover442218 · #9 07-31-2013, 11:28 PM

Thanks for the advice guys! Hubby said it was $27 so not bad at all for such a big orchid! I only did the ice the first day i had it and stopped after reading this board

orchidlover442218 · #10 07-31-2013, 11:31 PM

Why are some roots yellow?