Cut keiki and repotted orchid. NEED ADVICE!

[boerbitboel]

Hello I purchased an orchid about a year ago and it has done well. It sprouted a keiki that had one bloom and a few leaves and roots. I cut the keiki from the main plant and repotted the Keiki and the original orchid in a larger pot together.

I used orchid potting mix I picked up from Lowes in the bottom of the pot I mixed in recently used coffee grounds before putting the plants in. It has been a couple of days but both seem to be doing ok. The main plant has a new stem that is about to bloom and the keiki is growing its own stem.

I am just wondering if what I did is ok?

Is there anything I should be on the look out for?

Should I water the pot more often because it has two orchids in it?

i have attached photos of my orchid. So please any and all feed back is welcome.

(the little guy i just purchased and repotted so any tips welcome as well)

[bil]

Originally Posted by boerbitboel

Hello I purchased an orchid about a year ago and it has done well. It sprouted a keiki that had one bloom and a few leaves and roots. I cut the keiki from the main plant and repotted the Keiki and the original orchid in a larger pot together.

I used orchid potting mix I picked up from Lowes in the bottom of the pot I mixed in recently used coffee grounds before putting the plants in. It has been a couple of days but both seem to be doing ok. The main plant has a new stem that is about to bloom and the keiki is growing its own stem.

I am just wondering if what I did is ok?

Is there anything I should be on the look out for?

Should I water the pot more often because it has two orchids in it?

i have attached photos of my orchid. So please any and all feed back is welcome.

(the little guy i just purchased and repotted so any tips welcome as well)

Another time don't use coffee grounds. Phals are better in pure bark so that the air can get thru easily. Their roots need to breathe.
I personally would water just the same, ie soak so that water runs thru, fertilise very weakly.
Let the medium dry out well between waterings if the medium it is in is dense.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I agree regarding the coffee grounds. Why would you do that!?!?

[estación seca]

I put my coffee grounds in the garden beds as mulch. Often a day or so later, they coffee grounds are covered with mold.

[gngrhill]

I have heard that planting the keiki with the mother is good because the mother will help regulate the water so the little one won't be over watered. So, I guess you should water the same as Bil reccommends

[boerbitboel]

I've read a few things that say coffee grounds are good for orchids, and others that say don't. So far so good the keiki is growing and the mother plant is growing new buds and roots.

[silken]

Does that ceramic pot have any drainage or air holes? I don't see any but even one is likely not enough.

[boerbitboel]

drainage yes. air no. should i get a different pot?

[estación seca]

The large ceramic pot is very large for this kind of orchid, and the bark you used has a lot of small pieces. This combination of large pot and small potting medium will take a long time to dry out. Unless you pay careful attention you might let it sit wet for too long, and it would be at risk for rotting.

The second plant appears to be in larger chunk bark, unless there are small pieces hiding beneath the surface. This kind of bark would be better for most people.

You could use this decorative ceramic container with very large chunk of bark, not the small shreds in your current mix.

You could put the plants into a much smaller pot, and nestle that into the decorative ceramic container. In this case you could take the pot to the sink to water it, and return it after it has drained.

[silken]

I use chunkier mix and then a clear pot with side and bottom holes. It drains and dries nearly completely before I water again. Even a non glazed terra cotta pot would breath a bit better than the glazed one. One drain hole in the bottom is not enough in my opinion. You will need to make sure it has dried well, thru the centre and bottom of the pot before watering or root rot could happen.