I want flowers!

[Calliope]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Semi-hydroponic culture is also great for Phals. There is a whole S/H forum here.

Thank you for that reference. I intend to investigate it further as I've not heard of it before.


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[bil]

Originally Posted by Calliope

Thank you for that very in depth answer. Very useful to hear what an experienced grower recommends. Are your pots terracotta or plastic? Your trolley and lance look so practical. This system is obviously working beautifully for you judging by the health of your plants.

Thank you. The pots are plastic. Terracotta can cause problems with salt buildup, and plastic helps to keep them from drying out. I simply can't buy pots like that, because I find that wide shallow pots give me a better result. So, I buy the cylindrical pots, and cut them up. For the big phals I use the top off a 35cm pot and the bottom of a 40, and for most others I use the top of a 25cm pot and the bottom of a 30.

They friction fit and then I use a hot wire to melt holes that 'weld' them together.

[Calliope]

I'm hoping everyone who has given generously of their time to reply to me can see this. A very big thank you for advising me to get the orchids out of the moss and into bark. I've just checked them both and as you can see the roots have nearly all rotted away, but OMG despite
my misguided love are those flower spikes I see all over the place or are they new aerial roots trying to find away out of the soggy mess?

So, given all the suggestions the two plants are now in shallow, plastic containers with holes drilled in them. These are a bit makeshift until I find something better. As you can see I've put them in newly purchased orchid bark.

[Calliope]

Here is the other one purchased from the grower. Nearly all the roots have rotted away and what I think is a flower spike has a brown rotted bit on the end. I see several other tiny bud-like protuberances forming though.

[estación seca]

Those nubs are all roots. Phals try mightily to make new roots when people rot off the old ones.

Your new repotting scheme should work well.

[Calliope]

Thank you. That makes perfect sense. I'm reassured I'm finally on the right track. My first little orchid looked a lot better before I started intervening!

[Calliope]

Originally Posted by bil

Thank you. The pots are plastic. Terracotta can cause problems with salt buildup, and plastic helps to keep them from drying out. I simply can't buy pots like that, because I find that wide shallow pots give me a better result. So, I buy the cylindrical pots, and cut them up. For the big phals I use the top off a 35cm pot and the bottom of a 40, and for most others I use the top of a 25cm pot and the bottom of a 30.



They friction fit and then I use a hot wire to melt holes that 'weld' them together.

Hoping you can see in this thread how I've repotted my babies given your advice. I've found some shallow, bigger containers and thank goodness you said to get them out of the moss. You were so right as you can see! The containers aren't quite as attractive as your custom made ones, but hopefully they will be better for the plants until I find something nicer. I can see what is happening with the roots now in these ones.


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[Helene]

Bil makes really nice pots, and also other handy things- looks really nice (I will copy the ideas whenever I get a greenhouse, atm I dont have room for pots that big)

Your plants look great, you can see whats going on, and its easy to water without overwatering. Hopefully your plants will grow new roots in no-time

And, when they grow in this new mix, you will get the hang of what they like, and what works for you. Then you can find pots/media that works for you. This will be okay for some time, I believe



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[bil]

Originally Posted by Calliope

Hoping you can see in this thread how I've repotted my babies given your advice. I've found some shallow, bigger containers and thank goodness you said to get them out of the moss. You were so right as you can see! The containers aren't quite as attractive as your custom made ones, but hopefully they will be better for the plants until I find something nicer. I can see what is happening with the roots now in these ones.

As I say, I hate moss. Anyone who grows phals in pure moss, and does so successfully, I take my hat off to them. You have to be so on the ball, it isn't true. With the bark, your only risk is not watering them ENOUGH. I know some people don't like the fag of watering, but to me it's the time when I check ALL the orchids and look for those exciting moments when a sulking orchid finally decides to put out roots or a new shoot.
To me, that's a thrilling moment, in some ways more so than the actual flowers.

---------- Post added at 06:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:59 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Helene

Bil makes really nice pots, and also other handy things- looks really nice (I will copy the ideas whenever I get a greenhouse, atm I dont have room for pots that big)

Your plants look great, you can see whats going on, and its easy to water without overwatering. Hopefully your plants will grow new roots in no-time

And, when they grow in this new mix, you will get the hang of what they like, and what works for you. Then you can find pots/media that works for you. This will be okay for some time, I believe

Thank you for the kind words. I hope you manage to get the greenhouse of your dreams.
One suggestion if you do, ask everyone on here what they really like about their greenhouse, and what they don't, and then try and incorporate those lessons into what you want.