Not sure if my phal is drying out too fast

[Dollythehun]

First, before you do anything else, take a deep breath. Think about the first time you ride your bike. I'll bet it wasn't perfect and it's okay not to be. We learn as we grow and grow as we learn.

[OhioGranny]

Very good point Dollythehun! I'll remember that!

[bil]

A bark medium? Is that pure bark?

I recommend sieving it with a COARSE sieve so all the small pieces get taken out because I like a nice open structure. I don't want to repot every year, and the more open it is, the less often you have to repot.

I am not a fan of soaking. I use a spray to water, and on the waterfall stand I use, I spray from the back of each pot until water runs out the bottom, and then I go round to the front and spray again till water falls out the bottom. It's a bit haphazard, and that's all they get, 3 times a week in summer. There's over 20 pots and they get about 7 litres of spay between them.

Please don't let this put you off. EVERYONE kills orchids and the secret is to learn, and do better next time.

[OhioGranny]

@bil, I am using Better-Gro Special Orchid Potting Mix at the moment. It is a blend of fir bark, coarse perlite and hardwood charcoal but It's mainly bark. I will remember to sieve it next time I repot. I already repotted twice so not sure if its a good idea to do it again so soon.

Sounds like you have quite a setup!

[bil]

Originally Posted by OhioGranny

@bil, I am using Better-Gro Special Orchid Potting Mix at the moment. It is a blend of fir bark, coarse perlite and hardwood charcoal but It's mainly bark. I will remember to sieve it next time I repot. I already repotted twice so not sure if its a good idea to do it again so soon.

Sounds like you have quite a setup!

Yeah, it takes a bit of time, but that's the price of obsession...

I think your mix looks fine. I wouldn't soak it for very long. I'm a great fan of making roots do a bit of work. A lot of people advocate a long soak, but my attitude is, 'What does it get in Nature?'

I think you are right to leave it alone. Transplanting can be a shock, which is why people tend to advise waiting till the blooms are over. I admit freely to ignoring that and repotting as soon as I get them home. Yes, the risk of losing blooms is there, but it's uncommon in phals, and immediate repotting for me has saved more plants than it has lost me blooms.

That's a pretty orchid, and if you do lose the blooms, shrug, and look forward to next year. My attitude always is that I am buying a orchid for what it will give me in the future.

Watering? Well, I water mine every other day. I think that a fast turnaround is better for them, ie drying out in two days. In the winter you can possibly dial that back to 1 x a week, depending on conditions.