Strangely confused about how much to water the Phals

[JaimeZX]

And just like that... the last, withered yellow leaf has fallen off a phal that was beautiful in mid-April. I suppose if I search on this forum I will find information on what to do next. *sigh*

[estación seca]

If it was the one on the left in the photo nearest the top of the page, it was done in by not enough water. Maybe by the time you got help it was already too late.

The hardest thing is to learn to give enough water while also giving plenty of air to the roots. With large bark like that, you could probably water every day. The pot has a lot more air holes than I think you need. Air holes are more useful for media with smaller air spaces.

[JaimeZX]

Yes, on the left. I don't know that the bark is as big as you think though, the biggest pieces are maybe the size and shape of a quarter, perhaps slightly thicker. Maybe a double-stack of quarters. Still, I defer to you experts.

Still blowing my mind though, that I have roots rotting away but the solution is water more often. I get it though... drive them to the edges of the pot. Gonna work on this. I'll water them more... what the heck the outcome can't be worse!

[estación seca]

The old roots were rotting because they didn't get enough air in the old medium, or perhaps they were too cold through the winter. Once repotted, the plant needed adequate water to grow. Phal roots can stay wet in habitat for weeks on end, but they are exposed to the air. Bark like yours has large enough spaces between the chunks that there should be plenty of air.

If you want to let your plants get dry between watering, you should water a Phal root as soon as it turns from green to silver. If there is plenty of air circulation they can stay always green.

[Leafmite]

The entire point of the medium is to keep the air around the roots humid and to stabilize the orchid. You do not really need medium if you can accomplish keeping the roots happy in other ways. If you feel uncomfortable about the bark, you could try the 'vase method' or even growing your orchid in an empty pot. Both of these methods involve soaking or watering the orchid until the roots turn green, getting rid of the water, then using the pot/vase to help keep the roots humid.

Good luck with your Phal.

[JaimeZX]

Well I have to report back and tell you guys that the one orchid in question expired, but I've taken to watering my two remaining phals once or twice a week (depending on how dry the medium feels) and they seem MUCH happier! Lots of roots sprouting from each of them.

One thing though... I also seem to have cute little mushrooms in one pot. Is this an issue? I've been plucking them out as able (such as right after taking this picture) but of course the fungus is in all the medium so there's no "getting rid of it," I don't think.

[Roberta]

If you are growing muchrooms, it is too wet. (The mushrooms probably won't hurt anything, but they are indicating that it's not a good environment for Phalaenopsis orchids) The bark looks like it is a good size. I hope that those saucers under the pots do not have water in them - when you water, do it under the faucet, let water run through the pot. Then let them drain before putting them back in a saucer or other solid object that should not be doing anything more than protecting the furniture from moisture.

I think that repotting the one that is growing mushrooms might be a good idea - into medium-to- large bark (which it looks like you are using)

[Ray]

I just jumped on this thread, and think that maybe too much focus is on "overwatering", potentially missing what's really happening.

(The following is pure speculation on my part.)

You repot the plants when you get them, and if the old- and new potting mixes are drastically different, the existing roots a suboptimal after repotting, so the plant is under stress - right at the time it is expending energy blooming.

I also suspect you're growing in an excessively bright and dry environment, based upon the windowsill photo, adding to the stress.

What is the source of the bark in the potting medium? I cannot see fresh "orchid" bark staying wet all that long, and any less than a year or two old shouldn't be growing mushrooms!

[JaimeZX]

Originally Posted by Roberta

If you are growing muchrooms, it is too wet.

Okay, thanks for that input. Earlier in the thread someone indicated watering twice a week might be okay so I've been doing a "soak" on Saturdays and a quick drizzle around the edges of the pot on Tuesdays. Maybe I'll get away from the Tuesday watering.

I hope that those saucers under the pots do not have water in them

No water in the saucers. Actually no saucers at all right now, just the windowsill. I let the pot drip-out in the sink and then back in the windowsill.

when you water, do it under the faucet, let water run through the pot.

Yes, I usually do this. Every few Saturdays I do a 20-30-minute soak with orchid fertilizer.

I think that repotting the one that is growing mushrooms might be a good idea - into medium-to- large bark (which it looks like you are using)

Okay, I'll consider it. I think I read elsewhere to repot when there isn't any obvious active growth, so I can wait for that eventuality. (??)

Originally Posted by Ray

I just jumped on this thread, and think that maybe too much focus is on "overwatering", potentially missing what's really happening.

Maybe? Thanks.

You repot the plants when you get them, and if the old- and new potting mixes are drastically different, the existing roots are suboptimal after repotting, so the plant is under stress - right at the time it is expending energy blooming.

You're close, but I have read to not repot while there is active growth so I haven't done this. The one time I apparently should have was with a beautiful oncindium that had a dying root system but I wanted the flowers so I didn't remove the spike until it was too late. :/

I also suspect you're growing in an excessively bright and dry environment, based upon the windowsill photo, adding to the stress.

That (kitchen sink) window gets a couple hours of morning sun. Somebody said morning sun was the best. The Phal I have in the master bathroom gets a few hours of afternoon sun and is not growing mushrooms. They have otherwise received the same treatment.

What is the source of the bark in the potting medium?

Home Depot-purchased "coarse orchid medium." Can't remember what brand; it's out in the garage.

I cannot see fresh "orchid" bark staying wet all that long, and any less than a year or two old shouldn't be growing mushrooms!

Hm. The one with mushrooms is probably a year old at this point, but I reused the "large" pieces from the previous pot after soaking them in hydrogen peroxide and then baking them for a while to kill off anything living on it. Or so I thought. I have some Scot in me. haha

[Ray]

That last thing might be part of the issue. Don't reuse organic media!

Hydrogen peroxide from the drug store is going to do very little to kill "everything", and has the added disadvantage of delignifying the wood, allowing it to decompose more quickly.