Dying Phalaenopsis After Repotting? - Page 2 - Orchid Board

The Mutant · #11 03-13-2012, 06:54 PM

We are all beginners (okay, some of us are beginners) but I think most members here have seen at least one or two very unhappy Phals, so I don't think your pictures will make anyone think any less of you. But I understand the feeling, especially when one see some of the members' wonderful and healthy orchids. It makes you feel just a tiny bit unworthy and equipped with a black thumb rather than a green one.

Tomorrow I'll upload some pictures of my dying Phal in the beginners section. Check it out and you'll see a Phal in a very sad state.

I read somewhere here that the morning sun is good for the orchids while the afternoon sun is not, so an east facing window should be ideal. I've also read about other members taking their orchids into the bathroom while showering with good results. Maybe you should let your recovering Phal wait with the bathroom trips until it looks/feels healthier. Maybe misting it or putting it on a tray with wet pebbles/leca pellets can help raise the humidity levels?

Also, some Phals are more finicky than others and don't like to be moved around too much, but if any of yours are, only time can tell. I move mine a lot too since I also have them in an east facing window and don't want them to get burned. So far they seem to do more or less fine, even the more finicky ones.

I really wish some more people could help out with the advices since I'm so new at this myself. So, come on you guys!

NiomieLynx · #12 03-14-2012, 12:52 AM

Those misting kits are expensive lol. I'm not very good at building things, so I think I'll just stick with the tray.

My plant is set in a tray, but I'm using some glass pebbles to keep it elevated because that's all I have right now.

I networked with somebody at my school this evening. Her mother raises orchids and is part of some orchid society. I'm going to call her tomorrow and see if she'll be willing to help me.

rangiku · #13 03-14-2012, 02:35 AM

Niomie, both of your Phals are fine in an East facing window. You don't need to move them at night except if you feel it is too cold near the window. Phals do need some light and East light is the best for them, followed by South and West. I've had Phals in each of those windows and all are doing well.

There is no need to mist your Phals. Putting them in a tray with glass pebbles with water half way up the pebbles adds some humidity.

You really should meet up with your friend's mum as well as go to an orchid society meeting. You'll meet lots of wonderful people there and learn about a lot of different orchids and how people grow them.

Keep asking questions!

RJSquirrel · #14 03-15-2012, 05:09 AM

2 thumbs for joining your local OS

..I did after killing so many orchids they posted my picture up at Home depot

NiomieLynx · #15 03-17-2012, 11:04 PM

Thanks, RJSquirrel. Its nice to feel welcomed at this community.

Update: So, I'm not sure what signs I would be looking for if my plant is dying. Its been about a week now since I repotted it and I have been observing it daily. If the leaves are drooping, I'm not noticing it. I haven't seen any changes in the height of the leaves. I don't even know if the color of any of the leaves have changed. There is either no change or its so minute that I'm not noticing it. But, some of the edges of the leaves are either a light yellow or very dark.

The Mutant · #16 03-18-2012, 07:35 AM

How do the leaves feel when you touch them? Firm or soft and floppy? Floppy= Not good. Not as firm but not floppy= Better. Firm= Best.

Phals are slow so don't expect any sign of anything for at least a couple of weeks. Just keep monitoring it and watch for signs of, well, anything.

One of my Phals I've had for about a month finally showed me some signs of it having established itself in its new medium by producing a new root. It's a small sign, but still a sign.

If you want to see what an unhappy Phal looks like you can check this thread I started yesterday:http://www.orchidboard.com/community...equestris.html . Still, the deterioration has taken a month so they're even slow to die at times...

NiomieLynx · #17 03-25-2012, 04:05 PM

The leaves don't seem to be floppy, but I don't really know how to judge that. There may be some good news, though; it looks like my phal is growing a new root.