When can I move a new phal into SH?
 

Hi everyone! I just got a new mini phal...it's actually 2 plants crammed into one pot. I got it at Lowes for $3.50 because someone broke the pot it is in.

The plants and roots look like they are in good shape except for being potted in old moss and crammed so tight that the roots are growing in circles around the inside of the pot.

My question is this...they need to be separated and repotted ASAP. I ordered the stuff to move them into SH but I've heard that you should wait to pot them in SH until there is new root growth and I'm not sure there is. It's kind of hard to tell when the plants are wound so tight together.

Should I just repot them is SH and hope for the best or should I do something else? I am definitely afraid to leave them in moss...I don't have good luck with moss.

Any suggestions?

My :twocents:: The reason you need to wait untill new roots grow is that the old ones will die in s/h. The new roots will acclimate to the s/h system and sustain the plant. I have repotted moss bound phals in s/h without having new root growth and have had some success, I've also had some not so successful---but have had good luck with water culture to get roots growing.
Joann

When I get a plant that needs repotting (tightly packed in moss like yours) and it's not ready for S/H, I repot it using the S/H medium.

I usually use it's existing pot and just fill it with the LECA medium instead of bark or other materials that are used.

When the new roots start then I transition to the S/H.

Maureen

Hi Maureen...I don't really understand what you're saying. If you repot in the LECA medium doesn't that make it SH?

I am new to SH. I have two other mini phals planted in LECA but they were an emergency repot...they had root rot from over watering. One is doing really well...the other not so much.

At any rate, I can't use the pot it's in...the pot is ceramic with no drainage and is broken on top of that...also once I get the orchids untangled from each other and all the moss cleaned off them, there is no way they are going to fit back in that tiny pot.

Is there some way I can stimulate them to start growing new roots? One is in spike but I was going to cut that off when I repotted anyway. I'd water with KLN for a while if I thought I could do it in the moss without killing them. I'm just not good at growing in moss.

LECA is the name of a ceramic hydroponic medium. S/H is the name of a growing technique developed by Ray of "First Rays".

Check out his web site and you'll learn all about it - Semi-hydroponics Orchid Plants T5 Lighting

You can grow your plants in the LECA medium without it being S/H. It sounds like you're already doing that with your other minis. That's what I was talking about, sorry.

This is the time of year that new root growth is starting so that's a good thing. Keeping the root zone warm also stimulates growth. I've never used KLN so can't give any advice there.

Maureen

this is a great way in my Opinion to go from regular mediums to sh ...exactly how I transistioned my Catts.

place the chids in leac that has been cleaned and soaked well and simpy keep watered for a while like regulay ....then slowly start increasinbg frequency of watering ...I found it hard to over water in straight leca just as it is in s/h.

after a couple of months in leca I moved them on to full s/s and had not problem as new roots had grown already that were adjusted to the wetter conditions in the leca with more watering .

IF the plants have been in soppy sphagnum, the move to semi-hydroponics will be an improvement in root zone conditions, so will not likely be a problem and won't kill the roots.

The best way to get a plant to grow new roots is by keeping it very warm and shady.

Thanks everyone! I just got a seeding mat for my mini phal that is not doing so well. I'll put the new orchids on it also.

I'm glad to hear that this is the time of year that they naturally grow new roots. That's good news.

Hope they do well. Wish me luck!

I am sorry if I should start a new thread but my question was very similar. I brought a new phal that has two spikes in bloom. It is in a ceramic pot with bark and moss. It has no clear pot so I can not see how the roots look. I would like to transplant it into s/h but do not want to kill my plant. Should I wait until after the spikes are done blooming? The roots that are under the bark near the top look good. I just want to do what is best for the plant. Thank you!

Matt