Phal s/h with just areal roots. Can it survive?!

[Dri312]

I just had a very bad experience with bark. Maybe because the weather here, maybe because my lack of knowledge. At one point I had 7 beautiful orchids and they all died once I placed in it. I had hope to keep in s/h because the convenience of watering and because my Phal is still shooting aerial roots and leaves. But, for sure u guys know the subject more than I do, so tomorrow I will take my bag of Miracle Gro orchid potting mix, try to take more the chunky bark instead the soil, and place in a container. Hopefully I won't kill this one! I just wish I had more free time to learn all about it. Thanks for the advice! 😉


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Phals love S/H. The old roots will rot off, because they aren't adapted to this manner of growing, but new roots form.

You speak of S/H and you speak of a vase. Did your vase have drain holes near the bottom? If not, how did you water your plant? Was there water standing in the bottom of the container?

The photos look like there might be bark around the roots. Were you using bark as the medium for S/H? This is not a good idea; the bark will stay too wet and the roots might rot. S/H involves using fired clay balls for medium.

[Dri312]

I found Rays site when I was desperate to rescue my others orchids months ago. As medium I use those clay pebbles, in a tall glass (24oz prob.) container with two drain holes side by side, maybe a inch or so from bottom.
I use to give a flush, diluting Orchid Plus 20-14-13 in distilled water when it starts to reach the bottom. I used to give also seaweed extract from maxicroop if I'm not mistaken the brand. But it finished and slipped off my hands to buy another bottle.
I'm not complain about the aerial roots or nice leaves that grew while being in s/h. My concern is that no roots are shooting downwards, inside the container. Maybe, like Ray mentioned, my mistake was that I didn't wait for the new shoots come out before moving to s/h. And this Phal was sold as a "premium" with great amount of good healthy roots to begin with but, came in a vase with only wet moss and little bark in top just to look nice.
I don't know if it will survive just with the aerial roots. Some of the old leaves are getting soft and wrinkly. My first reaction was "I'm losing this one too!" Or maybe, it's just a cycle that old leaves are replaced by new ones. I don't know!!
I heard old roots will die when adapting to a new environment but so far, no replacement for the roots, except the aerial ones.
I would love to keep my plant on s/h just for the fact that it is the method that best worked for me so far. I don't stress so much about watering and I just leave my Phal alone. Should I be worried that is dying? Should I move to a new medium and take the change of no recovery?! What do u think??
TIA


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