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jacinh_gw

need help with Phal!!

17 years ago

Hi,

I have been reading the forum and getting information on how to care for my Phals. I live in Northern California. My thermometer tells me my indoor temperature is between 75-85 in the summer and humidity is about 50-65.

I have had a few Phals and have killed most of them :(

Watering seems to be very very difficult for me to get right. At first, I water too much (of course), and always end up with root rots. I am trying to water a lot less now, but I am wondering if I have over-adjusted?

I water once every 10 - 14 days now. Is that too little water? Most orchids I buy from farmer's market, which are always planted in moss. My most recent one's bottom leave turned yellow on me and I am REALLY sad. I have attached a picture. Can someone tell me if it's too dry???

Even at 10-14 days, I feel the moss is a little damp.

Comments (6)

  • 17 years ago

    hmmm... how to post an image?

    {{gwi:192727}}

  • 17 years ago

    Can't see the photo but here are a few suggestions. First I would repot them into either a bark or coconut based mixture. Moss it difficult for most new orchid growers. Try to make sure you pot into an orchid pot or any other clay pot so the roots can breath and mixture dry out. Finally, remember to always underpot! The roots will appreciate being able to dry out fairly quickly.

  • 17 years ago

    Your plant looks fine & healthy! Bottom leaves yellowing & dropping is part of the normal growth cycle. The moss looks old. If it is no longer blooming, now would be a good time to repot. I agree with Smwboxer's advice on repotting, but if you use bark be sure & soak it for 24hrs before doing the repot. The coconut mix would be better if you can get some, fresh spag would also work.

  • 17 years ago

    Thanks so much smwboxer and granniek!

    I am really worried because the fate of my orchids usually starts with the bottom leaves yellowing (you can see the right bottom leaf is droopy and wrinkly, too), then one by one they lose all the leaves. :(

    I will try to repot in bark. I have done that before but have never been able to resurrect any orchid.

  • 17 years ago

    To be perfectly honest, it doesn't look fine to me. It doesn't look terrible, but your plant has an overall droopiness to it that suggests something's wrong, and all the leaves are starting to look a bit wrinkly. Seeing as how the roots on top look good, I suspect something going on underneath, in the medium.

    I recognize this because Phals and I don't always get along. Especially Phals in sphag. I've done ok with bark and other orchids, but I'm not fond of it for Phals either. I also agree with the recommendation of coconut fiber, either as coco husk chips, or as that coco fiber reptile bedding stuff mixed with bark. I like it because even when wet, it doesn't seem to compact very much, but stays light and airy feeling.

    I wouldn't worry overmuch about that yellow leaf. That does look normal to me, especially since there is a root growing right above it. And again, it doesn't look terrible but does look like something's starting to go wrong. I suspect some root rot, and you'll know when you repot. Whichever medium you decide to go with, I recommend the skewer method: stick a bamboo/wooden skewer into the medium, not along the edges but somewhere towards the middle. When you are thinking of watering, pull it out and feel whether or not it's damp. If it is, wait a couple days and test it again. If it's dry, it's ready to be watered. This should help you figure out how often to water.

  • 17 years ago

    Ditto what quinnfyre says about the skewer method. Absolutely foolproof. Cut the skewer down to about an inch or so over the medium. Leave it in the medium until you think it's time to water. Touch it to your lip, cheek or the back of your hand. If it's wet or damp, don't water. If it's barely damp or dry, water. How wet or dry the skewer is before the plant needs water will depend on the type of orchid. For example a cattleya likes to dry out completely before being watered again, so the skewer should be very dry. Phals like to almost dry out before being watered again.

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