Hi I'm PhalPal!

[PhalPal]

Hi Everyone - I am a new member and just love this website! I have had Phals for a few years but decided to get serious about it; tired of tossing bad plants because of their soft leaves and no growth at all. Many books and orchid shows later I know why! Have some beauties now from the Santa Barbara and San Diego shows - how you can help me keep them healthy!

[fred]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
We are so glad you found the site.
i have just found a link that may help you.


http://www.orchids-care.info/phalaenopsis.php

Plus our very own.

Phalaenopsis

happy chatting

[mayres]

Hi again phalpal!
Check out this previous thread on growing phals - there are links to four magazine articles sent out to commercial growers of phals - while most of us are not commercial growers the principles that they use to grow plants in a hurry for sale also apply to us growing healthy plants. Grow Phals like the Pros! Enjoy! mike

[arleneg]

Hi PhalPal,

I'm not sure if I said hello & welcome on another thread or not. At any rate...

Welcome to the forum. We look forward to seeing pics of your orchids.

[PhalPal]

Hi Mike -
Thanks for the link. I decided to introduce myself because you were the only responder to my first submission! Do you have any idea why I get so few viewers and replys? Seems others are doing much better when submitting at the same time? Help!?

[PhalPal]

Thanks for the welcome Arleneg! Glad to hear from someone in So Cal that will have similiar problems/weather that I will encounter. I won't be submitting any pic's for awhile since the phals I have were all bloomed at the growers and I cannot take credit for it! (cheating!!) Looking forward to MY first blooms! Thanks again and look forward to chatting.

[fred]

phalpal

I am not trying to offend you but somtimes it takes a while for members to answer posts.

Due to time zones.

Please please have patience as I am sure members will answer you as soon as they can.

As we value your input please enjoy the forum with looking around at the other sections here as they may also be of some help to you.

thank you for your understanding.

[PhalPal]

No offense taken! At least now I know what to expect. Thanks Fred!

[fred]

you are more than welcome PhalPal
happy chatting

[kmarch]

Welcome Phal Pal,

You can probably teach us a few things abour Phals as well. I have a few, but my results seem more generated by luck than anything else. I have a large one, bought 2 years ago, has grown and bloomed 2 times since, repotted twice, and it's a real tough plant, grows and blooms no matter what. The others are....still. They're not growing, but not dying, just being still.

I'm looking forward to your pics and thoughts on Phal culture.

Cheers

[arleneg]

PhalPal,

Sorry to say, but I'm not in So. Cal., but in north central valley area (more like south west of Stockton). I'm sure you have better growing conditions for orchids since you're closer to the ocean.

And, please do give us Phal-challenged members some tips on growing and making Phals bloom. Mine are growing new leaves, but not blooming.

[Sharyn]

Welcom Phalpal. I have quite a few phals. They're easy to grow and give such nice results with their blooms. Mine are all in various stages; in bloom, starting over, and won't stop blooming. Personally, I consider these orchids to be my most successful.

Give them nice light, check out the skewer watering method here on the forum, set them on some pebble trays if your humidity is low, and repot when the media deteriorates. Everyone has their favorite medium mixtures. I use a mixture of small & medium fir bark, perlite, and a little charcoal. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer (1/4-1/2 strength) for 3 out of 4 waterings. Then flush the pots with just clear water for the 4th watering. Make sure the water is about room temperature. This routine works well for me. I'm sure you'll find the right way to take care of yours. Good luck.

[E-Jag]

I visited the "orchids-care info" site that Fred provided and have 2 questions.
In the section dealing with phals it said never to fertilize more than once a
month and use 1 teaspoon per gallon. Is this right? I'm doing it once a week.
In the section dealing with dens it says to use a high-nitrogen fertilizer. I thought they didn't like much nitrogen. Am I splitting hairs or do I need to enter orchid rehab?

_______________
E-Jag

[Sharyn]

Ejag: I fertilize my phals. weekly with a weak solution - about 1/2 strength or less. The fertilizer I use calls for 1 tsp. per gallon. So, I just dilute it & use it each time I water. Right now I'm only using 1/4 tsp. per gallon since I live in the Midwest. Temperatures here are still about 50-60F and my plants are staying wetter, longer, so I only need to water right now about every 8-10 days. With your higher temperatures & humidity I presume you're watering more often.

Fred's post must have an error. Dendrobiums DO NOT like high nitrogen and I believe that two of our moderators: Cynthia Prescott & Jerry Meola have advice on fertilizing dens. Sorry, I can't find the posts right now. Perhaps someone else can.

[E-Jag]

Sharyn, thanks for your response. I use a 1/4 to a 1/2 teaspoon per gallon a week on everything. I water the phal about once every 5-6 days and the dens every 3 days. It's in the low 80's here during the day, 60's or low 70's at night. Glad to hear I haven't been lobbing little care-bear grenades at the plants. Take care.

Rick

[PhalPal]

Thanks for the info Sharyn. Living in Chicago you must grow under lights? Sorry - I could not think of a kinder way to say that..... Please see my blurb under the 'growing areas' thread; I would value your opinion!

[Aniko]

Welcome PhalPal !
I'm just reconnecting to the forum after a vacation, this is why I am late a little..
I also started with a phalaenopsis - now I have 7 and 14 others. I was lucky enough to find this great site from where I got all the help I needed as a very beginner.So, all my phals are happy, blooming or in a different stage of spiking.
I use sphagnum moss for them, or lately I've tried sphagnum moss mixed with some Shultz orchid mix - it works well for me. My white No-id has the last leaf 12" long and a great spike.
Phals seem to be the most rewarding orchids, there is no way not to love them...

[siriusmk]

Hi phalpal!

Welcome to the forum!