Help with a new Phal owner

[losOrchid]

Hello Everyone,
I have just recently purchased an orchid and i am preaty sure it is a phal. Now I need to ask a few question first off one of the leves is turning yellow and I am not sure why, I have been watering it one a week on sunday, I soak the pot in a bowl of water overnight and then allow the wood chips to dry out before doing it again. I have also noticed that one of the flowers has started to wilt and i am wondering when a good time to trim the spike would be? Last but not least what type of pottingmaterial and medium is best for a desert are like New Mexico?

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

[Maddy]

Is it one of the lower leaves turning yellow? If so, it's probably just shedding an old leaf, which is nothing to worry about. I'd wait until all the flowers have wilted to trim the spike. The other flowers might well stay in good shape for several more months.

Potting mix is a matter of preference for the most part - I use bark mixed with a little spagum moss.

[atcrosby]

On the orchid, you should check to see if the medium is try before watering again. Here's Cynthia's sure fire method to test this...

Cynthia Prescott's Sure Fire Water Skewer Method

Also, when i water my plants, I let them sit for only an hour in a weak fertilizer / superthrive mix. Overnight isnt necessary.

As to the medium, I use a bark / perlite / peat mixture and they seem to be happy with it. Phals are easy to care for as long as they aren't overwatered.

[losOrchid]

I was told by a local and probably untrained florest that letting the oechid soak overnight is a good thing. I wanted to ask everyone else what they think.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

It probably won't hurt it, but once you get more than a few orchids, it becomes totally impracticle. I think that Phals can get as much water as they need from a good few minutes drenching at the sink, and a little more is OK, but the kind of plant that benefits from a long soak would be a Vanda that has a lot of surface area to lose water from, and not much potting mix to hold water compared to the loss thru the large exposed area. I think it would be over kill for a Phal. Cynthia