Help with watering!!!

[shoegirl]

Have had my Phaleonopsis for a few year's and have been quite successful with it. Now though, the root's are shrivelled not smooth and a plump but I have currently got 12 orchid bloom's on it. And although the leaf's are bright green they are a bit limp and feel "spongy" almost getting to mushy and not at all firm.

You might consider trying the skewer method of watering. Get shiskabob skewers from the grocery store. Trim one down (I cut them in half) and put it into the medium. The next time you think the plant needs watering take the skewer out and touch it to your cheek, lip, or the back of your had. If it's wet, don't water. If it's barely damp, water. How wet or dry the skewer is before you water will depend on what type of orchid it is. I swear by this method.

[PhalPal]

shoegirl - if you have not re-potted your orchid in two years, your medium might be breaking down. Is it potted in bark? If so, it decomposes with time (as do some others) and the particles get smaller, absorbing and retaining more water. Watering intervals that were fine a year ago will be too much now and you could be causing root rot. Gently take the plant out of the pot and check it's roots. They should be white, round and firm. If dark and flat, likely over-watering. Cut off the dark roots and re-pot it even if it is in bloom. You might try a different potting mix; we all have our favorites. Also, try the skewer method above. There are whole threads on the 'skewer method'! Good Luck!

[jerrymeola]

I would wait until you have had enough enjoyment from the flowers.

The plant is using a lot of energy to produce those flowers and strength is coming from the leaves.

After the flowers are finished, you can re-pot and give the plant time to recover. I doubt that after several years you did anything different that cause this.

[PhalPal]

Jerry - I am aware that you have vastly more experience then I do, but is it OK to sacrifice the plants root system to save the blooms? In my short two years I have had ALOT of root rot and it destroys a plant so quickly I'm not sure it is worth it to wait?? I know as a general rule it is not wise to re-pot while blooming but I have been forced to do so in the past for fear of losing the plant. I may have dropped a few flowers but the plant itself survived. Please clarify for me??

[mayres]

I'm not the expert that Jerry is either, but I'd repot and clean up the root system right away too if it were my plant phalpal......