White stuff on soil

[kel80]

Hi all,
Long time no talk. I'm so ready to give up. None of my plants are progressing (except the brassidium, which I haven't touched in 2 months-maybe I should just leave the plants alone!). I've fretted over my phals and catts and nothing but problems.

Now I have a soil problem. I repotted a phal awhile ago and shortly after it had a funky white residue on it. It looks like someone spray painted the soil lightly with white spray paint. I do not have pictures (yet). Any ideas?

I repotted all of my phals at the same time and only one has this white stuff on it.

Please help. I'm so distraught. None of my babies are doing well. They all look so sick.

[Vivienne]

kel - so sorry to hear that things aren't going well with the 'chids.

I have questions... are all your plants in the exact same type of pots? For example... I have all my plants in clear plastic pots and then inside terra cotta pots. I have noticed on mine that if the terra cotta pot is far larger than the plastic, it dries much faster than a snug fit TC pot... and quite diifferently that anything in say a decorative pot with no holes.

What type of water are you using? Straight from the tap? RO? Rain water?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Next time you water, take the plant to the sink and run gobs of water thru the pot to see if it is salt build up (if it goes away), or something else.

[Tobi]

Kel,
It could be a salt build up or a fine white surface mold. Can you post a pic
up close of it? Does it look granular or small and fluffy. Sometimes if bark
remains too damp and you're not getting proper air circulation you will get a
very fine white surface mold developing.

[PhalPal]

My first thought was cynthia's - salts/hard water deposits. I don't think that is the case or all of your phals would have the same problem. I had so many problems with bark, including many I just could not figure out so i finally gave up on it and found a new mix. Was the bark you re-potted in made for plants or just the decorative type? If decorative i would suspect some type of mold or bug residue. I would treat for both just to be on the safe side.

BTW- I almost gave up on orchids because I NEVER grew a phal successfully in bark or bark mixes. Always something growing on it and watering is just too hard to gauge. Just my two cents worth!

[kel80]

What is so interesting about this is that I helped a friend repot his phal a few weeks ago, and he too is having the same problem. He potted his in clay, and the one I am having a problem with is a decorative pot, while the others are in clay.

I thought salt also, but I thought that all of the others would have the same problem.

I am using regular tap water. I believe my friend is also using the same (Lake Michigan water). I do have a Brita filter on my tap that I can start using.

I will post a pic asap. I might go with PhalPals suggestion and get some new media. I have to keep trying-my first issue from the AOS came today!

[Vivienne]

Oh goody - maybe I'll get my first issue of Orchids tomorrow. I've been waiting and waiting!

[sandra]

Originally Posted by PhalPal

BTW- I almost gave up on orchids because I NEVER grew a phal successfully in bark or bark mixes. Always something growing on it and watering is just too hard to gauge. Just my two cents worth!

Connie, Hi, nice seeing you here. What media do you use? I HATE bark. It's a personal thing, just don't like the stuff. I'm always feeling very unsure if it's doing what it's supposed to and if I'm stepping in to treat it in timely fashion (catts excluded). Skewers don't always tell the whole truth with bark. I know this is going to sound ridiculous but I just don't relate to the stuff. I love sphag. I love watering up and seeing the media get plump and moist and knowing how to control how much moisture it receives. I don't feel as if I'm guessing like I do with bark. Of course, I can't use this on my catts and others but the oncidiums love it and so do all my seedlings. So, getting back to my question Connie, what are you using on your phals?

[Sharyn]

kel80: I would check that media - sounds like fungus. I use Chicago tap water and I've never had a problem. I use it straight from the tap, except for the water for the worm tea - that sits out for a day or two to get rid of the chlorine. Our water contains minerals and salts which will leave deposits on clay pots. Never noticed any problems with plastic pots, nor have I experienced mold on the bark. When watering, take the pots to the sink and thoroughly run tepid water through them. THEN, fertilize at 1/4 strength. Be sure you skip at least one week of fertilizing and just flush the pots with plain water to get rid of the salts and high content of minerals. Since I have many orchids in a bark mixture and haven't seen this problem, I would suspect the medium should be replaced. You may have had the unfortunate bad luck to get a bad bag of bark.

Tobi is right about the air circulation. Even with our sporatic high & low temperatures, the evening temps here have been cool - wet bark without good air circulation invites problems.

Many members have great luck with sphag. It doesn't work for me, but that's just my opinion. I'm gradually switching over from bark to a more moisture retentive media for the phals.

Post a picture when you can.

[PhalPal]

Hey Sandra - I hate bark too, hateithateithateit! I find it to be very inconsistent and difficult to determine how wet or dry it is at the root level. There was always something growing on, in or buzzing around it, no matter what I did to it. Since it is always in different stages of decomposition the state changes constantly making it even more difficult. And forget about it with fine root plants!

I switched all my orchids to Aussie Gold, both phals and outdoor cyms. Picked up a bag at a San Diego show and have just loved it. Mayres also uses such a mix and has good luck with it. When I got around to re-potting my cyms I mixed my own coir, dynarock, large perlite, a little charcoal (main components of AG) and just for kicks added a little sprag moss to help keep them a little wetter through the summer. They are out under my eucalyptus tree in the shade throwing out new sprouts like crazy!! I didn't expect much after re-potting but they have just kept on growing. They seem to really love the stuff and since potting ALL of my plants in this mix I have not ONE TIME pulled up a plant to look at the roots and found anything rotting.

I don't understand the fear that coir holds too much moisture, especially if you compare it to sprag. It's drainage is excellent. Even immediately after watering my skewers are only slightly damp, and if I put a q-tip down into the mix (my own little experiement) it takes more then a few minutes to get wet. The makes of AG (I met them in SD where it is made) say that you cannot overwater and I believe them after six months of using it. Just a little pricey if you have a lot of plants. Mixing your own is much cheaper, and anything is cheaper than losing orchids!

There is a new web site going around where you can make your own mix given 12 scoops of whatever you desire; I'll paste it for you when I find it.
Nice talking to ya Sandra! (and whoeverelse may read this! )

Here's the link: http://www.repotme.com/