Had to repot new Phal....will it die now? HELP!

[bellc]

I've had a Phal for a few weeks that was doing well, except one leaf was crinkly and somewhat limp. It was potted in a tiny clear plastic pot (with drain slits) and then placed in a lava rock, presumably for decoration, with spagham moss around the top of the hole to cover the opening. I'm new to orchids and didn't know it was inside this tiny clear plastic pot.

My neighbor came over the other night who has some limited experience with orchids. She took the tiny pot out of the lava rock and decided the clear plastic pot was way too small (it was half the size of my other clear pots not in lava rock containers). She gently removed the orchid from the pot and began to perform "gentle surgery" without my permission...she started snipping off dead roots and getting rid of "garbage" in the potting medium. The "garbage" looked like dried moss and some other fibrous materials (she threw this away).

After she did this, she placed the Phal back in its pot, but it clearly didn't have enough bark, so the next day I had no choice but to go to the store and buy the only orchid mix they had, which is 100% fir bark. I also purchased a small terra cotta orchid pot with slits on the side and bottom. I wet the fir bark, placed some in the terra cotta pot, and gently placed the orchid in the 100% fir bark medium, surrounding it with the remainder of the dampened bark. It's a dainty Phal and didn't have an elaborate root system remaining after she cut off the ?dead? roots, so it seems to just be "resting" in the medium for now. Is 100% fir bark medium sufficient? I can't press it down any firmer without risk of harming it.

Somehow I feel the plant is doomed now...although it looks fine so far. It's only been one day. Is it sure to die? How soon will I know if it will be okay? There are still three or four buds left to open and all the flowers look fine, but it has only been one day.

[Ellen]

I grow all my Phals in medium fir bark (nothing else mixed in) and they seem to thrive. I have one that's nearly 10 years old, with gorgeous dark red flowers right now, and it has been in fir bark ever since I've had it. I see no need to put one pot inside another or, even if you do, to fill in with any sort of material between the pots. In fact, if you have moss of any kind in there, it's probably just a breeding ground for fungus, mold, or other nasty things. In my opinion, one pot per plant is enough, or sometimes more than enough. Now that your phal has been repotted, try not to water it too much. This will help it develop strong roots. Keep it out of direrct sun and cold drafts. It should be fine.

[jerrymeola]

You should alway try to learn why things were done.

The overgrown plastic pot is the way commercial growers sell plants this time of year. They are not repotted as often as a hobbist would because of the labor cost. They also flower better like this.

It was placed into a more decorative pot for sale. It just looks better. Also they often do not balance well after being taken from the growing trays. The decorative pot helped the plant stand up. Ther sphagnum moss on top was mostly decoration. Actually it is sold as pot covers preformed to fit the pot. It could be left or removed it does very little. Like any covering it will slow evaporation of water a little, but not significiently.

Your neighbor was correct to cut off the bad roots. Usually there are a significient number of them. When I repot I cut off any roots that show black or crushed. It looks drastic but a healty plant will be better for it.

Phalaenopsis are an orchid that can be repotted any time fo the year even when in bloom so do not be so frightened. I often repot for my customers at the time they buy the plant. I convert many to hdroponics or mounted.

Normally you do not want to overwater phals, but the clay pot and fir bark mixture is a very dry mix. It will require more water than other mediums. All growing mediums work well but all require slightly different watering techniques. I grow phals in sphagnum or hydyponics. Sphagnum is a wet medium and must have much less water than the mix you used. It is used by commercial growers because it requires less attention lowering costs, but for a hobbist it is an invite to overwatering.

One type of growing medium is not better than another in general just different. When you learn to be comfortable with one medium stay with it. Your choice will be based on your envirment and watering habits.

Listen to how others grow and see if their techniques fit your comfort level.

Ellen's advice should make you fell better while your neighbors actions left you very uncomfortable. Ellen's watering advice will not adapt exactly for your plant since it is the recommended way to water for older bark 6-12 months in the pot. New bark does not hold as much water and requires closer watching for a while. Very old bark deteriorates and holds so much water than it must be removed and changed every 2-3 years.

[bellc]

Thanks, Ellen and Jerry. You've both provided such good (and comforting!) information and your explanations are very easy to understand for a newbie.

My neighbor snipped away mostly what she called "dead roots." These were thin, grey/tan, and appeared to serve no purpose. I assume you also snip these off as they certainly seemed to serve no purpose. Is it normal for the orchid to take time to "establish" and have a firm grip in its medium? It's resting in the medium fine, is not compacted too tight or too loose, but could easily be pulled out. Is this normal for a newly repotted orchid in fir bark?

My only orchid book (The Orchid Specialist by David Squire) is small and extremely basic. I have a couple good houseplant books, but of course the sections referring to orchids are very basic as well.

I'll have to peruse all of this site for general information as a means of learning more. Do you suggest a book that has more in-depth information? The book I have did not answer any of the questions I just posted, referring only to a combination potting mix for orchids as the potting medium to use. Nothing about pruning away dead roots or the more detailed information I would like to know. I'm still a newbie, but would like a book with more substance. Any ideas?

Jerry...I wish I lived near you!

[BillC]

Hi bellc, I have been told that the 'bible' for orchid growing is ORCHID SECRETS REVEALED by Adelaide C Willoughby, which is now out of print and difficult to obtain. I live in UK and I have not been able to find a copy, you may have more luck.

[jerrymeola]

Ellen

It is hard to describe dead roots in a book, even photos are not very clear. Mostly it is experience and handling. It shocks people to see me repot when I pull off dead roots without even looking at the plant. Experience, touch and feel. An even bigger shock is when I take a very overgrowth plant and healty plant, I strech the roots out and cut off everything over 5 inches long. Roots should only be about 3/4 the depth of the pot. You do not need to be this drastic, but it is one method.

Experience also teaches that if you cut (or break) good roots it will not kill the plant.

Authors know all this and are afraid that advice will be mis-interpreted. People have too strong an inclination to take advice as mandatory whereas it is only a guideline. All rules are meant to be broken sometimes.