Newcomer

[lkozlik]

Hi, my name is Lyn and I'm very new to the world of orchids. I just received a Phal today from my boss and would like to know how to take care of it. Do I repot? Is it normal for roots to be outside the pot? Help.

[taradale]

What a great boss - you must be really good!! I'm a newbie too, so I'll let everyone else respond to your post on how to care for your new Phal.

Kath-
Clair 'the loon' & Wardii 'the bud' (the Paphs)
Moxie & Buster (The Airedales)

btw...are you willing to tell us where you work - bonuses in orchids is not bad way to go

[mayres]

Welcome Lyn - there is a wealth of information on the internet and forums like this are great too for discussing unique issues with others. One of many good places to find culture information is the American Orchid Society - try this link - orchidweb.org/aos/orchids. One thing you will find as you continue in the world of orchids is that to some degree there are many different ways to care for your orchids beyond some of the very basics. To answer your specific questions - yes it is normal for there to be some and in some cases many, aerial roots - enjoy them. Enjoy the whole plant! :-) It is not likely you need to repot for some time. When you do you will get a number of ideas on what types of media will work - there are at least a half dozen mainstream concepts on what works best for some segments of growers - semi-hydro, bark, rock, sphagnum moss, etc. I would do a little reading and decide for yourself which way you want to go. Right out of the gate the main things for your phal - most people kill them by overwatering or placing in direct sun - both will bring your new plant to an early demise. Good luck and enjoy! (for some reason they will not allow me to include a link to another site so you may have to do a google search for AOS and culture sheets - sorry. I will include part of the link and maybe you can fill in the remainder and make it work? /page01.aspx )

[Ellen]

I suggest you go to your local Home Depot or similar store and buy a basic book on orchid care. There is a very good one out there by Ortho that you might want to look for.

[jerrymeola]

Let's get the very basics out first.

There is no need to repot. Phals do not repotting as often as other orchids and seldom need to be changed because of pot size.

Phals need low light levels. The top of the leaf when it is in a pot is very sensitive to light. The reason is that the plant is upside down. In the wild the plant has the roots at the top and the plant and flower below. When growing this way the side of the leaf facing the sun is not sensitive to the light, but the side facing the ground gets only bounced light and has evolved to be very sensitive.



Therefor, phals in pots are a very good choice for growing in a home or if outside in total shade. The should not get direct sun for any length of time.

They also like to be slightly moist all the time. Moist is not the same as wet. The recommendation is to water just before it dries out. Too much water will result in the roots rotting. It will not harm the plant to occasionally dry out but it will stress the plant if done too often.

The water should be poured over the top of the medium avoiding the leaves of the plant. It is not a problem if the leaves get wet but if water sits in the crown of the plant (the top where the leaves meet) it can cause rot that causes the leaves to fall off as if the plant was cut at the base. Water in the crown should be removed

How often to water depends on how dry it is in your office or home. It also depends on the type of medium in which the plant is grown. Your plant is probably either in bark chips or sphagnum moss. Sphag holds more water that bark and is watered less. You should start by watering every 7-10 days in a home. Outdoors here in SW Florida I water almost every day. Even the hydroponics are watered 3 times a week. It varies on how fast the plant dries.

General air circulation is desirable but not absolutely necessary. You should avoid direct air on the flowers from a heater or air conditioner. Any flower will dessicate and be damaged from the evaporation of water from the flower, shortening the life of the flower.

In general they do not need a lot of attention, except to enjoy the flowers.

[lkozlik]

Thank you so much for all the quick responses and information. I did do some research online when I got home, but I just wanted to be sure I didn't do anything to "distress" this beautiful orchid before it became my roommate at home.