I did the "Glitter" thing!

[chefatplay]

I was at work, (Publix a supermarket), and saw this one orchid that has been bothering me. It is a yellow phal noid, the problem was, when it came in it was burned and was in a giant pot for the orchid's size and in regular potting soil. It was planted so deep in the potting soil, the soil covered the crown. This Phal had a $50 price tag on it.

Since Mother's Day, I have been uncovering the crown when I go by waiting for someone to buy it. No one ever has.

I went to the flower lady and gave her my concerns yesterday. She agreed and told me she would reduce the price to $15. I told her I wasn't even sure if I could save it and there was one other orchid there that had a $30 price tag that was in much better shape. I ended up buying both orchids for $10! They were the last orchids. I have attached pictures. The other orchid is in much better shape. I plan on replanting the yellow one today.

I bought Better-Gro brand professional Phal mix, or so the bag says. I have a six inch clear pot. I am re reading some of the threads here. Wish me luck. This is my first big job.

[BillC]

Ellen, that is very good business!! I wish I could pick up some plants like that at that price. I'm sure that you can recover the sad plant and the other looks good already. Good luck with them both.

Bill

[Sharyn]

Originally Posted by chefatplay

I bought Better-Gro brand professional Phal mix, or so the bag says. I have a six inch clear pot. I am re reading some of the threads here. Wish me luck. This is my first big job.

Ellen: Nice price! I never find bargains like that. A note on using the Better-Gro pre-mixed phal mix. I found the bark a little too large for my phals. I used 4" pots - had to cut up some of the bark to smaller size. I also found that my phal was getting dehydrated and roots seemed to have difficulty getting enough water, so I re-did the potting and added some chopped sphag. moss which helped greatly. Also, be sure you soak that mix well. I soaked it for 2 days.

I know you live in Florida and have different conditions, but watch that your plant is getting enough water in the Better-Gro mix. Your plants also look considerably larger than the ones I repotted so you may not have any problem. I'm sure others will weigh in and offer some advice. Good luck.

[888diva]

Awesome Chef! I think that you have already saved them!

[mayres]

Are you sure that the media is "potting soil"? It is difficult to tell from the picture, but it almost looks like it could be a peat or coir mix of some kind? If this is the case it actually could be quite good for your phals if you don't overwater. Regardless, I second what has already been said, WAY TO GO! Nice plants for the money...........

[Sharyn]

Hey Mike: I thought the same thing - looks like coir to me. I know you have great luck with coir. Actually found that one of my phals (not repotted yet) has coir in the mix - it must be what you're using - coarse & fibrous thread-like. I'm sure I'm not explaining that very well. But, I must say that the phal that I have in the stuff is doing very well. BTW: I didn't do this one myself - Like Martha would say, "It's a good thing." The two I repotted with the coir powder stuff are still recovering! Practice, practice!

[chefatplay]

Mike, you are probably right about the coir mixture. As I was unpotting the yellow one, the roots looked great. I cut only a couple of old roots, that's all. I haven't thrown it out as I was wondering if I should mix this with the Better Gro mix.

Now I see Sharyn's concerns and advise and I see I have made "the mistake". I didn't soak the Better Gro before replanting. I am having a near impossible task of getting any water weight to my pot at all.
I have the pot soaking as we speak. Approx. 4 hours.

Should I take it all out and mix it with the coir mix? Can I let the phal sit in water for a long period of time? I'm thinking mixing with the coir and watering again may be my solution.

Help, please! I love the yellow color.

[PhalPal]

Congrats Chef! Ya know it never hurts to ask - the answer is always NO until you do! The one plant looks beautiful. I am in the market for a good yellow phal, sunset color also. I recently ordered a miniture 'Mini Mark' (it's Sharyn's fault!) with beautiful gold coloring and i can't wait until it gets here.

Mayre and I both have great success using coir mixes. He is in a wetter area and I am in a very dry part of the country, which is good testiment on the versatility of such a mix. Personally I HATE bark and have killed many plants in it (as a beginner, so account for that) It is just too difficult to gauge watering and it loves to rot roots. Good luck with your great finds!

[chefatplay]

Thanks, PhalPal. There is a lot of talk about the combination of bark, coir, charcoal. If I add the coir, I will have the mix.

Okay, I'm off to the potting table again. Lord have mercy on my plant.

[prisana]

Hi Ellen, Good job bargaining I got a large ( huge ) cym from my Publix for only $10 once, I first told the produce manager I was willing to pay $20 for it and he looked at the plant and said I can give it to you for $10 , I said SOLD ! SOLD! SOLD! . He want to get me a cart so I can put the 2 large plants in, but I was so excited I just grabbed the one I had my eye on and left ! I didn't think about it until after I repotted it the next day , I went back but they were all gone.. silly me. He must have thought I was a nut case. I love Publix

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by chefatplay

Should I take it all out and mix it with the coir mix? Can I let the phal sit in water for a long period of time? I'm thinking mixing with the coir and watering again may be my solution.

Help, please! I love the yellow color.

Another option would be to pot one in the coir/bark mixture and the other in coir or bark and see which one does better.


PhalPal makes a good point in that often commercial bark mixes (even those that say for Phals on the bag) are often too big and don't hold enough moisture at the roots. Ironically i find many varieties of commercial Phal mix great for Cattleyas.

[Glitter]

they look GREAT! Wonderful price!!! Love it!