My first orchid AFTER aliflor

[psyc1210]

I received my first orchid over a year ago, my mother bought it as a housewarming gift for me. It came from Home Depot, and it shows it. It is still holding onto it's old leaves, that it's had since I received it. They are battered. VERY battered. I repotted it in I believe February or March of this year. Now it barely had roots when I repotted it. So this will show it has been VERY busy with growing roots. The two newest leaves grew while in my care. The others do look bad.

The one picture shows the roots at the bottom of the pot. Dummy me watered it before taking the picture, so it's a little foggy in the pot right now. Anyway, I'm just really impressed with the root growth on this orchid. They were no where near the bottom of the pot, and now they are just all over the place.

[solay]

JoBeth, it looks like the roots like the aliflor and the new leaves are a good sign too. Next update will be a spike. At least that's what crystal ball is showing me. I hope it's right.

Do you water like you do orchids in bark when you use the aliflor? Thanks. Just in case I want to try it too.

[psyc1210]

Originally Posted by solay

JoBeth, it looks like the roots like the aliflor and the new leaves are a good sign too. Next update will be a spike. At least that's what crystal ball is showing me. I hope it's right.

Do you water like you do orchids in bark when you use the aliflor? Thanks. Just in case I want to try it too.

It's been working on roots instead of growing any new leaves. The newest leaf was from October I believe. So I'm hoping that it'll grow a new leaf soon and get rid of one of the old leaves shortly. And then I'll hope for a spike in the fall

I water this guy about every 4 days. Give or take, depends on how fast it dries up. I can tell by looking at the pot since it's clear, and I can see any condensation.

[solay]

Thanks. So it's not the same as S/H.? I saw a kit for hydroponics for around $350 bucks somewhere online. Seems too complicated for me though.

[psyc1210]

Nope, I didn't want to do full s/h. I just use the aliflor as one would use the bark. I just didn't like the bark, it felt too dirty for me. I like to see the roots, and have them look clean too.

[kid a]

I repotted my Stima Kelly 'Lea' a few weeks ago in hydroton but I don't think it is doing so hot. It still looks good but I lost an older leaf and some of the roots are drying out. I have been dollar store hunting for a good container that I could leave a resevour (I cannot spell that!) in the bottom. I think it has been getting too dry. Do you know if there is a difference in alifor as far as moisture retention and wicking? Your phal's roots look great. I like how much cleaner it is. I constantly have to clean the sinks and soaking buckets out and I always get bits of media and stuff all over the place when I put them back in their places. I have been thinking of repotting others this way but want to figure this Stima out first.

[jay]

Kortney - Hydroton is very dusty and needs to be washed and rinsed very thoroughly before use. I put it in a bucket, fill with water, then agitate it to help clean it. I repeat this several times. All LECA will be dusty.

As for containers, I use tupperware, deli containers, or just about anything plastic if it gets too large.

I will be in Indy next month. Has it gotten humid yet?

[psyc1210]

Originally Posted by kid a

I repotted my Stima Kelly 'Lea' a few weeks ago in hydroton but I don't think it is doing so hot. It still looks good but I lost an older leaf and some of the roots are drying out. I have been dollar store hunting for a good container that I could leave a resevour (I cannot spell that!) in the bottom. I think it has been getting too dry. Do you know if there is a difference in alifor as far as moisture retention and wicking? Your phal's roots look great. I like how much cleaner it is. I constantly have to clean the sinks and soaking buckets out and I always get bits of media and stuff all over the place when I put them back in their places. I have been thinking of repotting others this way but want to figure this Stima out first.

How often are you watering it?

I have no clue with the water retention vs wicking. It does dry out very quickly on top so I mist once a day on the top, but you can see that it stays damp in the middle of course. With the aliflor, it is much easier to have it in a clear pot since you can see how damp it is. I can't stand not being able to see the roots.

[jay]

JoBeth - That looks great. Glad to hear that it is doing better. It seems to like its new home. Congrats on the great roots.

[psyc1210]

I forgot to add this picture to show the size of this Phal. This is my largest Phal....well..other than the gigantea

[psyc1210]

Here's a better picture of the roots, in case anyone else is interested

There's a root coming through the bottom too

[kid a]

Originally Posted by jay

Kortney - Hydroton is very dusty and needs to be washed and rinsed very thoroughly before use. I put it in a bucket, fill with water, then agitate it to help clean it. I repeat this several times. All LECA will be dusty.

As for containers, I use tupperware, deli containers, or just about anything plastic if it gets too large.

I will be in Indy next month. Has it gotten humid yet?

It has been pretty humid, but for the last couple of days it was kinda dry ;-( Had to close the window and turn up the humidifier to keep it at 70%.

I have been watering it every other day almost.

[psyc1210]

Thought I'd update this baby. She started a new leaf!! And the roots are growing and growing.

[articuno75]

I've heard that Alifor has a different wicking effect and seems to hold moisture a little different than what hydroton does. I don't know, I don't have Alifor to find out.

JoBeth~ Do you do anything else special? Like misting the base of the of the plant daily? That's what I do for my Catt's that I have like this. They are in Hydroton.

[psyc1210]

I used to mist the base daily, but that was when I had my orchid table upstairs in a bedroom window. It was a lot hotter up there, and I had two fans on at all times so they dried out faster. It's a good 7 degrees or so cooler down on the main floor where they are now, so they don't dry out as quickly. Especially bc I don't have to have two fans on to keep them from getting way too hot.

[psyc1210]

Update, the leaf has grown a lot in the past couple months...I am crossing my fingers for a spike!!

[articuno75]

Yowzaa! That thing is a beast! LoL

[psyc1210]

update: I finally got my spike!! Spike on the left, new root on the right

[trinigirl]

Congrats on the superb growth happening-new roots, spike, awesome looking leaves!

[Fishmom]

That's one happy plant! Your glossy green leaves look terrific. I have some rescue phals that have grown roots but no leaves, and your success is giving me hope. Thanks!

[lance]

congrats!

[syndywindy]

Cant' wait to see the blooms. So far I like the results I've seen using S/H. What a difference a year makes!

[dorothea]

I missed this thread before so congratulations on the spike, now it is probably half grown and we'll be seing pictures of it in bloom

[psyc1210]

Here is the spike as we speak, hehe!

[psyc1210]

I am so excited!!! It is finally beginning to open!!

[Leathal]

Originally Posted by psyc1210

Here's a better picture of the roots, in case anyone else is interested

There's a root coming through the bottom too

That is looking really good! Great job

[solay]

Wow, that Phal. has done really well. Nice growing. I kinda like the way the spike has bent to the side. Very neat.

[psyc1210]

Originally Posted by solay

Wow, that Phal. has done really well. Nice growing. I kinda like the way the spike has bent to the side. Very neat.

I turned it each watering, made it follow the light. I have limited space, and I knew that one grows long spikes, so I knew I'd have to intervene. Worked out pretty well

[maria1971]

Fantastic growing!! I can't wait to see it in full bloom!

[grandmapenguin]

Jobeth this may be a dumb question but
After seeing your pot that you have your Phal in with S/H I'm very confused. How do you keep any moisture in the S/H with all the slits in the pot
I bought S/H pots and they only hav e two holes about 1/2 inch up the side
Terry

[Bird Song Farm]

Great job Jobeth! That's one happy plant.
PM me about your P. gigantea, how is it doing? (I know it's doing better than mine. LOL!)
Al

[Brooke]

Terry she isn't using the pot with aliflor as a s/h container. She is using the aliflor like you would bark and the pot gets watered when needed.

Brooke