repotted phals not rooting well

[mariejoe]

Some of the phals I repotted late last fall really aren't growing roots as well as I would like.
Which I don't understand.

When I repotted, I cleaned off the old dead roots, dusted with cinnamon and put in new plastic pots with new soaked phal medium.

They all got the same light, temps, watering.

The major difference is some had very little roots left to start.
(I found that most of the orchids available in big box stores or the nursery I work at need repotting almost immediately...and I found this out the HARD way: I did not repot and lost almost all the roots on many of the orchids I bought last year.)


I'm pretty new at this and I am confuised.
What can I do to get these roots going and get some spikes/blooms on the way.

[NancyG]

Hi Mariejoe,

Sometimes phals take awhile to get going after repotting. I've had luck with some shrag around the main roots and then surrounding that in semi-hydronic rock and having them in a clay pot. That is just my way and I have had success with it. I'm in Florida so my phals are outside unless they bloom when I bring them in. It is very hot and humid here right now so my conditions are really different probably from yours.

You might want to tell us more about your phals like location, watering, fertilizing etc. There are some phal experts who should be able to help you out here.

NancyG

[Catcym]

Mariejoe wrote:
The major difference is some had very little roots left to start.
If the root ball is small you may choose a smaller size of pot. It is better to under pot than over pot.
A picture of the plant will be helpful.
How often do you you water ?

[11Orchid126]

You say you put the plants in new medium. What kind of medium? Also, how often do you water this medium?

[nenella]

Hi Mariejoe,
I'm not an expert but in my experience I have learnt that you just need to be Patient !!
Did you soak them in something like K-L-N when you repotted? I have found that it helps alot ..
You can also try "kick starting" the development of roots by un-potting, soaking in root hormone, repotting or even trying sphag & bag ....If you feel like it ...I have done that to a phal this year whose roots rotted and its re- grown new ones as well as put out a new leaf (whilst in the bag) - its doing well but I still haven't 'dared' take it out seeing its doing sooo well.....
just try different things as it all depends on your particular growing conditions!
(Although am now successful with the Bag & Sphag method..I have lost a couple a few years ago and I cannot grow orchids in sphag in my conditions... )
As said above try different things, observe and most of all be patient !
GOOD lUCK & keep us posted

[mariejoe]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I use Better Gro mix, the one in the purple bag with the charcoal bits.

Watering seems to be difficult for me.
I sometimes think I should water more often, I go for once a week.
I have air circulating in my orchid room, more orchids have some sort of humidity tray.
Lately I have been miosting them with SuperThrive in water and I have seen some of the spikes that have been trimmed get spikelets and bloom.

One orchid in particular got a new spike and I really think the root system was poor at the time. The spike did poorly, I trimmed it and it got a spikelet that may bloom.
Maybe it would be best to to cut the whole thing back.

I use various fertilizers.
Sometimes I use the Better Gro for blooms (when the roots are in good shape.)
When I want root growth, I use the regular Better Gro,
I also use Marsh's Indoor Plant Food.
And, I have been know to use Algo-Flash: it's kinda like whatever is handiest/quickest.

The orchids not in bloom are in an east facing window with grow light tubes for extra light away from the window.

The blooming orchids are in a west facing window, which is under an overhang.

[brookn]

Are you familiar with the skewer method, it is a life saver especially for Phals. You can tell easily if they need water, because the skewer will feel cool to the touch and almost dry. That's when it is time to water them.

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/new...f-orchids.html

Also, I would hold off on the fertilizer for a while, and maybe use a few drops of Superthrive in a gallon of water every other week to water them. Do you soak your plants when you water, or do you pour some water on them like a normal house plant. Soaking them in a sink full of water seems to work best for mine. To keep the bark wet longer, this is a good method. Remember also that when you use fert. use it weakly weekly, and give the plants a rest from it and a good flush with plain water once a month. This helps rid the bark and pot of dissolverd salts and such that will accumulate from fertilizing.

[Catcym]

I'm not an expert but I have learned to observe what the plant is telling me. I got a Phal 3 months ago and it has been overpotted. I repotted with a bigger pot cause their roots were customed to spread out. I watered it on a 5 days schedule. Two months later I unpotted it and found it has fewer roots.
Now I repotted in a new medium, coir mix. It has been a month now. New leaf growth was halted and now resumed. I found 7 nubs around stem of the phal. two aerial roots pointing sideway and rest of 5 roots pointing down. There are many nubs everywhere(nubs on old roots) can be sighted. I have not used any K-L-N nor do I fertilized. I just watered it as needed. It seemed like coir mix is doing its magic.