Phalaenopsis amboinensis

[psyc1210]

I received mine from Oak Hill on 04/03.



I repotted a few days ago into 100% aliflor. It is sitting near my ESE window, behind a Cattleya to keep from getting too much light

I will add a picture from after repotting as soon as I take one and upload it.

[psyc1210]

Ok, here is a picture from today.

And I can see the green tips on the ends of the roots are continuing to get longer, seems to be growing nicely.

Seems like it's getting ready to lose one of the tiny older leaves, which is being replaced by it's new leaf.

[psyc1210]

I have it in a 3 inch slotted pot. I got it from repotme.com. The only other thing I do is sit the pot in a drip tray or whatever it's called...like the round ones you find at home depot, and I put some diatomite in the drip tray, holds the excess water, and helps with humidity. I like the diatomite because it absorbs the excess water that I don't want to sit at the bottom where the roots touch.

[Sharyn]

JoBeth: I have some of these little pots from repotme and they're great. How long do you have to soak the hydro rock and how often do your plants have to be watered? Do you just run water through them or soak?

Sorry for all the questions, but I find the potting media interesting and perhaps may give it a try some day.

[psyc1210]

Sharyn: I soak the aliflor for about a day before using it...and I water my plants every 3 to 4 days...but that can change, depending on how fast it evaporates inside the pot. I judge by looking at the condensation in the clear pot. and when I water I run the water through.

Another good note regarding this, I repotted back in the beginning of March, and my one Dend. has been sulking since before the repot, because it had a ton of rotted roots from being in sphag from Lowe's...so I watered today, and saw some really nice new roots! Finally!!

[Sharyn]

Thanks Jo. I find this to be a very interesting concept growing in this type of media. I've got pots, hydro rock and a few small orchids. I may try this out for one of our forum projects. Thanks for sharing the information.

[psyc1210]

Here's some pictures from today, exactly 3 weeks after receiving it.

[psyc1210]

Here's an update of my Phal amboinensis.

[patticake]

OOOO! JoBeth! The top leaf has gotten bigger, for sure! Nice growing!

[solay]

The plant looks so healthy. Your doing something, or everything right! Good Job!

[psyc1210]

Thought I'd give an update on my ambo today, since it's been about 2 weeks since the last. The roots that I can see near the sides of the pot are looking very nice, and it's also starting a brand new root too.

[Sharyn]

Looking good Jobeth! I think a little warmer weather these days is helping stir up the growth. I'm glad yours is doing well. Mine seemed stagnant since March and now is showing root growth and the start of a new leaf.

This is fun to compare our growing stats!

[Rocinante]

Here's a before and after of mine. I received it the first week of April as well. In the first picture,taken on delivery day,the top leaf was folded over from shipping stress. Soon after, I re-potted in Mike's coir mix recipe. For some reason, I lost a bottom leaf. The plant was then stagnant for about 5-6 weeks. After apparently learning not to over-water the coir mix, I finally noticed a new leaf starting on 5/23. The second picture was taken today, 11 weeks after delivery. Things seem to be going well, but you must always be vigilant with this potting medium; even though coir may be dry on top, it is highly retentive of water below the surface. I'm growing under LED's and still learning what makes this plant happy. Keep on growing!

[brookn]

Looking good! I am wanting blooms soon, I think that's just wishful thinking though hee hee.

[psyc1210]

Do you know what size is considered BS for them? I'd love to see some blooms too, but I think we've got a ways to go,

[brookn]

I am going to be conservative and say they are a year from blooming. Possibly 6 months to a year, but I believe these are spring and summer bloomers.

[brookn]

I looked up the blooming times for it (I have the Baker's culture sheet on it), and it says from Jan-June. So I am thinking it will be a while lol.

[psyc1210]

Here is an update on my little one...and after seeing brookn's roots, I wanted to peek at mine too. All the roots are firm, and the rattier looking ones are the older roots. The newer roots are a bit greener and nicer looking. I'm waiting for it to send out a new leaf

[articuno75]

LOL, You know curiosity killed the cat.....

As much dormancy as mine has been doing, you guys have made me itchy.


Here kitty, kitty....

[psyc1210]

I JUST noticed tonight that my little guy is starting a new leaf!!!! I'll add a picture when it's big enough to really see it from a photo.

[psyc1210]

Here is my new leaf!

[brookn]

Good growing!

[psyc1210]

Update! Looks like everything is going well!

[patticake]

Wow, JoBeth, that looks great! Hydro seems to be working well for you! I still haven't taken the "plunge".

[sandra]

Originally Posted by psyc1210

Update! Looks like everything is going well!

It sure does. The leaves on this are gorgeous. Well done!

[psyc1210]

Patti, I'm not really doing hydro....I'm just using the aliflor as the potting media. I don't have a reservoir that water sits in. Everyone seems to be doing well. Some take longer to adjust than others, but the ones that have adjusted are doing extremely well

[psyc1210]

Jenny's ambo post reminded me to update about mine. It's been a while, but here she is.

[articuno75]

Your's looks much nicer than mine.

[psyc1210]

Ty Jenny. I am so excited about seeing this little thing grow! I can't wait to find out if yours has a spike or not!!

[exasperatus2002]

Originally Posted by articuno75

LOL, You know curiosity killed the cat.....

As much dormancy as mine has been doing, you guys have made me itchy.


Here kitty, kitty....

Curiosity may have killed the cat....

But satisfaction brought it back ;~)

[psyc1210]

It's been awhile since I updated this post...soo, I'll go ahead and do that now. Looks like the newest leaf has grown a decent amount since last update.

[trinigirl]

Great growing! The new leaf has grown so much bigger, and it sure is shiny. A spike should come soon?

[articuno75]

JoBeth I've got to ask where exactly do you have your plant setting for light? I have mine under artificial light and I'm getting short stubby, ugly leaves. I'm thinking I'm giving it too much light, even though there is no burn. I need some tips so I quit getting short nubby leaves. LoL

[psyc1210]

Jenny,

I have mine near the back of a shelf, which is about a foot away from my window, facing ESE.

[articuno75]

I'm going to have to do that then and take the light away from it. I have it a lot closer to the light than that, LoL.

Gotta make those leaves work for it.

[psyc1210]

I'll cross my fingers that you get a new leaf soon, that isn't cupped. I've been kind of ignoring mine, and it seems to like that, lol

[psyc1210]

Since my last update, my little guy has grown a few new roots. No new leaves yet.


I almost think we should start another Phal growing project with another species..muahahahaha

[trinigirl]

I agree, I would love to be in on a phal specie project! Who else?

[psyc1210]

Who do we talk to, to see about starting another Phal species project? It would be awesome to start another species project. Would give us all another excuse to feed our sickness, lol. Plus it would be fun.

[psyc1210]

I just checked Oak Hill gardens and saw a few species that might be interesting to go with for a new species project. Phal bastianii, mannii, cornu cervi, stuartiana, fuscata.

[dtje2000]

Oooo I already have that cornu cervi...I posted my photo of it in the May photo contest...it's so different...the tips of the bloom spikes are flattened... Mine has 3 spikes right now, one with open flowers, and I, just moments ago, mounted it on a piece of mopani wood. The vendor said this species' roots like to go wild and recommended mounting...who am I to argue?

Would love to participate in the growing projects, but my getting the new kitty came at a price...no more new plants this year. A sacrifice of large measure, but worth it.

[mgilbuena]

This sounds interesting. So the Aliflor is strictly used as your potting media? Does it break down or can you leave your Phal in it indefinitely? You are verifying moisture levels via checking the condensation on the plastic? Do you know if a skewer stick could also work with this media?

What are some potential drawbacks? Is there greater risk for buildup of salts?

...and where are you finding this stuff? I've got about 8 orchids that need repotting soon, so..

[mgilbuena]

One more quick question: is LECA the same stuff as Aliflor?

[psyc1210]

Aliflor is a type of LECA, there are others too such as hydroton, etc.

I use 100% aliflor for all my orchids. It seems cleaner to me, and doesn't break down. I flush the pots when I water, to help keep salts from building up. I suppose you can use skewer method with the aliflor, I just look at the pots and feel the weight and decide whether it needs watered or not.

[psyc1210]

Been a while since I updated this...here's my amboinensis now!