Naples Nights 5/7/08

[myorchid]

Well, here is a picture of my very sad Naples Nights. It is currently in a coir mix, and I am leaving it alone.

It does have some roots, though they are small. I gave it worm tea to drink and will mist it with worm tea.

Hopefully it will recover.

[patticake]

It does look sad.... I hope it recovers.

[mayres]

oh my.....
Did it look like that when you received it? Did it get cold damaged in transit? So sad......you shouldn't have to start with a poor baby in such sad shape..........temptation with leaves like that would be to water it too soon - be careful not to water in that media until it is definately ready. "Leaving it alone" and misting with a little worm tea sounds like an EXCELLENT idea - be sure and keep us updated - I'm curious to see how it does.............

[myorchid]

It looked better when I got it. Not sure what happened. I am hoping putting in the coir mix and letting it be will help.

I think I may have overwatered it as it is in a very small pot. The project orchids are the first ones I had in such a small pot.

I am being very careful with Cathy Beck to make sure I don't overwater!

Mike, I really appreciated the information on the coir. I was very surprised when I rehydrated it how much dust there was. But when I rinsed well, I got some nice fluffy mix. Thanks!

[articuno75]

April I know you haven't had this plant very long. Can you give a run down on what you've been doing for this baby chronologically? I know that there are a couple of others who are also experiencing limp leaves and trying to figure out an explaination for it. What are your temps running, humidity, watering habits, when was the repot. Everything you can think of.

[myorchid]

Lets see, I will try to remember:
I got it on 4/17, repotted into fine bark mixture and a larger pot, 4 inch.

I water weekly, with filtered water (same for all orchids),

had it placed with the other Paphs and Phal (this one growing like gang busters!).

Around the 28th, I notice that the leaves were limp, I took it out of the pot to look at it and noticed that some of the roots were mushy. I cut them off, and repotted in the original small pot, but put some foam peanuts in the bottom. Moved it to in front of the East facing window.

I went out of town for the weekend, 30th -4th, no water.

When I returned, it was still droopy so I got a coir brick, and rehydrated part of it. I took the Phal out of the pot, set it in some worm tea while I got the coir mix ready for the repot. I put it in the small pot, with the loosely packed coir mix, did not water.

this AM I misted with worm tea and it is as you see it.


I think I overwatered it.

[mayres]

For the size plant and root system that you probably have left you are not going to have to water it for a LONG time. I put mine right back into the same size pot they came in with coir and have not watered for two weeks - it has been cool in the NW. Keep it as warm as you can. It should be a light as a feather when time to water again. Problem with pot larger than available roots is it can be dry around the roots and then quite wet in the bottom or perimeter. Careful when misting that you did it very lightly so that you are not in effect re-watering each time you mist.

[myorchid]

Thanks Mike, I will be careful with the misting.

[articuno75]

I'd suggest using a skewer to check on it and maybe put a fan on it to air out. Coir mix stays wetter a lot longer than a bark mix.

[myorchid]

Well, I have been giving my sad Naples Nights some time, I think it looks a little better.


I also got a new one from Jerry, from the same lot as the other one. It is doing very well. I have learned and did not over pot it, repotted in the same pot with coir mix and being careful with the watering.
It has a spike and so far is looking good!

[Normkp]

!!!! April !!!!

Do my eyes deceive me or does your new Naples have a very nice spike?

Very nice!

[myorchid]

Yup! Very nice spike, can't wait to see the blooms!!

[patlee]

Excellent!! Mine looks nice and healthy, but so far I have no new roots and no spike Good growing on your part--You're doing something very right

[patticake]

April, The new one looks great! I'll keep my fingers crossed that the old one perks up, also! Keep us posted...

[Sharyn]

April: How's that spike doing? I just found this thread and must agree with mayres that the coir mix will take much longer to dry. The skewer method works great as an indicator. Mine's in a 3" plastic pot, in coir. It's been cool here, so sometimes it only needs water once in two weeks or more! A fan near your plants helps a great deal.

[Bird Song Farm]

Well, as the saying goes: ''better late than never'', I order my P. Naples Night (2) from Jerry yesterday. What a great guy to talk to!
I should receive them by the end of this week and will post in the Arrival thread soon after.
I'm wondering about potting them together (2 in one pot). Has anyone ever done that with a phal?
AL
P.S.
Thank you Sharyn and Jerry!

[Sharyn]

Great Al! Glad you can join the project. Jerry's a great guy and I'm sure he'll be pitching in some advice.

Personally, never planted two phals together. The color of the leaves are so pretty by themselves, that I'd rather have two.

In case you haven't seen the pic: here's a link
Phal. Naples nights x (p. petite rose x p. glad melinda): efg orchids

[myorchid]

My spike is still doing good. It has 4 buds on it and it looks like they are getting bigger! Can't wait.

[PhalPal]

I would not put two Phlas in one pot if one is healthy and the other is ailing. You might need to do something special when nursing the one orchids back to health. If both were healthy it wouldn't be a problem at all.

[WTFD00D]

hope she gets better

[Bird Song Farm]

Originally Posted by PhalPal

I would not put two Phlas in one pot if one is healthy and the other is ailing. You might need to do something special when nursing the one orchids back to health. If both were healthy it wouldn't be a problem at all.

Thanks PhalPal, I haven't received my 2 Naples Nights yet so will wait to see the condition and size. I remembered that I have a very nice Terra Cotta pot that would work well for 2 phals and since I have P. shill and P. stuartiana that have beautiful leaves I think the 2 Naples Nights would look great in it.
Al