Rescue orchid: a few newbie questions.

9 years ago

I got this orchid from my roommate's friend who knows that I love plants. I dont know how long she has had it or what type it is. I want to bring it back to its full glory but I have some noob questions first. This is my second orchid. My first was a year or two back. It "died" after a few weeks so I tossed it like an idiot. It was a dancing lady, SO gorgeous. I wish I would have kept and researched it a little more.

1. can you identify the genus by the leaves so I can read about proper care? The sticker just says Mini Orchid #2

2. The roots look nice and healthy but the terra cotta pot it came in has no holes. Would it be a good idea to drill one or two bottom holes and a few on the side near the bottom as well? It seems to be in sphagnum moss, should I get a different growing medium? I know sphag holds a lot of water

3. I have 2 potential spots for it, my bedroom which has north facing windows and gets pretty good daytime light, or in my living room window which is south facing, and gets lots of bright light all day with 3-4 hours of direct sun in mid afternoon.

4. the one stalk on it is very woody, It was obviously cut some time ago... should I cut it down all the way to the base, or leave it as is?

I will attach some pictures in the next few posts

This post was edited by AnIsleAteHer on Sat, Jan 24, 15 at 14:13

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Comments (10)

Nick Robinson
Original Author
9 years ago
Roots
Nick Robinson
Original Author
9 years ago
Stalk
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zzackey
9 years ago
It's a nice looking Phaleonopsis. I would cut the flower stalk off at the base. I would repot it into a slightly larger pot in orchid bark and fertilize it with orchid fertilizer.
Nick Robinson
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the info Zackey. You have confirmed most of my assumptions.

Im going to head to Home Depot today to look into a new pot/growing media/fertilizer.
RaptorRed
9 years ago
There is a girl I found on youtube, her channel is MissOrchidGirl. I suggest watching a few of her videos on Phaleonopsis. She is extremely knowledgeable and I have learned ALOT. I'm a newbie to Orchids as well.
Autumn
philpet
9 years ago
Ok yes cut the spike to the base. Also you can choose a bark mix phals seems to love bark. One word of caution, choose a pot size that fits the roots comfortably , I don't think it will need a bigger pot. Also if you can get clear pots which you can see the roots through they are wonderful, you can see the roots need water or not. NO direct sun just bright light. A shaded south window will work but make sure it's not too hot because the leaves will burn.only water when the roots in the pot turn silvery. Velleta
shavedmonkey (Harvey in South Fl.)Z10b
9 years ago
What Valletta said and do not get water in the crown or center or you may get crown rot and it will die. Your pot and medium should depend on your watering habits. Plastic and moss, water once a week. terra cotta and lava rock, once a day. And stuff in-between. Pots always need holes or slits.
Nick Robinson
Original Author
9 years ago
hmm, I bought this pot at home depot:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Norcal-Pottery-5-5-in-Ceramic-Twilight-Lacey-Orchid-Planter-100511954/203625915

I then lined it with coffee filters to keep the media in. I used the miracle gro orchid mix, which I have been reading mixed reviews about. I really would like to keep using this pot as it is attractive, is it really going to be too large?
Nick Robinson
Original Author
9 years ago
So I took your guys advice.

i had a smaller plastic pot lying around ~3". I drilled some aeration holes in the sides and put my orchid in it. I put some of the orchid media on the bottom of the planter I bought (link above) and set the plastic pot inside. I will now leave it alone so it can adjust to its new home.

I dont want that pretty pot to go to waste so I might have to buy a larger orchid to put in it =]
suzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore)
9 years ago
Don't bother buying one. Befriend a florist and ask them to give you their spent plants. I've been getting 2-6 phals a week that way. Or go to Lowes. They often have $4 orchids on clearance once they are done blooming.