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Staking Phal Flower stalks.
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Posted by relli 4bAB (My Page) on Thu, Feb 4, 10 at 23:01
| HI, I'm an old hand with houseplants, but a rookie with Orchids. I bought 4 Phals last winter to help me deal with the winter blahs, blooms died, I cut back the stalks, and now 3 of the 4 are about to bloom again. My question, the stalks (sorry I'm not sure of the correct terminoglgy for this), do they need to be staked, or should I just let them do their own thing? Also, one of my Phals has 2 stalks coming, but I noticed the newest leaf is starting to turn yellow-brown, and the leaves are maybe not as firm as they should be, like the others. Am I over watering? I water once a week, letting the water run through the pot, draining out the bottom. They don't sit in water either. I'm starting to panic, I've never had Orchids bloom for me before, I don't want to kill them with kindness. Any advice for a rookie? Thanks...Relli |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Staking Phal Flower stalks.
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- Posted by donaldb 5B Worcester, MA (My Page) on
Fri, Feb 5, 10 at 11:26
| Staking them is the growers choice. The stake is called a spike. Needless to say in nature they are not staked. As far as the leaf goes when you water them do you make sure not to leave water in the crown of the plant? If you do it may be crown rot that caused your new leaf to yellow. When you do water check the growing medium that your "Phal" is in and make sure it really need water. Insert a wooden skewer of wooden pencil into it and check to see if it's wet. Check out the link I have posted for further information. Happy growing and don't panic. http://www.orchidaceae.com/techSheets/Phalaenopsis.pdf |
Here is a link that might be useful: Phalaenopsis Culture
RE: Staking Phal Flower stalks.
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| Thanks donaldb for the advice and the correct terminology ( I should have known that). I don't water from the top, I learnt my lesson doing that to a couple of favorite violets, which developed crown rot so I'm pretty careful about that. I'm pretty sure I'm overwatering.I was going by advice I got from a book, "water weekly, weakly", maybe it's been too much. I'll let it dry out a bit more before I water again, I really want to see these Phals bloom. I'll stop obsessing about them now, and just wait and see. Thanks again..Relli |
RE: Staking Phal Flower stalks.
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| Hi Relli, many of the plants you see at shows are staked, the choice is up to you. Maybe stake your plant if it has many large flowers...... the material most used is wire of appropriate thickness to achieve graceful arching of the spike. |
RE: Staking Phal Flower stalks.
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| Watering weekly, weakly is good advice, depending on what the orchid is planted in and the conditions it is in. Sometimes sphagnum moss can stay very wet, even though it looks dry on top. So can other types of mixes. So can mixes that are breaking down. Donaldb's advice about the skewer is a good one. Always check to see if the plant needs water before you water. |
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