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Nov 24, 2017 11:24 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Laurie b
Western Washington (Zone 7b)
Houseplants Orchids Region: Pacific Northwest Region: Mexico Sedums Tropicals
Hi all.
Turkey dinner grocery buying placed me at Costco, and I caught some phals being brought out right off the truck. They all looked amazing with two 2 ft flower stalks, and about 6 large leaves. I haven't seen phals this nice or large for under $40.00. For 19.99 I could not help myself.

The blooms on the stalk are only open about halfway up the stalk, so I think the plant will be in bloom a month or two. Problem is, I always feel better having a look at the roots of new plants and evaluating if I need to repot or just let it be. Would you leave it as is until the flowers fade? Or check, and repot if you felt the roots could be in better health.

I have no supplies for repotting a phal, so I am hoping for recommendations.

What is your favorite pot to use, and where can it be found. I do have orchid soil. It's Black Gold. Should it be amended.

I always read and reread what my plants need. But the information I get here is always what seems to work best.

Tips on anything and everything will be read happily.

I am getting an I-phone tomorrow, and will post a pic as soon as I can. Thank you all.
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Nov 25, 2017 7:53 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Ursula
Fair Lawn NJ, zone 7a
Orchids Plumerias Cactus and Succulents Region: New Jersey Region: Pennsylvania Native Plants and Wildflowers
Greenhouse Ponds Keeper of Koi Forum moderator Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Adeniums
Hi Laurie!
Your purchases sound lovely! Now if that were me, I would just leave them as they are for now and enjoy them! Comes Spring and they are done blooming, I would take another look at what is going on inside that pot! If they are planted in fresh Sphagnum you should have about 6 months before that turns funky! If planted in bark, even better!
Enjoy!
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Nov 25, 2017 11:56 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Laurie b
Western Washington (Zone 7b)
Houseplants Orchids Region: Pacific Northwest Region: Mexico Sedums Tropicals
Thumb of 2017-11-25/lauriebasler/3fd20a

I had to share one of your pics in your plant images just to lure people in to be as blown away as I am by your beautiful plants, and wonderful pics.

Your plant images would easily take all day to drool thru. Are you a professional, are plants sold anywhere. I am in awe of your plant choices. Very Cool.

Thank you for the great direction. Asked and answered and thank you.

Laurie
Last edited by lauriebasler Nov 25, 2017 11:59 AM Icon for preview
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Nov 27, 2017 10:05 AM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Birds Butterflies Bee Lover Hummingbirder Container Gardener
Is that one of Ursula's photos from the database? If so, maybe you can edit and give the database link?
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!


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Dec 1, 2017 4:32 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Laurie, I'm on board with Ursula's advice to just enjoy your blooms for now and not disturb the plants by re-potting until spring. Just ran across these pictures of some of my Phals in past years and thought to pass them on.

The significant thing to think about is to always mount or pot your Phal with the crown on an angle or sideways, not facing upwards. If the leaves don't drain water out after you've watered the plant, it's an invitation for crown rot. These plants grow naturally with the leaves hanging downwards, on the trunks and branches of trees. So no matter what you choose to pot or plant them in (or on) be sure the leaves will drain. You can see in this picture I had mine in a large variety of different pots and mounts. All had one thing in common - plenty of ventilation to supply air circulation to the roots.
Thumb of 2017-12-01/dyzzypyxxy/7580b1

Another thing to not stress about is when they want to stick roots out of the medium, up into the air. This is natural and a normal thing for these plants (and most orchids in fact). My Phals sometimes looked to be crawling out of their pots.
Thumb of 2017-12-01/dyzzypyxxy/c8cc7e Thumb of 2017-12-01/dyzzypyxxy/97ee3a

Last thing to think about - the way Phals are presented in the stores, with the plants facing upwards and the flowers staked up vertically - this is completely unnatural for these plants. The flowers will naturally cascade downwards very gracefully and face out towards you to be seen beautifully. So if you are able to hang the pot you put your Phal in, you'll have a much more beautiful, natural looking plant.
Thumb of 2017-12-01/dyzzypyxxy/1f0b4f Thumb of 2017-12-01/dyzzypyxxy/aaa656
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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