During my first few attempts to grow Phals, I used chunky bark mix, easily available from HD. Then as time grew on, I realized, these Phal roots just wants some air and some moisture, and prefers to be on the dry side while attached to something and getting their water and fertilizer spray as needed. So to lessen my anxiety if the bark is degrading or getting too wet, I changed my media to non-bark stuff. I used hygrolon baggies, inside each bag are some styrofoam peanuts, while in some I just wrapped some hygrolon on a plant pole. I also stuffed some chunky lava rock or clay rocks inside the container. Knowing that in nature these plants are typically just hanging on branches, I figured what it needs is just some way to anchor itself in my container since I cannot make them go hanging indoors. I still have them in containers, supported enough by these non-bark stuff I use. Lessens my need to do a repot since nothing degrades and easy enough to water. Hygrolon gets wet like sphaghum moss but does not stay way too wet like sphagnum moss so there is much air around the root zone. Phals are quite prone to making aerial roots anyways, so I just let those roots roam loosely inside the container and above.
I still have some Phals in bark too, later on when time to repot comes, I will switch them with my non-bark media.
but I still need help. I'm still feeding my Phals 1/2tsp of MSU per 1gal of RO water. Since it's the blooming season and even though mine are doing great do I need to increase the MSU up to maybe 3/4tsp of MSU per gallon?
