Viewing post #1186749 by drdawg

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Jun 18, 2016 3:19 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Betsy, I grow a few Phal., and have done so for years, but I never grow many. For me at least, Phal. don't seem to like my hot weather all that much. Anyway, it sounds like your plants are well on their way to recovery. They do like lots of air flow around their roots. Some people can successfully grow them in pure long-fibered sphagnum moss, but most can't because of an over-watering issue.

I like an eastern exposure. Perhaps your plants are even getting some early morning sun, and if so, that's excellent. I would keep the media on the dry side, just heavily misting the leaves and whatever roots are exposed in the morning and then letting everything dry. When those leaves start showing signs of growth, whether that's plumping of the mature leaves or new growth, I would then begin to water thoroughly again and I would do that whenever the media appears dry. That could be every 3-4 days or every week. It just depends on temperature, humidity, and how much air movement there is.

Here's a trick. When you begin watering again (for the first few weeks), get into the habit of putting tepid water into a sink, just deep enough to touch the top of the media. But before putting the pot(s) into the sink, pick up the pot(s) and notice the weight. Then, allow the pots to sit in that sink for 5 or so minutes so that the media is well soaked. You may have to hold your hand over the media so that it doesn't float out of the pot. Then let the pots drain for a few minutes. Pick up the pot(s) again and notice the weight. You should be able to tell that there is now water-weight that was not there before you did the soaking. When you get used to this weight differential, you can literally pick up a pot and tell whether the media is wet or dry.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.

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