I bought my orchid pots and premium potting mix, they get the top shelf closest to the lights, but they’re so wrinkly and grossly textured like a dry tongue. No plumpness at all. How often should I water them?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
These are my first adult orchids.
by Camry08
11 Comments
you should only soak your orchids once you see through the clear pot that the roots are grey or silvery and there’s no condensation on the sides. watering them too often can lead to root rot
You guys tea bag then.
I’d do a soak in very very very strong black tea for the tannins and then sit them outside in some indirect sun with a Ziploc bag on top with holes cut out of the corner so you create a humid environment but not too much where you end up with condensation and risk crown rot.
I’ve read that too much water and too little can have similar affects on the leaves. So you need to figure out which it is first. Hopefully someone who really knows will confirm or deny this.
As somebody who has grown phals since roughly 2005 or so, my instinct is that most people in this thread are wrong, and that the leaves are so wrinkly because they’re significantly underwatered.
It’s true that root rot can cause this situation, but you have them in highly aerated pots with a lot of holes and inorganic matter that won’t hold water. In addition, the bark that I can see is pretty large compared to the size of the orchid. Together, these combine for low water retention.
In contrast, these are plants are going to be relatively high water needs in these circumstances — I see a new baby leaf on one and double spikes on another, all of which are thirst-making activities for a phal. In addition, you’re pushing their light tolerance, which I can tell because leaves are relatively light green, consistent with them getting a lot of light on your top shelf. Further, I see a bunch of anthocyanin (the purplish pigment) in the middle of that one plant without a spike. It’s true that some phals tend to have purplish new leaves, esp ones with purple flowers, but the purpling of the grown leaves is a hint this isn’t just new-leaf purpling. High light + growth = high water needs for orchids.
Taken together with the pots and your media, I’d bet money that these leaves are floppy because they’re wildly thirsty and sucking all the water out of their old leaves to stay alive/continue growth. So start watering these deeply by letting them sit in pots of water 2/3rds up the side or more for at least a couple hours. In your shoes, I’d water them once a week. I’d also move them away from the light to reduce their stress levels — the old leaves are unlikely to unflop, but you’ll make sure the new growth isn’t stunted. I’d also consider trimming the flower spikes because when a phal’s leaf can be bent like you’re doing, it’s very very dehydrated indeed and fighting for survival.
You mention that room is cold. Phals are tropical plants, and they’re not going to be terribly happy longterm in that kind of temp. In particular, if you’re watering them to meet their water needs but keeping them cold, rot and disease get more likely. Ideally, you’d get them into a warmer space, but failing that, you can try getting them onto a seedling heat mat.
Give them a drink
Thank you people for all the good info. I’m a newbie too.
I grow my Phals in 90% moss and 10% bark . I water about every 7 days. I am in Florida and my house humidity is only about 45%. Always important not to over or underwater for me but I’m sure its different depending on your location.
https://preview.redd.it/wi5bgti9rkig1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=de0246e52e403b8279950b7d1d678e5162d05790
Having audio issues so sorry if you mentioned this in the video but, does your orchid still have the foam/moss plug on its central roots? If so, that could be causing the roots to rot a bit leading to dehydration.
Nooooo. Not the orchid shaming😭😭😭. She is doing her best
Just an anecdote but i had an orchid that was kinda floppy and sad. I watered it and monitored it but it didn’t seem to help. Then i added some orchid fertilizer to the water as a regular dose and it sprang right up.
Get your spray bottle with some orchid fertilizer and spray them every morning. The leaves the roots everything. I guarantee you in two weeks you’ll have a whole different orchid. They will look beautiful.