- Wed Nov 20, 2013 4:32 am
#191259
I've got a phalaenopsis, or rather, my mom has a phalaenopsis orchid(the label says phalaenopsisxaphrodite, I don't know if that matters) that came in nothing but sphagnum moss. I'm a total rookie when it comes to plants in general(I can grow weeds and crab grass like nobodies business, though ).
Anyway, after the orchid's flower spike dried up it was cut off at the base. Then the two leaves that were on there started to wilt/wrinkle. It took a while to figure out the part about bright INDIRECT light.
Having had the two leaves wrinkling up, I did some research. We then uprooted the plant to check the roots... ugh, what a mess: hollow, mushy, brownish, squishy roots. We cut off all the ugly dead roots and were only left with a couple of thin wiry roots. It was then planted in 50/50 sphagnum/perlite. It was left like this for a long while and it began to grow a couple more leaves. The two new leaves at only about 1.5 to 2 inches seemed to stop growing and the tips started to brown or dry. So, again, we repotted, and found that there were no new roots. We repotted in 50/50 sphagnum/Better Gro Special Orchid Mix; the one with fir bark, charcoal, perlite. It's been in this much more airy mix for about a week.
My question(finally ) is:
1.Since this mix contains fir bark, I should use a fertilizer higher in Nitrogen right?
2.I've got Miracle Gro Plant Food Spikes that are 10-10-10, is this good for now?
3.Should I use ANY type of fertilizer right now, since the plant has so few roots?
4.What is the growth rate of these pretty flowers(I bough myself one, damn, I tried to fight it but I caved ), should we be seeing any growth/new growth or changesby now?
I apologize there are no pics, but I do not want to uproot the plant again and stress it out any further. I appreciate any and all help/tips/advice.
Anyway, after the orchid's flower spike dried up it was cut off at the base. Then the two leaves that were on there started to wilt/wrinkle. It took a while to figure out the part about bright INDIRECT light.
Having had the two leaves wrinkling up, I did some research. We then uprooted the plant to check the roots... ugh, what a mess: hollow, mushy, brownish, squishy roots. We cut off all the ugly dead roots and were only left with a couple of thin wiry roots. It was then planted in 50/50 sphagnum/perlite. It was left like this for a long while and it began to grow a couple more leaves. The two new leaves at only about 1.5 to 2 inches seemed to stop growing and the tips started to brown or dry. So, again, we repotted, and found that there were no new roots. We repotted in 50/50 sphagnum/Better Gro Special Orchid Mix; the one with fir bark, charcoal, perlite. It's been in this much more airy mix for about a week.
My question(finally ) is:
1.Since this mix contains fir bark, I should use a fertilizer higher in Nitrogen right?
2.I've got Miracle Gro Plant Food Spikes that are 10-10-10, is this good for now?
3.Should I use ANY type of fertilizer right now, since the plant has so few roots?
4.What is the growth rate of these pretty flowers(I bough myself one, damn, I tried to fight it but I caved ), should we be seeing any growth/new growth or changesby now?
I apologize there are no pics, but I do not want to uproot the plant again and stress it out any further. I appreciate any and all help/tips/advice.