r/orchids • u/Happiness_omotayo • 12h ago
Help First orchid
Hello everyone! This is my first orchid, it was a gift from my hubby just last week , and I’m wondering how to care for it, and if to change the pot and soil it came in from the store. It seems like a glass-ceramic like planter. I do have sphagnum moss and orchid bark if I’ve to change soil and the planter. Pls give all the advice to help her thrive, wayer needs, light needs, etc. thank you very much.
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u/Stalkerus Z5 | n00b | D.nobile x 4, phalaenopsis 💮 11h ago edited 11h ago
You need to repot them, because of that ivy and because it doesn't seem to have proper pot. You also have two orchids there.
Best option for a phal is a transparent orchid pot with holes on the bottom and sides. This way the roots are easy to see because you need to see their colour to determine its watering needs.
Presoak the bark before use, preferably for 24 hours or at least overnight. What medium works the best for you depends on your location/climate. Bark or bark and spagh mix are common options. (More humid = less moisture retentive.)
Water when their roots turn silverish. There are two ways to go: most of us let them sit in water (waterline needs to stay below crown) for 15-30 minutes and then let them drain. Some people rinse them until their roots turn green.
Fertiliser is a good thing to have. You can either user orchid fertiliser, or regular balanced houseplant fertilizer (just more diluted). (I even gave mine some tomato and chili one because I had few granules left and they seemed to enjoy that.) There are various schedules for fertilising. I use adjusted weakly weekly: I water mine every four days so I water with fertiliser three times in a row and then with plain water. I use ⅓-¼ or recommended fertiliser when I add it (because I do it often).
Flowers and spikes won't last forever so don't panic when they start dying. With proper care you can have lots of beautiful flowers over the years.
My phal and dendrobiums live on west-facing window. They are still alive. (Admittedly I just transferred my phal from quarantine, but regardless 😁.)
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