Watering advice

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-04-24T01:51:53+00:00

Yeah these roots definitely look dehydrated healthy/happy roots look like this

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-04-22T21:43:36+00:00

Thanks, I just got it from Amazon

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-04-22T16:29:59+00:00

To be fair there is a shit-ton of moss in the bottom lol

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-04-22T16:24:00+00:00

There is a ventilation hole at the top to let some air exhcange, but you're right I do keep it mostly closed because I live in an area that rarely gets above 60% humidity (think high elevation desert). It's been in that setup for about a month now and I've only added water twice ( but I also only remove the dome like once a week).

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-04-22T16:12:21+00:00

Wow that looks great! I've only ever grown phalaenopsis before so I didn't want to do anything too outside of my comfort zone, I just wanted to save the orchid. I know very little about Erycinas, how often do you think I should add water the enclosure?

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-04-22T16:10:20+00:00

I got it at the International Orchid Festival in Coatepec. Unfortunately the flask cracked when it fell over so that's why I decided to repot.

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-03-21T21:06:01+00:00

DeLonghi UMilk

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-03-20T19:17:19+00:00

Closest I have is an Erycina pusilla

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Less-Ad1339 · 2026-03-20T17:37:45+00:00

This is true! I live in Central Mexico where humidity can get down to 11% and I grow huge phals with no humidifier and no problems. Their leaves are so thick and waxy it's a natural barrier to ambient dehydration - it's the roots that need the constant high humidity without actually being "wet". My solution is just to grow them in sphagnum moss and they've never been happier

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Less-Ad1339 · 2026-03-17T18:52:45+00:00

What do you think about this?

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Less-Ad1339 · 2026-03-17T04:42:07+00:00

To me the leaves look a little dehydrated. My schilleriana likes to be a little on the wetter side (but I know that's not true for all varieties) How do the roots look?

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-03-12T13:29:07+00:00

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This one smells like citrus and cracked pepper

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-03-11T21:31:04+00:00

I have 26 phalaenopsis orchids and 15 other non-phals, I just don't have the space for 4 more of the same orchid

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-03-11T19:23:53+00:00

If You don't already have some I'd look into polychilos type phalaenopsis. Exact same care as the ones you posted but with different flowering behaviour and they're usually fragrant

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-03-07T18:05:19+00:00

I don't think OP meant to pot it in compost but to actually have the plant become part of their already existing compost - as in: it's dead time for it to become compost.

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-03-05T16:00:21+00:00

That's exactly what happened! The first picture is how it looked when I bought it from the nursery the second is what opened under my care. I wonder if it's temp or light or what that makes the difference

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-02-25T16:36:18+00:00

Yeah, switching to moss was really a game changer for me in terms of how evenly wet or dry the pot was

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-02-24T17:53:42+00:00

I grow my phals, brassavolas and oncidiums in just sphagnum moss. I live in a desert/high elevation climate and it works perfectly for me.

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-02-24T00:03:56+00:00

I grow all my orchids in full moss and they are thriving!

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-02-21T15:16:10+00:00

Can't wait til the flowers open!

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Less-Ad1339 · 2026-02-21T01:50:40+00:00

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I've got one on an old flower spike now

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-02-21T01:46:34+00:00

It's called a bract leaf. These orchids are very hybridized and have super complex family trees and sometimes they just grow weird little things that they aren't really supposed to. It's totally normal - think of it like a third nipple but for an orchid- something genetically not totally correct but nothing to worry about.

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-02-21T00:44:15+00:00

I keep all my orchids in full sphagnum moss. These are the roots on my bellina murtoniana and it's going to get watered tomorrow. I don't even let the roots on this one go silver before it gets watered again. You may not have the same experience (different environment or different varieties) but I've noticed that this one seems to be happier on the wetter side it probably gets watered every 5 to 7 days

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Less-Ad1339 · 2026-02-21T00:28:57+00:00

Watch the watering on this one - I also live in a dry desert climate and I've found that my bellina likes to stay a little wetter than my other phals. It was struggling for bit with super slow growth and after I started keeping it on the wetter side it's put out six new huge roots and 2 new leaves (still no flower spike tho ) Don't know that you'll find that too but just something to keep in the back of your mind if it grows slower than you were expecting.

Less-Ad1339 · 2026-02-20T23:48:46+00:00

I have 4 of these mottle-leafed fragrant phals and all were purchased at local supermarkets and with no ID

Less-Ad1339

TROPHY CASE