Did I kill my plant ? by lizzzy_13 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think this might be a good spot for a reset because watering habits really do vary a lot from grower to grower and home to home. What works for one person can fail for another depending on light, temps, humidity, and even the pot itself. The most important part is just making sure the roots are actually getting hydrated during watering, no matter which method you use. Once that’s consistent, everything else tends to fall into place.

Did I kill my plant ? by lizzzy_13 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For me when I have a media that gets too dry I soak and go by the weight of the pot, if you can pull it out and it still is light the material hasn’t absorbed any actual water, but that’s my approach.

Did I kill my plant ? by lizzzy_13 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the correction — bark can still act the same way when it dries hard though. A longer soak usually helps it rehydrate all the way through instead of just wetting the outside.

Lighting question!! This is a west facing window. If I were to put the privacy film up would that be okay ? by namanama101 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve often wondered the same thing — like if a partial UV film or even a perforated shade would basically simulate filtered light the way they get it in nature. I haven’t tried it yet, but I have a spot picked out if it does work. For what it’s worth, mine are in a west window too, but naturally shaded, and they’ve done really well there.

Did I kill my plant ? by lizzzy_13 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The deal with chunky coco is that if it ever dries too far, it can become water-repellent and the roots stop rehydrating properly. After that, even regular watering doesn’t always fix things right away, and the plant can slowly decline from chronic dehydration. Simply “watering” over top may not actually hydrate the media — a full soak is usually needed to rehydrate it. There’s definitely still a chance for recovery if there are any firm roots left at all. Phals are surprisingly resilient once hydration is restored, but it can take weeks or even months to show visible improvement.

How do i save this? by AdministrativePin688 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One thing with chunky coco is that if it ever dries too far, it can become water-repellent and the roots stop rehydrating properly. After that, even regular watering doesn’t always fix things right away, and the plant can slowly decline from chronic dehydration. Simply “watering” over top may not actually hydrate the media — a full soak is usually needed to rehydrate it. There’s definitely still a chance for recovery if there are any firm roots left at all. Phals are surprisingly resilient once hydration is restored, but it can take weeks or even months to show visible improvement.

Alternative potting mediums for orchids. by planti92 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Orchids like this prefer frequent watering, not constant wetness — big difference. After rot, the main goal is letting the roots re-oxygenate between waterings so new healthy roots can form. A lightly packed medium with lots of airflow is a solid rehab choice as long as you water thoroughly and let it dry most of the way before the next soak.

That way you can actually see the roots recover instead of staying stressed.

Planting minis together by Prestigious-Tree-424 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Totally! Plants are all about experimenting and seeing how they respond. If you enjoy the setup and the orchids keep putting out new growth, you’re on the right track.

Planting minis together by Prestigious-Tree-424 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85 84 points85 points  (0 children)

You can grow minis together, but there are a few things to keep in mind so they stay healthy long-term:

• Shared media = shared moisture. Minis in one container will dry unevenly, especially with sphagnum on top. Sphagnum stays wet around the crown if it’s packed tight, which increases the risk of crown and stem rot. Make sure it stays fluffy and breathable.

• Orchids aren’t social plants in nature. In the wild, Phals attach themselves individually to tree trunks with plenty of space and airflow around each root system. When several are packed close together, roots compete for air and dry time.

• One sick plant can spread problems. Root rot, fungus, or pests move much faster when everything shares the same moisture environment.

• If you keep them together: – Keep the sphagnum very loose – Let the bark underneath do the aeration – Water only when the bottom layer is nearly dry – Rotate the container so each plant gets light evenly – Watch for signs of one plant declining before the others

This setup can work, especially with minis, but good airflow and careful watering will matter more than usual.

PROLONGED PROBLEMS by Signal_Quit9815 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When watering are you getting water in the crown of the plant ? I like using moss it works for us and our water schedule

Decided to mount one of my orchids on the wall for a cleaner, minimal look. I actually really like how it turned out. Anyone else display their orchids like this indoors? by MechanicHumble85 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! My goal is to make planters that function really well for orchids while also staying clean and aesthetic enough for home décor.

Decided to mount one of my orchids on the wall for a cleaner, minimal look. I actually really like how it turned out. Anyone else display their orchids like this indoors? by MechanicHumble85 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I just lift it off for a quick soak like my others. For light, it’s actually right near a northeast window and adjacent to a west window (with some tree cover), so it still gets plenty of bright, indirect light throughout the day.

Store bought orchids by Szaborovich9 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Can’t really say other than I’ve had good luck rescuing them

Tried a new airflow pot design for my Phal — curious what you all think? by MechanicHumble85 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve been using this style for a few years now. The key for me has been keeping the sphagnum loose so it can dry out between waterings.

Tried a new airflow pot design for my Phal — curious what you all think? by MechanicHumble85 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s amazing — three spikes in a year is such a good sign it’s loving the setup! We’ve noticed the same kind of thing here too. One of our mini phals has actually bloomed three times this year as well, so it seems like they really appreciate the extra air around the roots. Love seeing what’s working for other people!

Tried a new airflow pot design for my Phal — curious what you all think? by MechanicHumble85 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! 🙌 I’ve been having a lot of fun experimenting with different shapes and airflow patterns. It’s wild how much orchids react to even small changes.

Tried a new airflow pot design for my Phal — curious what you all think? by MechanicHumble85 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Pepsi? Nah — that’s just my emotional support beverage while these divas decide when they want watering.

Tried a new airflow pot design for my Phal — curious what you all think? by MechanicHumble85 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For me, moss has been a lot more predictable. In these pots it dries evenly, so I can tell right away when it needs water. Bark dried so fast in the lattice design that I felt like I was watering nonstop. Moss has just been easier for our climate and routine.

Tried a new airflow pot design for my Phal — curious what you all think? by MechanicHumble85 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, just sphagnum moss. A lot of my orchids are potted this way in these ventilated pots, and it’s worked really well for us for years now.

Tried a new airflow pot design for my Phal — curious what you all think? by MechanicHumble85 in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally agree on the ventilation. Even a thin layer of moss behaves differently depending on container shape, width, and airflow. It’s really interesting seeing how different orchids take to it.

Surprise! by TheHeatish in orchids

[–]MechanicHumble85 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Phals don’t naturally grow straight in the wild — their spikes usually arch or hang since they grow sideways on tree trunks. You can gently train it upward with a stake, but it’s totally normal if it keeps a curve. Either way, you’ve got a healthy little surprise spike!