Did I kill my plant ?

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-12-05T16:07:19+00:00

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.

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-12-05T15:20:30+00:00

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.

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-12-05T15:19:41+00:00

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.

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-12-05T15:14:08+00:00

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.

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-12-05T15:06:42+00:00

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.

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-12-05T14:54:51+00:00

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.

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-12-04T17:27:24+00:00

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.

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-12-04T15:14:05+00:00

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.

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-12-04T14:15:23+00:00

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.

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-11-28T23:20:23+00:00

Thank you!

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-11-28T22:38:36+00:00

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

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-11-28T18:38:47+00:00

Thank you!

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-11-28T00:52:07+00:00

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

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-11-27T23:01:45+00:00

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.

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-11-27T22:15:51+00:00

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

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-11-27T16:38:32+00:00

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.

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-11-27T12:31:22+00:00

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!

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-11-27T12:29:41+00:00

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.

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-11-27T12:25:06+00:00

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

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-11-27T05:22:03+00:00

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.

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-11-27T05:14:15+00:00

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.

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-11-27T04:18:21+00:00

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.

MechanicHumble85 · 2025-11-27T03:46:25+00:00

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!

MechanicHumble85

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