"K Barrett" wrote in message
news:BshJb.725036$Tr4.1833038@attbi_s03...
Wow, 40 cm! That *seems* long, doesn't it?
Sometimes in low light conditions leaves grow large in order to collect
more
light. So you'd have to look at the color of the leaf. If its a lush green
then that's not right. The leaves should be somehwhat lighter. Grass
green
rather than houseplant (philodendron) green.
Thanks. Yup, I probably do have a minor light problem--none of my phals is
downright fiorest green or anything, but they are darker than grass. Ummm...
I guess they look a bit like the green bits on my Golden Queen Pothos, here.
Sadly, this is a run-down old Amsterdam apartment, and these guys can't go
back into the bedroom, due to low temperatures, until spring. That's where
all the light is, and it should be the living room, but we have a bone to
pick with whoever designed this place.
Sometimes mature phal leaves actually are 40 cm long. Depends on the
plant's parentage. Some of the classic white phals can get leaves that big
on a mature plant, so don't worry.
OK, excellent. I've been trying to build up a little variety here, and this
one looks good next to the one with the long, spiky leaves.
Also, remember orchids can sulk and can take a year to acclimate to its
new
surroundings. So again, don't worry. It may just be getting used to you.
I know. I got impatient. Thank you.
Additionally, remember most phals only bloom once a year and at the same
time of the year.
Yup, I know this. I'm not one of these people who thinks the only living,
or, for that matter, attractive plant is a blooming one, and I study
everything I get to the point of obscession. (Then come on here and ask for
help sorting the information!)
But I think you'd see a new root pretty soon in response to
the repot (next 1-2 months).
That'd please me no end!
Orchids aren't like regular houseplants. They
have minds of their own. You won't see immediate results. You have to
learn
patience.
You're confusing lack of knowledge with lack of patience. I'm not surprised
to learn it's not a surprise it hasn't turned around yet--but I didn't know
for sure and wanted to try to do something before it was too late, if it was
going to get to be too late.
Treat it consistently, it will learn its new regimen and respond.
Thanks. This I will do.
Which brings up another thing. Diurnal fluctuation (I love that word).
Remember that any phal needs at least a 10 degree (F) difference between
daytime high temps and nightime low temps in order to bloom. You can't
keep
it at 70F all year long and expect it to bloom. It won't do it. Set you
home's thermostat to be no less than 60(F) at night (for while you are
snug
in bed asleep), and 72(F) or so during the day (while you are up and
around)
and you'll be comfortable and so will your plant.
Eeehm... we don't have a thermostat. Only the living room is heated, with
that heat expected to filter over to my husband's office and a tiny bit into
the bathroom, and we just have to crank the gas heater up until we feel warm
enough. Then we turn it off late at night, go to bed in the freezing room,
and turn the heater on again in the morning. I'd bet the room doesn't get
below 40 (Fahrenheit, obviously) at night even when it's several degrees
below zero (Celsius, of course) outside, and it doesn't get above 70 or so
in here by day. So the fluctuation is there--it jsut fluctuates a bit far, I
guess. I've been thinking of trying these guys out in big bell jars, but
can't afford to get the jars.
You say the original owner cut the roots flush with the pot's edge. Were
those only the aerial roots? Or the ones in the pot too? If only the
aerial
roots don't sweat it. The ones in the pot make up for them.
Shopkeeper. Yes. This was the aerial ones, any that so much as peeked over
the edge, and any that grew through the slits in the bottom of the
desperately overcrowded pot. Roots in there had suffocated each other, it
looked like, it was so crowded in there. I saw that once in a ficus someone
had left in a tiny pot forEVER, but in that case those roots had even
*strangled* each other, up at the tree end, in spots.
As Ray says too much fertilizer can be too much of a good thing. Make sure
you are using it at 1/2 the strength the manufacturer recommends on the
label.
That much I know! Thanks.
Do all that and you'll be up to your neck in blooms this time next year.
Thanks! Nice! It's not the flowers I was so concerned about, so's you
know--I like the foliage too. I just wanted to make sure the thing isn't at
death's door! I stand reassured!
Thank you,
Katrina
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