Kate,

You may have to do some experimentation on the proportions to match the
plants' needs and your growing conditions and watering habits.

You might want to read this:
http://www.firstrays.com/potting_media.htm

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"Kate" wrote in message
...
Hallo, Diana
Fortunately, the plant is in a transparent pot so I can see the bark. It
still looks pretty whole, and the roots that I can see amongst it look
healthy too, if rather cramped. I`m a bit worried about re-potting, as
all I have been able to get locally is a proprietary orchid mix which
feels too fine. I have bought some Hortage to mix with it, and I might
try Steve`s idea of using expanded polystyrene. However, I have
absolutely no idea of what proportions to use!

Kate

"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
Kate, it would probably be a good idea to repot while the weather is
still good. The top of the bark may look fine, but it may not be so great
down below.

Diana

"Kate" wrote in message
...

"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
.. .
Hi, Kate, & welcome!

Sounds like you have a nice, healthy Phal. If (as I assume) we are
talking about a hybrid, then it should begin to spike in the fall. TMF
is correct about the need for a change in temps. To induce spiking, the
plant should get a few weeks of a range of temps from day time to night
time of about 10-15 degrees.

Have you repotted this plant yet? What kind of medium is it in? (Sorry
for the preposition at the end!)

Diana

"Steve Wolstenholme" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 5 Sep 2007 17:59:56 -0500, "Manelli Family"
wrote:

I recently read they need a "cool" period for a few weeks to initiate
blooming. I'm going to leave mine on the porch until the nights are
in the
high 50s to early 60s ... then it's into the sunroom to await the
flowers.

The same article said they wont flower if the temperature is above 82.

I have lots of flowers on my Phalaenopsis. They are rarely without
flowers. As soon as one stem drops its flowers another stem develops.
They are kept in a window where there is no direct sun. The
temperature never gets above 70F.

Steve


Thank you for all the responses.

I live in the UK and this summer has been mostly very wet and cold,
although the conservatory, where I keep the phal (away from direct sun),
has been getting pretty warm when the sun has been out, even with all
the windows open and the blinds down. Still, some nights the
temperature in there has gone down to about 10C, but it hasn`t been
sustained. Now, we are enjoying very fine weather and the temperature
in the conservatory has been climbing into the high 20sC, with a nightly
drop to around 14-17C. It is unlikely to last long, though, and with
autumn on the way, I expect the temperature will fall and stay down.
Maybe then my phal will get its cooling down. With our weather being so
changeable, it seems difficult to maintain a controlled environment in a
domestic situation, so I guess it will flower when it`s ready...

I haven`t repotted it yet, and it is growing in very coarse bark. I
feed it once a week for three weeks, using a fertiliser with a PPK of
30-30-30, and then give it a flush through with plain water (all rain
water at room temperature, BTW) on the fourth week.

Thanks again.

Kate