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#1
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Phal. newby ???
I got a phal at my local OS about 6 mo ago. I live in the San Fernando
Valley (Los Angeles, only hotter). Everything was stable, even sprouted a new and hefty root. I mounted it and moved it to my patio where it gets bright shade for long periods. Been pretty hot here lately 100F to 105F by 2pm. The other day I noticed that the lowest of 4 tiers of leaves had turned brown and withered. I figured, well, ok I read that some Orchids are desiduous. No worries, but now only about 5 days later the next tier (2 leaves) are doing the same. As a precaution I moved it back inside. Everything else seems healthy, the roots and the other leaves have good color and feel. So is this normal desiduous behavior or is it just too blinkin hot. I mist the moss daily in the am, sometimes twice. BTW there are 4 other mounted orchids of various types on the patio in a group, seem to be fine. Got $.02 for me? Jack |
#2
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While phals can withstand the high temperatures, they need shade and a lot
of humidity and constant moisture to do so. Misting in the morning is WAY too little moisture. -- Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info! .. "Roman Terps" wrote in message ... I got a phal at my local OS about 6 mo ago. I live in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles, only hotter). Everything was stable, even sprouted a new and hefty root. I mounted it and moved it to my patio where it gets bright shade for long periods. Been pretty hot here lately 100F to 105F by 2pm. The other day I noticed that the lowest of 4 tiers of leaves had turned brown and withered. I figured, well, ok I read that some Orchids are desiduous. No worries, but now only about 5 days later the next tier (2 leaves) are doing the same. As a precaution I moved it back inside. Everything else seems healthy, the roots and the other leaves have good color and feel. So is this normal desiduous behavior or is it just too blinkin hot. I mist the moss daily in the am, sometimes twice. BTW there are 4 other mounted orchids of various types on the patio in a group, seem to be fine. Got $.02 for me? Jack |
#3
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As a fellow Californian in the great central valley I can tell you that its
way too dry for a phal to be mounted outside in California. We just don't have the ambient humidity to support life like that. And as you correctly note: its just too dang hot, too. Your friends closer to the coast with its humidity may be able to grow these mounted outside, but you in the SFV can't. (notice Rands orchids and Zuma Canyon orchids are on the Malibu coast. They aren't there for the view.) You'll have better success if you put it back in its pot where the potting medium can give mosture and humidity back to the plant's roots (and hence to the plant) on a consistent basis. That your other orchids are doing fine doesn't apply to all orchids. Case selection determines results. Laelia anceps, for example is found in nature growing on cactus. Many oncidiums found in Mexico do well dry. Santa Barbara Orchid Estate (google it) has a nice list of several very neat orchids, hybrids and species, that can be grown outside, some easliy, some with some effort. Their list will give you ideas on plants to experiment with if you want to grow orchids on your patio, and not just boring pool plants like cymbidiums or epidendrums.. K Barrett "Roman Terps" wrote in message ... I got a phal at my local OS about 6 mo ago. I live in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles, only hotter). Everything was stable, even sprouted a new and hefty root. I mounted it and moved it to my patio where it gets bright shade for long periods. Been pretty hot here lately 100F to 105F by 2pm. The other day I noticed that the lowest of 4 tiers of leaves had turned brown and withered. I figured, well, ok I read that some Orchids are desiduous. No worries, but now only about 5 days later the next tier (2 leaves) are doing the same. As a precaution I moved it back inside. Everything else seems healthy, the roots and the other leaves have good color and feel. So is this normal desiduous behavior or is it just too blinkin hot. I mist the moss daily in the am, sometimes twice. BTW there are 4 other mounted orchids of various types on the patio in a group, seem to be fine. Got $.02 for me? Jack |
#4
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Jack, Phals like warm weather, but when it gets hot, they need to be
protected from the sun, and the roots like to be misted. Misting in the AM is not enough for Phals in such heat. I dunk all my mounted phals into water and let them sit for approximately 10=15 minutes every morning (unless it rains). And even when it rains, if the forcast calls for dry afternoon, I water the mounted Phals. I suspect that yours are dying of thirst and got a bit of sun burn! Mariana "Roman Terps" wrote in message ... I got a phal at my local OS about 6 mo ago. I live in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles, only hotter). Everything was stable, even sprouted a new and hefty root. I mounted it and moved it to my patio where it gets bright shade for long periods. Been pretty hot here lately 100F to 105F by 2pm. The other day I noticed that the lowest of 4 tiers of leaves had turned brown and withered. I figured, well, ok I read that some Orchids are desiduous. No worries, but now only about 5 days later the next tier (2 leaves) are doing the same. As a precaution I moved it back inside. Everything else seems healthy, the roots and the other leaves have good color and feel. So is this normal desiduous behavior or is it just too blinkin hot. I mist the moss daily in the am, sometimes twice. BTW there are 4 other mounted orchids of various types on the patio in a group, seem to be fine. Got $.02 for me? Jack |
#5
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Thanks everybody. I think I caught the damage in time to save the plant.
Jack "Roman Terps" wrote in message ... I got a phal at my local OS about 6 mo ago. I live in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles, only hotter). Everything was stable, even sprouted a new and hefty root. I mounted it and moved it to my patio where it gets bright shade for long periods. Been pretty hot here lately 100F to 105F by 2pm. The other day I noticed that the lowest of 4 tiers of leaves had turned brown and withered. I figured, well, ok I read that some Orchids are desiduous. No worries, but now only about 5 days later the next tier (2 leaves) are doing the same. As a precaution I moved it back inside. Everything else seems healthy, the roots and the other leaves have good color and feel. So is this normal desiduous behavior or is it just too blinkin hot. I mist the moss daily in the am, sometimes twice. BTW there are 4 other mounted orchids of various types on the patio in a group, seem to be fine. Got $.02 for me? Jack |
#6
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Thanks everybody. I think I caught the damage in time to save the plant.
Jack "Roman Terps" wrote in message ... I got a phal at my local OS about 6 mo ago. I live in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles, only hotter). Everything was stable, even sprouted a new and hefty root. I mounted it and moved it to my patio where it gets bright shade for long periods. Been pretty hot here lately 100F to 105F by 2pm. The other day I noticed that the lowest of 4 tiers of leaves had turned brown and withered. I figured, well, ok I read that some Orchids are desiduous. No worries, but now only about 5 days later the next tier (2 leaves) are doing the same. As a precaution I moved it back inside. Everything else seems healthy, the roots and the other leaves have good color and feel. So is this normal desiduous behavior or is it just too blinkin hot. I mist the moss daily in the am, sometimes twice. BTW there are 4 other mounted orchids of various types on the patio in a group, seem to be fine. Got $.02 for me? Jack |
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