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Orchid leading to the side

Discussion in 'Everything Else Orchid' started by CoolOrchid, Dec 2, 2018.

  1. Dec 2, 2018 #1
    CoolOrchid

    CoolOrchid New Member

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    I use a stake to keep the orchid straight up, but it keeps leading to the side. I think the soil is too soft. Any tips to keep these straight up?
     
  2. Dec 3, 2018 #2
    carl

    carl Active Member

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    Location:
    Sooutheastern Pencilvania
    More information please: What kind of orchid, how positioned with relation to light source, what do you mean by soil?
     
  3. Dec 3, 2018 #3
    CoolOrchid

    CoolOrchid New Member

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    I have phalaenopsis. The soil is peat moss mixed with perlite. It is sitting next to the windows. I recently bough this orchid and most of the root are gone and rotted. The stem is sorted tip to the side. I have a hard to keep it straight in vertical position.
     
  4. Dec 3, 2018 #4
    Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

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    Location:
    Oak Island NC
    That is likely a pretty poor potting medium for a phalaenopsis, as they are tree-dwelling epiphytes in nature, and not terrestrial plants. The key to successfully growing them is to make sure that, in addition to plenty of water, the roots must get plenty of air, as well (these epiphytes do a good amount of their respiratory gas exchange through the roots, rather than leaves, as is the case with terrestrial plants; root rot is often caused by suffocation).

    Many growers use bark, sphagnum, or a mixture for phalaenopsis, and you can place skewers stuck in the potting medium on either side of the plant to hold it upright while it grows new roots.
     
  5. Dec 3, 2018 #5
    CoolOrchid

    CoolOrchid New Member

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    How much water to add on bark? Will it dry up very fast?
     
  6. Dec 4, 2018 #6
    carl

    carl Active Member

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    I've seen phalaenopsis grown well in a peat-based mix, but:

    * Not in a greenhouse, only on windowsill

    * Not heavily watered - that kind of mix is only going to need water every several weeks, often times. Too much water will kill the roots, as Ray indicates.

    Finally, phalaenopsis often tend to grow on a diagonal slant. It's not necessarily a sign of trouble. Mine rescues do, and they have vigorous roots in either bark or sphagnum/sponge-roc. (They just get too much light to flower well...)