Something wrong with my phalaenopsis!!!!

Ok what happened my boyfriends grandma gave me her phalaenopsis that her grandaughter bought her for easter, because she was afraid she would kill it. Well heres the crazy part I took it out of the pot to evaluate the roots, and there were five packing peanuts in the bottom. I didn't know what that was about. Every second hand plant I get I check out every inch of the plant. I have never seen or heard of using styrofoam. the roots had grown though the styrofoam and died and it needed transplanted very bad. so I'm pretty sure I fixed everything. My question is what was the styrofoam doing in there. Oh and there are strange brown and yellow spots on the leaves I just thought that was from the lack of care. So if anyone has any advice I would like that very much.
Thanks,
Laurie

Whoever potted it up the last time probably put the peanuts in there thinking it would help drainage. It actually hurts rather than helps if you put a drainage layer in your pots, but it's a pretty widespread practice anyway. Styrofoam may not be the most common thing to use, but it's certainly not unheard of. As far as the brown spots...hard to say for sure what they are without a picture, but I suspect the best thing you can do is take care of the poor plant like it sounds like you're already doing and hopefully it'll get healthy again.

Thank you I certainly will. I have high hopes for this one I think I got it just in time. I wonder where she bought it because it was over watered but I'm pretty sure I got it out and into another pot in time I will keep you updated. Thanks again.

Phalaenopsis orchids are an epiphytic orchid...which means they grow naturally on the trunks or branches of trees, in their native environment.

They don't grow is "soil" per se. Rather, they grown in humus and organic matter and their roots do their breathing and water abosrption, (like most plants) but, they do not like being "buried" in soil.

I hope you didn't use potting soil, which is too water retentive and will probably kill your plant.

Those peanuts were there for a specific reason.

Orchid bark from a nursery is the best medium for these orchids, since it emulates what they grow in in the wild...which is why the styrofaom peanuts were there in the first place...to allow the roots to breathe..so the peanuts were the RIGHT thing to do. In the wild, these roots would attach themselves to the tree truck or limbs, and thus not make contact with soil. Orchid bark simulates the natural growing medium and provides the needed humus as it decomposes, yet drains excellently.

The spots on the leaves may either be from sunburn or water that settled on the foliage. It's best not to let the foliage get wet when you water .

Try posting this query in the orchid forum for more complete info.

NO I did not plant it in soil it was planted in orchid mix, with wood chips and even alittle bit of Sphagnum. Come on give me alittle credit!

The only reason I mentioned the orchid bark vs. soil was because this was posted in the "beginner flowers" forum.

I am sorry for getting so mean about it but I'm not a paying member and I come here for advice and this is the only forum I feel comfortable in. And so I am sorry for getting so defensive. I really am.
Laurie

Laurie, styrofoam has been used for drainage in orchid pots since I've been growing orchids (which is before the invention of styrofoam). It's a great medium for drainage with orchids for all the reasons JasperDale explained. Phalaenopsis like moisture, but are especially particular about good air circulation around their roots. As the roots start heading for the bottom of the pot, and there is bark all the way down, they will quickly rot if they can't breath. Your bark will break down from the bottom up, so while it looks chunky on top, it will look like solid compost below after a time. Orchids don't require the organic benefits of the growing medium as other terrestrial plants would. JD gave good basic orchid information (and I don't know him). I've never been to this area of DG, but am here because a member asked the Orchid Forum folks to help another poster. I can tell you that the Orchid Forum folks are very knowledgeable and friendly if you decide to become a member. Best with your Phal...
Laurel

So is it bad to put the styrofoam in the bottom. I mean you really have to know what your doing. The phals root grow though it and were constricted. It just didn't seem right.

people have used styrofoam for years as a drainage method in pots, you can either leave it in large chunks to help use up space while using a really large pot, or break it into small bits for much smaller pots, it allows air in, helps with drainage and also acts as an insulator in frosty weather if you have to leave large plants outdoors, it's a good way to recycle the stuff too, when roots do grow through the foam, it is very easy to snap it in half leaving the roots still healthy, I have lots of large pots with plants in them outdoors and if I were to fill these pots with drainage stones or all soil, I would need a crane to lift them, so it has it's uses for gardeners, for adding to orchid soil, you can also cut up old sponges you use in your bathroom so long as you chop them into say half inch size and make sure there are no chemicals in the sponge like from shampoo etc, recycling is the way to go. good luck. WeeNel.

Really sponges?! I would save money on orchid mix, but how long can it stay in the pot? Its crazy that I keep asking about all this, I mean this is what I'm going to go to college for, to be a botanist. gotta learn somewhere. What types of orchids can i use this with?

Based on what a few of the orchid experts said above, it sounded like the styrofoam in the orchid mix was OK. But I would never do it with other types of plants--tapla has a great thread in the container gardening forum that explains water movement in containers, if you put in a so-called "drainage layer" you're actually increasing the probability that your roots will sit in water due to the "perched water table". Anytime you have a container, there's going to be a little layer of potting mix at the bottom that is always wetter than the rest of the container (the size of the layer can vary depending on your pot and what sort of potting mix you have, but it's always there) If your plants' roots don't reach down into that wet layer then there's no issue, but if you put in styrofoam or pot shards or whatever into the bottom several inches of your pot, then put soil on top, the bottom layer of soil is still going to be too wet, and now your plant's roots are much more likely to be sitting in that wet layer.

Ecrane, styrofoam should not be placed in the orchid mix, only as a layer at the bottom of the pot. For a 6" pot, several inches works well, for a 4" pot, just one layer. Be careful that the packing pellets are styrofoam and not the newer cornstarch pellets that melt. If in doubt, test by placing a few in water before using in your pot.

Most orchids are not like terrestrial plants and should not be compared unless they are terrestrial orchids. Styrofoam, not being able to absorb water and creating lots of air pockets at the bottom of the pot, allows the roots to breathe. These roots normally dangle in the air or scramble around rocks and bases of trees. An added benefit of styrofoam is that as the organic medium breaks down, it flushes out around the styrofoam more readily rather than compacting around the orchid's roots. We used to rely on crocking (broken terracotta), but the downside is that it absorbs the salts from fertilizer and can burn roots. It's fine if you repot frequently.

I have grown Oncidiums (Equitants) mounted on luffa sponges before as a personal experiment, but have not tried regular sponges. This might work well for orchids that never want to be totally dry, but for those that are used to a tropical afternoon thundershower and then a brisk drying off in an evening breeze, well I don't have experience here WeeNel.

Laurie, the care is not that complicated, but it may take a little time to "tweak" things. The only thing I can add is don't get water in the center, or heart, of the plant as this causes rotting and then you can surely add your effort to the compost pile. We have all done this BTW :).

Laurel