Solutions for underwatering...

[Ordphien]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Do you use skewers?

Yes. That's normally how I know it's bone dry lol.
Sometimes the pot weighs next to nothing though.

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[Ordphien]

There was a lull in the tree dismantling.
So I snapped some photos.
First up my two dendrobiums
Potted in bark. The media is dry in day. And I honestly just don't water them everyday.

The canes are extremely shriveled, the leaves are dropping, the roots are desiccated.




My oncidiums hate me but I think I might be doing better with them.
In desperation I stuck one in a phal planter and it actually grew a tiny psuedobulb and roots. Which I consider a success.
But I'm still very open to suggestions with these guys.
Wrinkled psuedobulbs. Accordion leaves. Desiccated roots.
These were in bark, but got replanted in half bark half sphag recently. They perked up since.




Same story with a brassia.


My zygos are handling it better than the oncidiums but still not great.

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[isurus79]

As said previously, s/h would be a great way to prevent this type of underwatering. I'm curious though, why didn't you just switch your plants to spag?

[quiltergal]

Those Dendrobiums are nobile type. They need a hard cold winter rest to bloom in the spring. You are supposed to stop watering them starting at Halloween, and resume watering after Valentines day. The oldest canes will drop their leaves, and the canes themselves will start to wrinkle. So I think you have been unintentionally giving them their winter rest.

[WhiteRabbit]

Most Oncidiums and Onc alliance intergeneric hybrids do not want to dry out.

Check them more often- at least every couple days til you get a feel for how long they can go between waterings. (But remember that changes in temps, weather, seasons will affect how quickly media dries) Or, just check them daily.

Set reminders on cell phone if you have one - and/or set reminders on your computer

[Ordphien]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Those Dendrobiums are nobile type. They need a hard cold winter rest to bloom in the spring. You are supposed to stop watering them starting at Halloween, and resume watering after Valentines day. The oldest canes will drop their leaves, and the canes themselves will start to wrinkle. So I think you have been unintentionally giving them their winter rest.

I know lol. But I was trying not to give them a winters rest
this year.
This is me trying to grow them!

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Most Oncidiums and Onc alliance intergeneric hybrids do not want to dry out.

Check them more often- at least every couple days til you get a feel for how long they can go between waterings. (But remember that changes in temps, weather, seasons will affect how quickly media dries) Or, just check them daily.

Set reminders on cell phone if you have one - and/or set reminders on your computer

I've noticed. I upped the anti with watering on my straight oncidiums, I'm never letting them dry out and do far the new growth is responding positively.

My friend just bought me a calender for Christmas. Specifically for a watering schedule. I need to break it out.

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[NYCorchidman]

Yep, looking through your pictures, your plants are suffering severe underwatering.

I make a note on my phone what plants are watered when. Then I check the weight of the pots in about 4-5 days later depending on how the weather has been, plant type, and the type of potting mix they are in.

This helpe me when to water, otherwise, I forget as well. so many plants. lol

When you water, spend some time to really soak them. It helps plants to absorb water than to just pour water once through.

If you soak them good every say, 4 or 5 days, some of the wrinkled plants may recover a little bit.

Also, try using more moisture retaining mix as others suggest like moss.
You can water much less often, although root rot can be an issue but as long as you do not pack in the moss, it should not be an issue.

[Ordphien]

Originally Posted by isurus79

As said previously, s/h would be a great way to prevent this type of underwatering. I'm curious though, why didn't you just switch your plants to spag?

Because sphag by itself dries extremely
quickly for me.

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Yep, looking through your pictures, your plants are suffering severe underwatering.

I make a note on my phone what plants are watered when. Then I check the weight of the pots in about 4-5 days later depending on how the weather has been, plant type, and the type of potting mix they are in.

This helpe me when to water, otherwise, I forget as well. so many plants. lol

When you water, spend some time to really soak them. It helps plants to absorb water than to just pour water once through.

If you soak them good every say, 4 or 5 days, some of the wrinkled plants may recover a little bit.

Also, try using more moisture retaining mix as others suggest like moss.
You can water much less often, although root rot can be an issue but as long as you do not pack in the moss, it should not be an issue.

Hmm... It seems I'll just have to suck it up and water more.... Which still be hard lol.



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[NYCorchidman]

Try coconut husk chips which holds water quite good and then top dress with moss.

Utilize your phone if you have a smart phone.
If not, why don't you try a large calendar and mark on it. different color for different genera since they have different watering needs.

[Ordphien]

That's a good idea...
I think I'll give it a whirl with a few of my moisture loving orchids. That are dying.

At least some of my orchids are thriving..

I'll use a calendar. I dislike using my phone for those things because it puts a little symbol in the bar up top and it drives me nuts.


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