First timer - need help with drooping leaves

[aliceinwl]

I was pretty cavalier about sharing water too: my plants were all long term and healthy. Then one developed a pretty serious fungal infection and I had a total “oh $&@!” moment. All of my other plants ended up being fine, but I feel like I really dodged a bullet. I stopped sharing water.

If you’re at the point where the convenience of sharing water out weighs potentially losing all your plants, it’s fine to share. With my scare, I realized I was now at a point where the emotional hit of potentially losing my plants made the extra effort involved in individual watering worth it.

With the Phal in question I wonder how light level, temperature, and humidity stack up against the original growing conditions? If light intensity has increased there could be some sunburn leading to browning or it might just be transpiring faster and needing more frequent watering.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by aliceinwl

I stopped sharing water.

Some very experienced growers (that wrote articles about their experiences) encountered the same thing. And it looks like one-time occurrence was enough for them too. Those growers now warn about exactly what you're warning about ------ which is --- avoid sharing water if possible.

Even if the orchids are common ones and easily replaceable ...... people that really care about the well-being of orchids will do what they can to avoid situations such as a bunch of orchids becoming ICU patients all of a sudden.

[Swimmingorchids]

hey alice, just out of curiosity - did you lose the affected plant?

It's good to see someone else admitting to taking a slightly more lazy approach and I am keeping my vanda's seperate from the rest at least..

It is true I do still need to encounter a bunch of problems. Like I read yesterday an orchid professional is someone who has killed a thousand orchids. So not quite there yet

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Swimmingorchids

I know Ray will cringe and cry like he does about everything I post but till I get a problem I will continue.

Totally unnecessary to be insulting, Swimmie.

If you are entitled to post poor guidance, I feel we all have the right to contradict you.

[WaterWitchin]

Good Grief. Please let's stop with the "Ray" comments SwimmingOrchids. Thought we were past that.

First, just so ya know, I'm also cringing. And agree there's no need for insults of anyone. We have new growers showing up here to learn. Having discussion about GOOD maintenance and hygiene practices between members is fine, as are differences of opinion. Getting snarky just directs the thread away from the new grower trying to learn. And may also make new member wonder what the heck they've logged into.

If you want to dunk numerous orchids into the same water, then by golly have at it. You already said yourself it's lazy and not good practice. So why suggest it to a new member of the board?

Back on topic, PLEASE.

---------- Post added at 08:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:33 AM ----------

RedRyder... I have quite a few Phals with pretty much the same setup. Phals are pretty forgiving and a good choice when getting used to taking care of a mounted plant.

I use reverse osmosis or rain water for a lot of my orchids. Some orchids really need a water source like that, as they are very sensitive to water with high levels of solids, heavy metals, chloramine, etc. "Most" phals are much more forgiving. The mounted ones I have are nice, but not in the category of special or expensive. The easiest way I water them is to hold under the sink faucet using slightly warm water (think rain temperature) and hold it there until the roots turn green. Doesn't take long. By then, the wood will have also soaked up. Then rehang until the next time it needs water. As already said... when roots get real silvery, repeat watering. In my culture and environment, I have to do that a couple of times a week. I live in USA, state of Kansas, so I doubt we have the same climate. You will have to watch your plant and adapt to your own specific environment.

It solves the problem of not sharing water, helps keep water out of the crown of a phal, etc. So another method other than dunking.

And welcome to Orchid Board!

[aliceinwl]

The problem orchid was one of my Paphiopedilum. I did an immediate repot which was over due, but the infection kept spreading. The plant had a lot of sentimental value so I looked into a systemic fungicide, but having to special order it, the quantity I’d have to buy, and reading the toxicity warnings scared me off.

It was a multi fan plant so I divided out the two healthy fans that had some separation from the infected fans and potted them separately (one small rootless fan and one with developed roots). In the end, everything connected to the infected fan died so I ended up losing about 4/5ths of the plant. I did a Kelpmax soak for the rootless fan and potted it up in an ICU and both it and the other healthy fan appear okay 5 months out. None of my other Paphs have fans to spare, so if they caught it, I’d have to try an anti fungal or lose them.

I think a lot of us have to learn the hard way. I was certainly aware that sharing water was frowned upon :-/

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by aliceinwl

so I divided out the two healthy fans

That's a definite benefit of getting some insurance or protection of treasured orchids. The idea of not putting all the eggs in the one basket.

If the dividing is done in advance (before a situation arises), it can be a huge advantage.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

That's a definite benefit of getting some insurance or protection of treasured orchids. The idea of not putting all the eggs in the one basket.

If the dividing is done in advance (before a situation arises), it can be a huge advantage.

Agreed. I've done that with a couple I'm fond of, kept two, and sent one to live with a friend as well. Surely wouldn't do it with all, but a treasured one? Heck yeah.