New to Orchids, what am I doing wrong with this one?

[jozEwales]

I am very new to orchids and bought 2 that were on sale. One is thriving, the other not so much. I water them the same and they are on the same table. I know they lose their flowers, but I’m not sure if that’s what this one is doing or if there is a bigger issue.

[SouthPark]

Just check the bark to see if the bark is very dry. If the bark you bought is super dry - or very dry to begin with, then that dry bark requires a fair bit of wetting (or soaking) in order to get them wet/moist enough.

Otherwise, using dry bark and then watering the dry bark ------ often has the same effect as water running off a duck's back. Runs straight off the bark surface, then through the pot, then out of the drainage holes. And the media doesn't become moist enough to support the orchid's roots etc. So an orchid can end up dehydrating.

But - also, pots having enough drainage holes at the bottom of the pot --- is beneficial too. So check to see if the pot has adequate drainage.

And orchids having regular roots that aren't adapted to watery conditions need to be cared for appropriately ------ as in to avoid having the media too wet for relatively long periods of time - to avoid root drowning. And also avoid cold and wet conditions inside the pot and maybe even outside the pot too (for relatively long periods of time).

[Shadeflower]

hi joze,
they both look in roughly the same condition to me.
You cannot use flowering as a judge of health!
You have to look at the overall condition of the plant, how floppy leaves are, how firm the roots are and other signs.
The more you learn what to look out for the better you will be able to look after them so I've added a few care guides for you to browse:

Phalaenopsis Orchid Care: Complete Guide For Beginners - Orchideria

How Often Should You Water Phalaenopsis Orchids? - Orchideria

10 Tips that help Orchids recover from shock! - Orchid Tips for Beginners - YouTube

more in-depth advanced discussion:

Let's Talk: Phalaenopsis Care | Advanced Discussion & Tips | Watering, Fertilising, Light & Growth - YouTube

[jozEwales]

Thank you both so much! I’ll read the material and watch the videos sometime today.

I just looked at the bark closer and the top part looks dry but when I pull the clear pot out of the other the very bottom looks damp at least still. The bottom of the pot had condensation.

As far as drainage holes go, I think there are plenty. Looking at it closer from the bottom I do see a root that appears soft looking so would that one have had too much water?

[estación seca]

What are your growing conditions? Temperatures day/night? Humidity? What kind of light are they getting? How are you watering?

[Cntry]

Phals love to be moist but not wet all the time. They like warmer weather conditions 70 to 80 degree's. with a 10 degree drop at night if possible. They also need to be away from direct sun. In a window use a sheer curtain to protect the leaves from burning. Humidity is best over 50% as the love that moisture. Feed your Phals weak weekly when they are in the growing stage. That means half strength so if it is 1 teaspoon for gal use a half teaspoon to the gallon of water your using if not a 1/4 of a teaspoon to start with then go to the 1/2 tsp as we don't know if they ever had fertilizer before.
Now for the difference in your flowers on your orchid falling we don't know how long its been in full bloom so dont worry to much about that at this point. You mostly want to make sure your roots are fine your bark is fresh and your watering and feeding your orchid just right. Blooms can come later after you learn how to make it happy. Mushy roots may need to be cut away when you repot it. You want nice plump roots that will turn a greenish when you water them. You will see they go from a whitish color to a greenish. To tell if your orchid is ok with water use a wooden skewer and put it in the pot. Leave it there and when you think its time to water pull the skewer up and see if there is moisture on the skewer. If its real wet leave it for another day or two. If its almost totally dry its time to water. Good luck with your new orchids.