Newby Needs Help - Orchid Board

Rhiannon · #1 07-08-2008, 10:46 AM

First problem.
My husband got 4 orchids from his sister. Who got them from their grandmother's house when she died. This was a 3 or 4 years ago. His sister got them 6 or 7 years before. My SIL thinks that that their grandmother got these plants sometime around late '60's or the '70's.
1 died of neglect. Second died from being potted in soil and from too much attention. We were able to save the last 2.
I did figure out that they're Miltonians. But we don't know which ones. They've never bloomed. Not in the whole time my SIL had them. Not since we've had them. My husband thinks that he remembers that they might be white in color. But his grandmothers yard was a veritable jungle, so he could be thinking of another plant.

Second problem.
I rescued a Golden Elf (cym) from the local garden center. I've given 2 kinds of orchid food. While I was watering it. Ants came out. I think that I got them before they could settle a nest.
The stem where the flower was is as dry as a stick. (That's why I wanted to rescue it.) And 3 or 4 of the roots that are out have a black and dry look to them.

Any suggestions?
Thank you for any help you can give.

Royal · #2 07-08-2008, 01:27 PM

#1 It'll be impossible to ID it without flowers. Post a few pics of the plant just to be sure of the genus. Then you'll be able to give it the right conditions for that variety. If it's been around that long, but hasn't bloomed, I'd guess it is not getting enough light. Just a guess though.

#2 It sounds like an old flower spike. If it is dry you can go ahead and cut it. Cymbidiums won't rebloom on old spikes. Any roots out of the potting medium may look a little rough, but it's the ones in the pot you need to worry about. Can you describe the container and the medium it's planted in? It may just want a repotting and a patient caretaker.

Rhiannon · #3 07-09-2008, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyalOrchids

#1 It'll be impossible to ID it without flowers. Post a few pics of the plant just to be sure of the genus. Then you'll be able to give it the right conditions for that variety. If it's been around that long, but hasn't bloomed, I'd guess it is not getting enough light. Just a guess though.
***They live on the patio. Mostly bright/indirect light. May need to be moved to an new area. Where they are now, they're more in the shady-est area.***

#2 It sounds like an old flower spike. If it is dry you can go ahead and cut it. Cymbidiums won't rebloom on old spikes. Any roots out of the potting medium may look a little rough, but it's the ones in the pot you need to worry about. Can you describe the container and the medium it's planted in? It may just want a repotting and a patient caretaker.

***Makes sense. I'll give that a try. Thank you!***

Roly0217 · #4 07-09-2008, 01:07 PM

Before anything else

and

to the OB !!! I'm sure that with the expertees of some of our membes your plants might after all be identified and even bloom again.

with them and enjoy and learn from this forum which is awesome.

Rhiannon · #5 07-09-2008, 01:27 PM

Thanks!
**I've been reading the book "Orchid Fever"
It's been very entertaining as well as informative.

In the front part of the book after the dedication he has a quote from a New York grower.

"You can get off alcohol, drugs, women, food, and cars, but once you're hooked on orchids, you're finished. You never get off orchids....never!"

Joe Kunisch
Commercial orchid grower
Rochester, New York

I had to read it after seeing that.

quote=Roly0217;123686]Before anything else

and

to the OB !!! I'm sure that with the expertees of some of our membes your plants might after all be identified and even bloom again.

with them and enjoy and learn from this forum which is awesome.[/quote]

priz_m · #6 07-09-2008, 01:58 PM

Welcome Rhiannon! I am sure you'll find the help you need here at the OB.

Looks like Royal beat us to it, but yes

are always helpful

Roly0217 · #7 07-09-2008, 02:04 PM

You'll see that now it's only 2 and then you go to your local store and see another one and ohhh I must have it and before you know it your house is being invaded by these beauties....LOL I don't mind the invation.

Rhiannon · #8 07-09-2008, 02:17 PM

I'm already there!!
(Stop me if you've heard this story before!)
My co-worker and I share a divider at our desks. She got a beautiful purple orchid [name escapes me now.] So, I had to have one. I'm up to 3 so far... They just follow me home!!

MothLover · #9 07-09-2008, 04:54 PM

I just wanted to say that I'm amazed at the age of those plants! I've heard that a plant can live as long at the care giver lets it, but I hadn't actually heard of an orchid living that long. Congrats!

Rhiannon · #10 07-09-2008, 05:28 PM

Your telling me!!
I'm hoping that if I learn how to take care of mine. They'll live as long.