Help saving/caring for (and identifying) clearance orchids

[Niki]

So I said I would never do this again, but Smith and hawkins had clearance orchids that were too good a deal to pass up.

If they die in 90 days, I can return them. So, I have 90 days to save these two orchids. I've worked with Phals before, but I have no experience with dendrobium and any advice/tips/help would be greatly appreciated on how best to care of that one.

I bought the Phal that was in the best shape (where “best” is a relative term) of all the ones available. The leaves are nice and dark green, but they aren’t perky and firm like the leaves on my other Phals. Instead, they’re droppy and floppy (see pics). The roots visible through the plastic pot look terrible, and the pot was so dry that the moss/bark mixture wasn't even touching the sides of the pot. I pulled the orchid out (since I knew I wouldn’t be shocking it since the medium wasn’t attached to the pot) and the visible roots felt all dried out. (I've posted pics and they feel as dry as they look). I'm not sure how the roots under the moss are, but I'm guessing from how limp and droopy the leaves are, they're not in the greatest shape (see pics).

Does anyone have any advice? I just watered with root grow and I want to move the orchid to semi-hydro as soon as possible. (I need to prep my prime-agra, which will take a couple of days...which will give the root grow a little time take effect before I transplant. but, but if I transplant right away, new roots growth won't have started, so the conditions won't be optimal for a move to S/H).

So, my big question is: should I move to semi-hydro right away (so I can look at roots and trim old/dead/dried ones) or should I wait a couple of weeks in the hopes of new root growth? I don’t have enough experience to know if this Phal can wait a couple of weeks for new growth or if it’s criciual to move it. Maybe it will perk up with the water, but from what I’ve read on the board, I know that something could be going on with it’s roots that’s causing the leaves to be in such poor shape.

Also, should I chop off the flowers and the stalk so it can focus it’s efforts on root growth and getting it’s leaves in better shape? I’d like to keep the flowers to enjoy, if possible, but will chop them off if you all think it’s important to saving the plant.

[Niki]

The above post was about the first of my two orchids. Here are the pics and info on the second:


The second orchid is a dendrobium that looked like it was in great shape (although I know nothing about these orchids, so maybe I’m wrong…see pics below and let me know what you all think. Also, if any of you know what kind it is, please let me know. The leaves on the dendrobium look good and the stalks (not sure if they're called blubs like they are on the oncidium...) are nice and firm. Three of the stalks have leaves growing out of them that are nice and firm and aren't shrivled up. I thought they looked to be in excellent condition. The older stalks (5 or 6) and much smaller (they look older) with nothing on them (see pics) and have a few wrinkles on them. There are roots growing out of the bottom of the small pot, so I want to repot soon (again into S/H). I just watered with KLN root grow. Do you think I should wait until it starts new growth before I move it? Or should I move it now?

Oh, and don't worry. My cat didn't actually eat the orchid. She LOVES orchids, but I shooed her away before she was able to do any damage!

[quiltergal]

Ya know Niki they really don't look so bad to me. My son bought me a Phal from a similar place and it hadn't been watered for a lonnnggg time. It was so bad the leaves had started to shrivel. I plopped it in a sink with water just below the rim and let it soak for a good 30 minutes. I did that 2 days in a row, and it perked right up. In fact the leaves plumped back out. I would definitely give it higher light than it's been getting. Dark green leaves are a sign of to little light. You want them to be a nice medium to light green in color. I can't tell what it's potted in but it looks suspiciously like sphag.

As for the Den., it's so cute! It too looks just fine. It looks like it may be potted in tree fern, but I'm not sure. If that's bark or moss it's nasty and ready to be replaced. Den.s like to be fairly pot bound so I'd only go up about a half a pot size. No need to cut off the flower.

I would not move either one of these to S/H just yet. The heathiest plants sometimes have a hard time making the adjustment. A stressed one can decline rapidly. I'd wait for the new root growth before going down that path. JMO

[peeweelovesbooks]

I wouldn't move it into s/h yet either. I would wait until you see new root growth. Good luck! I wish I were near S and Hawkin. I love their things.

[Myst]

I have no advice just a comment that I recently picked up a clearance orchid and couldn't believe when the saleswoman told me that if they didnt flower again they just end up in the garbage.
good luck i hope they will be happy now.

[let_it_grow]

Is the pink flower from the den? It looks like the Den has some so/so roots and the moss looks a bit soggy. I use bark for mine with lots of holes in the pots. If you repot the den in a bit bigger pot and let more air at the roots and cut the dead or rotting ones off it should be good. I like to dab the roots with peroxide after i cut them and dab some root stimulant/ antifungal on the cut spots

[Ross]

I love the look of the Phal. It actually looks quite healthy (but very wet) to me. If this were mine, I would keep the pot, dump the moss and replace the moss with small bark mix. (Small, because this plant will go through some real shock going to large - which is where it belongs.) After a year or so and some evidence of healthy roots, I would move it to large bark in the same pot. Rootbound is fine for Phals, as long as the viable roots are healthy and go through the normal white to green cycle when watering. If they turn born and mushy, then more drastic care is called for.

[frostedeyes]

Niki i think your den is getting too much water. (after the blooms withered) I would repot it in a clay pot for specially design for orchids.. and prolly do a mixture of your tree fern and charcoal. try making it dry when it reach by nyt.

[Niki]

For those of you who think they're getting too much water...is this due to how the soil looks, or is it based on how the plant looks? The reason I ask is that based on how they were when I bought them, I think it's more likely that they're underwatered than overwatered. When I brought them to the register, they were bone dry and felt like the pots had nothing in them.

I wasn't planning on buying orchids and was actually in the store to kill time while waiting for my table at lunch today. I left them at the store while we ate, and when I came back, they told me that they watered the flowers for me.

I found out that they watered them by submerging the orchid in a pot of water for 15-20 minutes. I took these pictures about 15 minutes after the orchids had recieved the Smith and Hawkins "watering" method, and since the Phal was in moss, it got pretty soaked (I'm noticing that this moss isn't draining so well).

I don't have any bark (all I have is S/H media) and the nearest place to me that sells good small bark (or CHC or charcoal or perlite) is about 1 hour away. I won't be able to make it there until next Saturday. Do you guys think they'll be okay until then for a repot?

[frostedeyes]

for your phal hmmm i dont know what advices i can give. lol! im still experimenting on using polyurethane foam as medium for phal. i still need more time.