please help me help my orchid

[ghost]

hello everyone,

I bought an orchid (my first, a phal) this past summer here in Seattle and it bloomed for about 2 or 3 months and then the flowers died off. I've been watering it pretty regularly; every two weeks or so... recently I noticed that the flowering spike started to turn brown and some of the roots were dying off but there are still some roots that have green tips.

i've attached three pictures to the email for a "state of the orchid" and have also started using an orchid food. i believe the formula is 6-30-30 and is supposed to be "optimized" for dormant season.

any help would be appreciated as I don't really know what's going on with the plant or what my next steps should be.

thanks in advance.

[Roy]

I'm not a Phally grower but I think your plant has been getting too dry. If the plant is pictured where it grows, there is no provision for humidity, which these plants love. BTW, there is no such thing as 'dormant period' for Phallies either, they are constant growers. The spike/buds dying is a big sign that its too cold for the plant and/or the plant is dehydrated. You need to check the temp' in the area you grow it and put the whole thing on a large tray about 50mm deep, 3/4 filled with pebbles and add water to just below the top of the pebbles. Never let it dry out for more than a day or 2 and never feed it if the mix is dry.

[camille1585]

The fact that the spike is turning yellow is completely normal. The blooms are gone, and the plant no longer needs the spike. You can cut it off at the base.
I agree, there is no dormant period for Phals. They have a blooming period and a growing period. 6-20-20 does not seem balanced enough for an orchid that needs to grow. I would switch to something more balanced. The fertilizer you have reminds me more of a bloom booster. There are some good orchid fertilizers on the market.

As for watering, every two weeks may be fine, or not enough. It looks like you have it potted in sphagnum moss, which dries slowly, and it also depends on your conditions. But seeing as the leaves show no sign of wrinkling, it looks like your fine for now. Overwatering a plant in moss quickly leads to root rot. What you can do is put a wooden skewer in the middle of the pot. Pull it out regularily and touch it to your cheek. If it feels damp, wait to water. If it's just slightly cool to the touch or dry, it's time to water!

I personnally prefer to keep phals in clear plastic pots (so I can monitor the roots, which tells me when to water) in a bark medium.

As for humidity I have to disagree with Roy, unless you have very low humidity. I find that a tray with pebbles and water doesn't improve humidity much and my phals grow and bloom just fine in 40-60% humidity.

[frostedeyes]

too dry.. overall its pretty ok... hmmm about the ferts... i would recommend the balance one... take good care of your leaves especially the one on the top... it will keep ur plant alive! i just had a crown rot on one of my phal... but seems ok... i think... just hope it will grow back!

[dounoharm]

camille is right about the care of the phal.....it does seem a bit too dry tho, just a bit, a little more frequent watering will help growth...just dont let it stay too wet, make sure it drys out before watering again....the skewer test is a good one to check for watering. all in all, you are doing a pretty good job for your first orchid!...now, lets discuss your next orchid.......lol

[Swamper]

Ghost, welcome to the board, glad to have you here. I dont know much about phals except how to kill one. Like for example; let water collect between the leaf and the stalk so it can rot. Give it a lot of sun, like direct sun...
Personally I thought your phal looked pretty normal and healthy. Like the advice above Im sure you'll get a lot more good advice here.
Good luck and again..welcome.