Grandma Ruth's ORchids - Page 2 - Orchid Board

Mama2Raven · #1 01-08-2009, 04:11 PM

Hello Everyone! I am so new.

I have using this board as a lurker

to help my orchids on my own. But now I want some opinions and any constructive help.

Background: My husband's grandmother was an avid gardener. She had the benefit of a Southern California climate. She grew these amazing HUGE yellow cyms on her back porch. A few years ago I took a cutting (in my inexperience I only took a back bulb) and took it home. I tried like mad to get it to do anything. and after a LONG time it sent out a new growth spikes but then died.

Well Grandma Ruth recently passed away. We went back out to SoCal and I got a few different psudobulbs (one small and a medium sized one, one with leaves one without.) for the trip back home to Pittsburgh, PA. So far they are maintaining but I fear they are getting worse. Since she is no longer with us and the family has sold the house, I know this is my last chance to get these plants healthy. I think it would be soooo amazing if i could do that for my husband who was very close to his grandmother.

The Current Situation:

They had no roots. However I was able to get roots to grow on all of the 5 plants. Then things started to get worse. I have them planted in a standard Orchid growing mix. I water them once a week to 10 days or so. I have only fertilized them once since I have had them. It is winter here so hardly any good light. I have them in the brightest one I have. They get no direct light.

I noticed last week that the roots were starting to get brown and mushy. So I cut away all the dark and bad looking roots (which were only a few! thank God!)

On the plus side all but one of the plants show new growth spikes with the sugar water seeping from them. One plant seems stunted.

Also I can get them to sit right in the pot. Am i using the right medium? What is the best procedure to use to pot up an orchid like Cyms? and watering, am i doing it too much? Should i be misting them for humidity?

I have seen so many conflicting reports on the internet and I can't get any useful info. Please help me save a family tradition.

I am going to try to post some pictures. Not great pictures but these are the ones i have right now. I will have more as soon as i can figure out how to post pictures.

Any and all advice is welcome!!!

p.s. Since getting the first Orchid that died, I have been completely into orchid growing. I just love it. It's so interesting!! I have the orchid bug!!!!