Problem with my orchid

[malumas]

Hi,
I'm new here, I have 3 orchids but I'm having problems with the newest one, I bought it around 3 weeks ago, it was blooming and now it's lossing some flowers (they looked dry) and some of the new growth ones too and the top part of the spike is getting redish, any idea what is going on? I though it was dry, (I water once a week) but when i touch it is still humid, so maybe I over water?
I would really appreciate any help!
Thanks!

[kiki-do]

I would need to see a picture of the orchid in question, the name of the orchid you are talking about and how you are growing it. All that information is vital in order to answer your questions. Hopefully we will be able to help you.
By the way, welcome!!!

[malumas]

Thanks kiki!
Here are some pictures.
I believed it's a Phalaenopsis, and I water her once a week with orchid food disolved in the water.
Hope this help!

[kiki-do]

Well, it looks like that is spag moss it's growing in. You can easily overwater when using moss. Phalaenopsis (yes, that is a phal) are suppose to be almost completely dry before rewatering. Moss can feel dry on top, but still moist way down where roots are. At this point in time, I would want to see what the roots look like. See if you have any black mushy roots.
If you have rotted roots, please use a sterile scissors and cut off only the rotten roots. Then swish the good roots with some listerine (plain not minty) or some type of orchid bacterial cleanser like Physan. Then you can repot into new medium. Do you have any orchid medium?
Perhaps someone else will chime in here with other tips.
It may be fine, I'm just giving you a worse case scenerio, and what to do in case. But if it were me, I would want to check those roots.

[Pilot]

I'm pretty new to this myself-- but my first reaction to your pics is the pot. Is it ceramic? Is the phal in another pot slipped into this larger one? Are their drainage holes? You might not be overwatering perse but if the water you give it can never drain through, the plant might be sitting in the water. Just a guess I'm throwing out there as you have other orchids that I can only assume are doing fine.

Let us know the pot situation.

Ryan

[malumas]

Kiki: that moss it's only on top (the vendor put it in just before selling it to me) so I would defenetly take it out as soon as I got home tonight. I will check the roots too and let you know what I found.
Thanks so much for your help!

Ryan: yes, the phal is in another pot slipped into this ceramic one, I always take it out for water and let it seat on my sink until it drain, thanks for your comments!

[Ross]

Just to add a quick note to the above, if the inner pot is clear, be sure the roots inside turn totally white before watering again. If they renain green, they may rot.

[malumas]

yes, my inner pot is clear so I will take that tip from now on!! I didn't know that!
Thanks so much to all!

[RosieC]

Yes I agree 100% with Ross. If you have a clear pot make sure the roots go silver/white before you water each time.

This is a great way of judging when you should water a Phal and I would alway use a clear pot for exactly that reason.

[malumas]

Kiki, here is a picture of my roots, not sure if you can see it clearly, even I can't! Should I take it out of the pot to check? They look green to me so what should I do?
thanks!