Problems with phalaenopsis orchid - Yellow leaves and blooms dying

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Stefpix, Rambutan is pretty hard to grow in a non-tropical climate, just thought you'd like to know. My father had one and it didn't make it, even in a subtropical climate like ours.

Reed stem Epis kheiki all the time when they've been very stressed. It's not uncommon for them to go crazy like that.

Coconut husk is fine as a growing medium, it's been done before, and many people have had success. The only thing about coconut fibers is that they'll retain the salts from your water and the fertilizers you use. You gotta rinse it out good once in a while to prevent the salt build up. They also retain water pretty well, so the rule of watering everyday may not necessarily apply, you just have to be observant and watch what you're doing.

There's only one orchid I grow that must either be grown on tree fern or coconut husk (like yours), and that's Constantia cipoensis. That's because they don't grow on real trees, they grow on a "shrub" called Velozia which have fiberous stems like that of the coconut husk. If grown on actual wood, they just don't do so well and eventually give up and die.

[stefpix]

I sprouted many Longans and Lychees. Rambutans have been harder to germinate... only one out of 3/4 seeds. was thinking of keeping it small as a bonsai maybe.
Longans are the easiest to germinate.
Did your dad grow the Rambutan in a garden?
do you think the Epidendrum has been shootingup growth because it lost the top?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I've had Longans too, and yeah they're easier to grow, they don't bear a lot of fruit like they would in the real tropics. Maybe something in the soil or humidity. But the fruits are edible and are still pretty meaty.

The Rambutan was grown in the garden. There was cold spell here and that was all she wrote.

We've never had Lychee, so I can't say about these.

I think your reed stem Epi threw out kheikis because you chopped the top off. It's not a big deal, they're pretty "weedy" and reproduce quickly anyways.

[stefpix]

I got some Lychees too. I get al that stuff in Chinatown. You need to saw just after you eat the fruit because the seeds can't survive for more than a few days if not surrounded by the flesh.
and you need to scarify the seed. I have seen a beautiful photo of a Lychee bonsai bearing fruits. the foliage is also very nice. Rambutans are more tropical,
anyway I just sowed 3 Mamoncillo/Kenep seeds
Mamoncillo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Will grow for a while and will keep a couple of each when they are larger.
Spare plants I will maybe put them up for trade.

I was bummed about the Epidendrum but maybe after all it is nice to get a few keikis. I could try one in water/vase culture - saw an amazing photo of a purple one in a vase on some old post here...
what do you grow now?
stefano
Longan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Dail]

Originally Posted by stefpix

I am trying water culture and ......

Stefano:
I would really like to know how well this would work. Most of what I have read would suggest that phals do not do too well in water culture, but, I would really, really like to try this SUCCESSFULLY!!

Best of luck and I look forward to your instructions when you have mastered the art.

Dail

[stefpix]

I took the Phals out of the water [and a small Vanda too], the roots seemed to get worse rather than improving. i checked they have some "eyes" for new roots - and even if each phal was a dollar I decided to stop. I mounted them on coconut husks.sideways with the leaves hanging down.
I feel that is the natural way they grow and I followed King's hints.
The rootless Cattleya or Lc is doing well in water. new shoots and maybe new roots. So is a NOID Vanda looking [but smaller] and 2 Oncidium alliance I got for 2 dollars seem OK in water. Also I am trying a small Den I got as a spare from Royal Orchid Club. Had very dry roots but developing new ones.

My [novice] impression for the few weeks is that Cattleya is the one that seems best in water.
My concern is what is just above the water level - not immersed. I wonder if it may rot or get mushy... but I have seen posts of people being successful.

[Arima]

I just had the same problem w/ a new Phalaenopsis. Niece gave it to me for my birthday on 02/06 and it had two flower spikes which gave me 11 blooms. Right after receiving it I noticed a small leaf at the base was yellow. Removed it and watered every 10 days to 2 weeks (as I do w/ my other orchids). It seemed to be good for a few weeks and then all leaves began to gradually yellow. It was potted in bark. Two days ago I took it out of it's pot and found not one good root in the entire plant. Cut off the 3 remaining blossoms and put them in a small vase of water. Through the plant in the trash. Have only had this problem once before and that was w/ a phal that was given to me after a funeral....it was white, purchased at a florist shop and w/in 2 weeks it had rotted away. My other phals I have had for 5 and 6 years w/ never a problem. I think that the plants purchased at florists seem to be the ones that have problems.

[Niffer]

Thank you for this thread. I recently got a orchid from my son. As I didn't see a problem with the leaves when I got it from the store it was in a huge pot with packed moss. This incouraged me to take a look. As I started to dig it was nearly all moss. No roots at all until I got into the second layer as if it had been repotted without taking the moss out of the first. It was like someone took it out of the first pot placed it in a pot and added more moss. This would have died if I wasn't reading this thread. It is not missing any leaves but has very little roots. It is currently drying out to transplant tomorrow. So a big thanks. I hope it will do great. Hope it does not loose the flowers as they are so pretty.

[james mickelso]

Repotting a phal while in bloom? No problem. As long as you pick out the spagnum moss carefully without breaking too many roots it will keep right on blooming. I keep reading on this and other sites about folks who get phals which are blooming nicely and then the leaves yellow and the blooms fall off. And it's always the same thing. Root death from drowning. Rotting roots. Phal seedlings are started in spag moss, then transferred to a 2 inch pot "full of spag", and then put in a 4 inch pot packed with more spag. There outta be a law!!! But there isn't. So all we can do is give our condolences and try to help save the phal world. And we do a good job too. Hats off to all of you who try to help. Keep up the good work. Phals everywhere salute you

[Bonita~flores]

I'm fairly new to orchids but I now have 8 plants total, 1 is doing great but the rest are fading fast. The one's I rescued today have been outside in the rain 4 who knows how long, flowers are black but still clinging to the stalk. Roots and most leaves are still green and firm, I've removed them from their soil/wood chip mixure and hung them in the shower to dry. Is there anything else I can/should do 2 ensure their survival? They're all phals if I'm not mistaken and ive heard conflicting stories on how to water them, but the safest out of them all I think would be the ice cube method...any other suggestions would be great.

Thanx