Help. I've dried out my orchids!

[basicallyeileen]

Hi everyone. I recently moved my orchids into a new greenhouse. I continued to care for them as I was accustomed to when they were in the house. I had noticed bottom leaves turning yellow on some plants, but I thought the plants were just going through an adjustment phase. Now I'm noticing some plants with obvious dehydration signs. I'll increase my watering frequency and I spray the floor with water in the morning for humidity, but is there anything else I can do? Is there any other repercussion I should be on the look out for? I hope I didn't kill anyone!

[Erce]

Originally Posted by basicallyeileen

Hi everyone. I recently moved my orchids into a new greenhouse. I continued to care for them as I was accustomed to when they were in the house. I had noticed bottom leaves turning yellow on some plants, but I thought the plants were just going through an adjustment phase. Now I'm noticing some plants with obvious dehydration signs. I'll increase my watering frequency and I spray the floor with water in the morning for humidity, but is there anything else I can do? Is there any other repercussion I should be on the look out for? I hope I didn't kill anyone!

you could use some superthrive, that helps me when it happens

[Cym Ladye]

Mature orchids are a lot hardier than one might think if the roots are not damaged. Check one of the more dried out looking plants, take it gently out of the pot and check it to be sure the roots are still firm, but may only be a bit dried. If they are not soft, put back in pot and try to bring up the moisture level to what it was before when the plants looked healthy.

Depending on how long since the plants have been repotted, you may want to consider repotting in fresh mix, even though this is really not the best time of year to do so. Pictures of your plants would help for further answers to your problem. Hopefully it is just a lack of water and with more moisture, the problem will solve itself.

Good Luck,

Cym Ladye

[slipperfreak]

This has happened to me so many times in the past. The best remedy in my experience is to soak the plants in water for 24 hours. I usually just put the pots in a bucket or deep container and fill with water up to just about the top of the pot. You can also unpot the plants and soak them bare-root if they need repotting. If you are using a bark mix, you'll find that you need to water every day to keep it moist if it has been bone dry for some time. That's why it's necessary to soak. The plant will also recover more quickly if it is soaked.

It will take a week or so to notice any signs of improvement after the plant is soaked.

[richardb]

Don't dispair, Basicallyeileen. I endorse all the advice above, but I am also a great believer that orchids are generally tough buddies. Think about their natural environment..........whenever has the weather performed contually to order. I am a great believer that as the World has been here for a year or two wet/dry/hot/cold periods come and go but eventually everything evens itself out over time.
That is what has happened in your greenhouse. Hang on in there, and just watch your plants begin to flourish again after a while. Indeed, some might even benefit and decide to flower very profusely next time being under the impression that they are about to meet their maker so must reproduce without delay!
Richard

[basicallyeileen]

Thank you everyone. I just went out to take pictures, but the dryness of the leaves doesn't really show up. The worst affected are a phal, tolumnia, rhynchostylis, baby vanda, sedirea, and zygoneria. So I'll soak them. They were all repotted this year, so I guess I'll leave them the way they are. Getting a greenhouse was supposed to be exciting, but it's stressful! I knew how to take care of everyone when they were in the house!