Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered
Login
User Name
Password   


Registration is FREE. Click to become a member of OrchidBoard community
(You're NOT logged in)

menu menu

Sponsor
Donate Now
and become
Forum Supporter.

Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered
Many perks!
<...more...>


Sponsor
 

Google


Fauna Top Sites
Register Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered Members Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered Today's PostsPhalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered
LOG IN/REGISTER TO CLOSE THIS ADVERTISEMENT
Go Back   Orchid Board - Most Complete Orchid Forum on the web ! > >
Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-29-2009, 10:35 PM
acmims13 acmims13 is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 7
Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered
Exclamation Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered

First off.. Hello to everyone since I am new to this forum. I currently have a problem with my phlanaenopsis. I left my orchid in the care of someone else since I was out of town for a couple of weeks. I just returned and suspect that it had not been watered at all! The flower had shriveled up with black on it, and the spike is bright red and tan/dead at the top. The leaves still look healthy and I'm not sure about the roots although from what I can see of them they still look fairly green. I gave it a good watering today, but what else should I do?! I don't want it to die! Thanks so much!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-29-2009, 11:38 PM
King_of_orchid_growing:)'s Avatar
King_of_orchid_growing:) King_of_orchid_growing:) is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Apr 2008
Zone: 9a
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 9,313
Default

Hi, welcome to the OB.

The flowers having black spots and wilting, and the spike turning red, is not a good indicator that the plant was never watered.

Depending on how low the humidity in your growing area is, a better indicator of whether your plant was watered is how wrinkled the roots are, and how limp the leaves were relative to the time you were away.

Since you don't have photos of the plant nor did you disclose how long you were away, nor where in the US you're in, there's no conclusive evidence that your Phal is in any kind of danger nor in any kind of peril (I'm not saying your worry is not justified nor am I defending your helper, I'm just saying there's not enough info).

Anyways...

Flowers with black spots may mean the blossoms were misted with water and got a mild case of fungal infection on the petals, lip, or sepals.

As far as misting is concerned - I advise against misting Phals when using pot culture.

Mounted culture is different.

Misting the leaves in pot culture increases the chances water can dribble into the crown if the plant is grown upright and cause crown rot (Phals don't naturally grow upright in the wild - Phals grow on trees oriented mostly in a horizontal manner or sometimes pendulously in the wild). Over time, when you see your Phal wanting to lean, this is why.

To emulate this growth habit, you can lay a Phal as close to a horizontal position as possible for pot culture, just make sure the leaf tips point down towards the ground. The crown of the plant should face the sun or light source.

Properly growing Phals mounted nearly eliminates the problem of crown rot, because most of the water that gets on the leaves has a chance to dribble away from the crown. Just letting you know that's all.

Back to your topic...

Wilting may mean it was done blooming.

The spike turning red may mean the spike is done (red is a natural pigment within certain cells of your Phal).

If you got this plant in full bloom from older blossom to newer blossom, it may mean this plant may have been in full bloom in the store for quite a while already.

If you got this plant with just the older blossoms in bloom, but with newer blossoms still as buds, it may have had quite a bit of time left before the flowers were done.

Then there's the fact that no one knows how long you've grown the Phal for, and how long it's been in bloom under your care. Did you buy the plant in bloom? Did you bloom the Phal yourself? Do you know how long the flowers last?

My point being - the flowers may have been done blooming depending on what state of flowering it was purchased at.

Another factor is what kind of Phal it is. Is it a hybrid or species? Does it have a name or is it a "No ID" (aka NOID)?

From what you've stated so far, there's simply insufficient evidence to go around accusing the person who helped you for not watering your plants. For all anyone knows, the person may have watered your Phal, ...but not the way you wanted it to be done nor how it should've been done. I don't know...

By the way, if this plant is grown in full sphagnum moss, I recommend you change the potting medium out to medium or large grade bark. If you must provide a little more moisture, just add a thin top layer of fresh New Zealand sphagnum moss.

Or if you live in a very arid place, semi-hydroponics would be a better choice.

Of course, your cultural habits are important bits of information as well. Pretty standard info is humidity, temperature (night, day, seasonal), lighting, where the growing area is, and air circulation.

Photos help too btw.

Last edited by King_of_orchid_growing:); 11-30-2009 at 12:55 AM..
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-30-2009, 12:22 AM
King_of_orchid_growing:)'s Avatar
King_of_orchid_growing:) King_of_orchid_growing:) is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Apr 2008
Zone: 9a
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 9,313
Default

I apologize if this is overwhelming, but there're just too many questions left unanswered.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-30-2009, 08:20 AM
Undergrounder Undergrounder is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 609
Default

Red spike with the end died back? Sounds like the flower spike dying back to me. It happens when the flowers are old or spent. Lack of water wouldn't have helped, but if so you should also see the leaves going floppy as well.

Just water it as normal, cut off the dying spike and it should be fine!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-30-2009, 09:46 AM
acmims13 acmims13 is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 7
Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:) View Post
I apologize if this is overwhelming, but there're just too many questions left unanswered.
To answer some of your questions..I was away for about a month and I live in the DC area. I have had the plant for about a year and a half and I can't recall if it came in bloom or not. Before this most recent flower died it was in bloom for maybe 2 months. I do believe it is a hybrid, although there is no tag so I'm not sure and I already have the plant in a medium bark with the moss on top. The humidity in my house stays around 35-40% with a day temperature of about 72 and night at about 68 almost all year. There is not too much air circulation, but it has good light, without much direct sunlight. I will try to grab a picture of it tonight to post. Thanks so much for your help.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-30-2009, 09:47 AM
acmims13 acmims13 is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 7
Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Undergrounder View Post
Red spike with the end died back? Sounds like the flower spike dying back to me. It happens when the flowers are old or spent. Lack of water wouldn't have helped, but if so you should also see the leaves going floppy as well.

Just water it as normal, cut off the dying spike and it should be fine!
If I have to cut off the spike, where should it be cut (the whole thing or at the top) and is there any proper way to cut it? Thanks!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-30-2009, 10:02 AM
Undergrounder Undergrounder is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 609
Default

Along the spike you'll notice 'nodes' (small bumps with paper sheaths over them). On the spike all up there are about 6 or 7 or so. Cut it off just above the bottom node.

That's if it has finished flowering, which it sounds like it has, obviously no need to do it if you still have happy flowers on it.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-30-2009, 11:50 AM
johnblagg johnblagg is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Aug 2009
Zone: 6b
Location: Southeast Missouri
Age: 68
Posts: 1,824
Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered Male
Default

I usually cut the spike off just above the last node towards the top of the spike as far up as the spike itself still looks healthy.

It the spike itself is shriveling I go down untill I see a place that looks nice and firm and healthy still and cut above that node.

I have one phal that I did this with last year and the spikes are growing new secondary spikes right now.The old spikes are 8 to 10 inches long still and they have nice healthy new shoots coming off them.A spike can often stay alive a viable for a entire year and then rebloom.or grow a secondary spike from a node.

It also has a new spike coming from the base so this year lots more blooms on this one.

I never cut a spike any lower than is absolutly necessary ....always hoping for a keiki to add a new chid to my collection but usually I get a second bloom from them.Especially if they had not bloomed compleatly yet and something caused them to lose their buds.

Last edited by johnblagg; 11-30-2009 at 11:53 AM..
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-30-2009, 07:54 PM
acmims13 acmims13 is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 7
Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered
Default pictures

Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered-mail-jpeg

Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered-mail-1-jpeg


here are 2 pictures of the orchid
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-30-2009, 07:56 PM
acmims13 acmims13 is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 7
Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered
Default bigger pictuers

Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered-photo-jpg

Phalaenopsis with red spike after not being watered-photo-1-jpg


sorry, those other ones turned out very small
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
phalaenopsis orchid, red spike, spike, under watered, watered, red, phalaenopsis


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Why you can not id a phal hybrid dennis Identification Forum 11 11-06-2015 01:00 PM
Phalaenopsis Phylogeny philoserenus Hybrids 14 10-26-2009 10:20 PM
Phalaenopsis help: seems like 2 keikis and a spike, plus new leaves peeweelovesbooks Advanced Discussion 5 09-29-2009 08:20 AM
Bagged Phalaenopsis getting yellow spike Linn Pests & Diseases 14 06-05-2009 06:18 AM
Phalaenopsis terminal spike W Stender Beginner Discussion 12 02-26-2008 01:06 AM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:08 AM.

© 2007 OrchidBoard.com
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.37 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.

Clubs vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.