no embarassing questions huh? let me test you!

[jimmylegs]

i was walking by a co-workers desk today. her orchid that was once a lovely thing was hurting something awful. I have no idea what kind it was...i'm working on finding that out now.

let me say that I'm just getting into indoor gardening and I'm taking this rehab on as a project.

here's a brief description of what I found:

1) no flowers-it has 2 or 3 long green leafs, stems are green. I dont know the anatomy of the plant, but there's one part on one of the stems that looks like it's trying to grow a new plant. it's got a tounge-lie thing (about an inch long - looks like a thumb) at the intersection of a new stem, that "thumb" is growing down.

2) This plant has no growing media. The root mass is sitting in standing water, roots are dark brown to black. water is clean but the bowl is lined with algae.

that's about all I know how to communicate about its condition. I also know that this is vague so it will be tough to diagnose. But I know a little and if someone is kind enough to point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated.

Since I dont know what kind of species i'm dealing with here i need to keep it generic. here's my ideas:

1) First, i need to get this thing some healthy roots. What do orchids need as far as a growing media? I was thinking that I could use some of my Coco croutons.

Will these black roots heal themselves, or do I need to remove them entirely? (My gut tells me they wont heal themselves) Should I cut some off, and as new white roots grow, get rid of the sick ones? Ideas on this will be appreciated. (some hydrogen peroxide perhaps to start healing?)

2) Thoughts on nutrients? I use organics by Fox Farms for my other plants. I have Grow Big, Big Bloom and Tiger Bloom.

3) Lighting. This is a tough question without knowing species of plant. right now I have some compact fluoroscents, that I use for seedlings, but I also have a small 150W HPS that isnt being used. do you think that I could start giving this plant some love with the HPS. I was thinking that if I kept the light source high up so heat wasnt an issue, the spectrum would be better than flouros.

i think the obvious answer is a MH lamp, but I cannot use mine now, and I cant go buy one just for this plant. (like getting a 12 year old dog a $5,000 operation! - the wife would kill me)

I'm sure that many of my questions have been asked and answered but probably in several places. If there's a web site, or some generic tips it would be appreciated.

The expertise you all have to share is what makes these forums the best places on the web.

Thanks in advance,

[Undergrounder]

First you really need to find out what it is, generic advice won't cut it.

It sounds like it's a Phalaenopsis with a keiki growing on an old flower spike. Does it look like the first photo on this page?:

Phalaenopsis Keikis - root or stalk? best care? - UBC Botanical Garden Forums

Anyway i wouldn't mess with it, but ask her why she has it growing in water? Does she know about orchids?

Fluoros are perfectly fine for orchids, spectrum isn't a major concern. The MH sounds like complete overkill, the 150w HPS would work well, but you can't stick one of those in an office, can you? Just put it near a window!! Only then can you think about putting it in medium (sphagnum moss, bark, coconut husk or hydroponics-style inert mediums), feeding and all the rest.

If ALL the roots are black, then they'll all die, and the plant will probably go the same way unless its given much better light. But check to see if some of them are green. If they're green and growing in the water, then they'll probably do just fine in the water. Growing orchids in water is a strange thing to do... she's either completely clueless about orchids, or very very savvy. Orchids can grow in water, but it's not something most beginners would think of doing. Which is what makes me think she might know something about growing orchids.

Frankly it sounds like it's just a store-bought Phal. that you might as well chuck and buy a new one. You won't be able to grow orchids in an office unless you've got a good window for light and a little protection from humidity-sapping air-conditioning, just for starters. And if she's not the orchid type, you might as well care for it at home and buy her a new one... to almost kill, which you can save, and so on and so on...

[jimmylegs]

you nailed it on the photo. that's the one.

for my "project" i was going to take it home with me to help get it healthy. I can give it better light than she can at the office.

based on the condition of the roots, i would say that she's not that savy with the orchids, might have worked if the roots were not exposed to light. my experience with other hydro grows is that light and roots dont mix well together. But, as stated, im new to orchids.

she's got an emotional attachment with this particular plant, and i think that giving it a fighting chance would make her happy.

being that the leaves are staying green in it's current environment tells me that the plant is getting some of what it needs, but i dont think that it's near enough.

thanks for your help. good call on the photo....these orchids have got me curious. very different from anything else I've grown.

I think i need a good book. you got any recommendations on good reading for the novice? If i could only have one book, which would you recommend?

[Undergrounder]

Books aren't great, just continue to ask questions and read past threads on this forum and others... use the search feature and read up on Phalaenopsis orchids, light, media and all the rest..

Orchid roots actually love light, they're one of the few plants that has roots that are green (when they're healthy and exposed to light) so that they can photosynthesise. But they don't need light. The algae growing in the water might actually be supplying the water with oxygen, so it might not be such a bad thing. I know algae sucks in hydroponics, but in limited amounts (and especially in water culture), a bit of algae doesn't hurt an orchid.

If it's been growing in water already for a long time, then it might be worth potting up in sphagnum moss, since it holds more water than most mediums. coconut husk chips might work as well, if you already have some of that. LECA balls, as they use in hydroponics is also a good option. Search for 'Semi-hydroponics' for a method with those.

Phals like low to intermediate light - 800 footcandles to about 1500fcs of light to grow and bloom to their full ability. They will grow in lower light, but just much slower, and without growing flowers. Often Phals produce keikis (that plant growing on the flower stalk) in low light, which explains that.

Since its a plant she likes, that keiki might actually come in handy. Once it has grown itself some new roots you can actually pot them up separately, and it's like a clone of the mother plant.

Search for 'keiki' to find out how to do that.

But in the mean time, just search for Phalaenopsis cultivation tips, repotting, keikis, etc. etc. and go from there.

[jimmylegs]

perfect. thanks so much. I'll ditch all my previous hydro know-how and get my learn on these phals and keiki's.

new words...love it.

thanks,

[Undergrounder]

You're welcome but don't ditch all that hydro know-how too soon, it'll come in handy, especially if you try growing orchids in semi-hydroponics:

All about Semi-Hydroponics

Which might be a good way to go if you have some hydroponics experience. Phals grow very well in S/H once they've adjusted.

[camille1585]

One thing about the roots, color means nothing, especially in water culture IMO. I had an orchid in water to save it, and after a while the roots became black with what seemed to be a type of algae. The best way to know how the roots are doing is to feel them. Anything squishy and hollow is dead, anything firm is fine.

[RosieC]

I don't know anything about hydrophonics, but I agree with Camille. If the roots are firm then they are likely to be fine. I've had roots which looked strange due to staining from their media, but they were actually fine and healthy.