new to orchids, help with fertilizer, colors of leaves and just good suggestions

[pauldog28504]

I just started getting into Orchids in the past few months. Just bought a few at lowes this past weekend at a really good price of $3.50. I am not sure what to use for fertilize b/c the tag says 20-20-20 but they don't sell that around here. I have a white haze on some leaves and did not know if i need to wipe with wet paper towel or leave it. I have one that i got to close to the window when it go cold last week and is turned yellow and brown on part of leaves. I have heard that you can use Tea on the Orchids as a fertilizer but dont know how much or how often and heave heard of using milk that has dried out. I have put 3 pics of two that i am having issues with. Please help any body

02/02/2010
I am adding more pics to this post and of my new ones i just got this weekend on one of them i pulled it out of the clay pot and it is in a clear pot and there is packing peanuts in the bottom and you can see that in one of the pic and was thinking i should take it out. i updated the pic of the one that has the brown on it and did not know if i should take the leaf off or just watch to see what it does. there is one pic that has two parts that have green leaves on it but there are two stocks that had leaves and have died off and did not know if i should cut them off

[ohanahana]

Good morning and welcome! I'm new to orchids too but, let me see if I can help~~

I think the first photo is showing some heat damage. Second one--see the brownish indented spot on the bottom right of the leaf? It looks like fungus and, if so, the plant should be sprayed soon with a fungicide. Some on the forum use the brown Listerine, full strength, in a spray bottle.

Having said all that, the roots need to be addressed first. I would unpot the plants and see how they look. The damaged roots only should be removed and the plants should be repotted in new potting medium.

There is so much good information here to investigate, concerning types of potting mixes and good watering, feeding and repotting practices! I hope you will enjoy the experience of so many here (and actually be able to retain the wisdom!)

[BikerDoc5968]

Agree with the above.... but for you being new to chids you may not know what good normal roots look like. On your Phal, the 1st pic... does look like heat damage. As for any "white" haze may me mineral build up and for that wipe the leaves gently with a soft paper towel and full strength lemon juice... it will remove the minerals and leave the leaves shinny. Getting back to roots... good roots will be firm, green to green-white. Anything else remove. As for what to repot in???? Part of this answer depends on how/where you grow your chids. So are you heavy handed with the water, live where the humidity is 90% all the time then a very open chunky mix of bark, perlite, charcoal and if available coconut husk chips (CHC) might work well. Or are things dry....dry....dry, you might want to try sphag.... As for food for your new chids.... Some say the Michigan State Formula is the "cat's meow". I happen to use the products made by Better Gro and are available at Lowe's or Home Depot for about $3.90/#... come in 2 flavors ~ regular and bloom-booster. I use this because, like the MSU stuff, it is UREA-free and easy to get. Bottom line it probably doesn't make a whole lot of difference what you feed them as long as you don't overdue it... "more is better" doesn't work with the chids!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

First off, hi.

Okay on to the info.

1. Please remove the Spanish Moss. It's not real moss. It's a bromeliad. Specifically the scientific name is Tillandsia usneoides. I understand that not everybody knows that Spanish Moss is actually a bromeliad, so don't feel bad. If you're watering the Spanish Moss, you're essentially growing Tillandsia usneoides along with your Phalaenopsis. It will not help retain moisture for your Phal (Phal is the actual scientific abbreviation for Phalaenopsis).

If you like the way Tillandsia usneoides (Spanish Moss) looks, grow it separately.

Here's a link to some info on Spanish Moss on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_moss

As you may have already guessed, I also grow bromeliads! Bromeliads was what got me into orchids.

Real moss are non-flowering and non-vascular plants.

2. Addressing the second photo of a Phal...

Is the moss top dressing (now this is real moss)? If it is, I think it may need to be changed out. It doesn't look very good, I believe it may be broken down to some degree.

I do not recommend growing Phalaenopsis in full moss.

3. As was stated, your fertilizer should be urea free. It really doesn't matter what brand you use. And the N-P-K ratio doesn't have to exactly be 20-20-20, (although there are some available). As long as it's close enough, you're golden.

4. I recommend taking a look at these photos of Phals growing in the wild, then you can get the wheels turning on how to grow your Phals. Really take the photo in. Don't just look at them as "pretty pictures", they're not meant to be linked to this post as "pretty pictures". They're meant to be learning tools.

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Phalaenopsis+in+situ

If you have more questions don't hesitate to ask.

[Connie Star]

I have a comment about "tea". If you use black tea (Camilla sinensis) it inhibits plant growth. I have a masters in Botany and back in the day we used to demonstrate the inhibitory effects of teas made from various herbs, shrubs. Aside from black walnut, the best (worst?) inhibitor was good old tea. What is sometimes referred to is a "tea" made from boiling compost- it has some nutrients. Compost is boiled to sterilize and kill weed seeds.
Just my 2 cents.

[Connie Star]

Oh and welcome to orchids and orchid growing!

[pauldog28504]

Thanks for the info. The moss in the first pic is of what came on it from when the plant was ordered from flowers to go that my wife got me 6mths ago. How often should i change out the moss that is in the second pic and should i have it on all the plants. I did not put in the pic that the 3 are of only 2 orchids that the first ones i got. I did not put pic of my new ones i just got this past weekend. I re potted both about 3 months ago. Every body thinks on the first one is burn from the sun but i think it is when i had it to close to the window and got to cold but it could be sun. thanks for you help and if any thing else please let me know. would using the tea bags be ok or just start off with the stuff from lowes

[pauldog28504]

i live in Fl in the north part about 1:20 south of Jaxs. i do know what the roots normal look like i have learned that one but have not take a look at my new plants i just got. Should i re-pot them if they still have a bloom shoot on them or would it be ok to re-pot them.

[BikerDoc5968]

Many times when you repot a blooming plant you run the risk of losing the flowers. This isn't ALWAYS the case. Some people have success doing a soak in KLN or SuperThrive or Hormex to help with the shock. But you have to weigh potentially saving a plant so it will bloom for you again or enjoying the flowers now and pitching the plant later.....

[pauldog28504]

thanks for the info. none of them have flowers on them now. at the end of 2 plants there looks to be more buds coming but am not sure if that is what they are or if it the stem just growing more. were would i get the KLN or SuperThrive or Hormex?