identifying my orchid - Orchid Board

BC's MOM · #1 07-01-2010, 04:38 AM

Hi, My son purchased an orchid and we have no idea what kind it is.

I've killed 2 before so we bought orchids for dummies and really want to do this right this time.

It is white with a pink/fuschia center. It has long, thick, waxy leaves.

Thanks for the help!

VC

Bird Song Farm · #2 07-01-2010, 05:10 AM

Hi,
It sounds like it might be a Phalaenopsis but we really need a picture to help you.
Be sure to include a picture of the leaves as well as the blossom.
Al

RosieC · #3 07-01-2010, 09:10 AM

Hi and welcome to orchid board

I'm afriad that from the flower colours we can't really tell what type it is, so pics would help.

If you need help posting pics then take a look here.
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...chidboard.html

Rosiefuture · #4 07-01-2010, 11:25 AM

Hi VC, welcome to the board.

It does sound like a phal.......but it could be a Vanda or a Cattleya.....or......or.....

Sorry about my sense of humour!

A pic would be good.

Marion

trdyl · #5 07-01-2010, 05:20 PM

Welcome to OB!

Pics are always good.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #6 07-01-2010, 05:41 PM

Look anything like this?

http://www.orchidspecies.com/orphotdir/catmendelii.jpg

BC's MOM · #7 07-01-2010, 06:08 PM

Ok Orchid People;

Here are some pics of the unidentified Orchid. So what is it? Does it look healthy? Do you think we should repot? I know that might be a hard one.

My son is adiment(?) that it should be repotted because the glass vase is too small, we put miracle grow and brick pieces under the sphagnum moss it came in & he can't water it properly without getting some water on the leaves. He is using rain water.

He figures that's why I killed my 2....I used tap water & we have a softener. eeek!

The only way to get it out of the vase safely is to smash it, hence the tape around it. I asked him to be patient until I could get some answers back from the board. He's 14. Patience is not his thing lol.

He really loves orchids, started by drawing them, so I'd hate to kill this one on him,

Thanks again everyone. Vicky

RosieC · #8 07-01-2010, 06:21 PM

Ok, it's a Phalaenopsis (Phal for short). It is very likely a hybrid of a mixture of Phal species, there are a lot arround which have not had the exact hybrid registered, so it's sufficient to know it's a Phal.

It looks healthy BUT that vase looks to me like it has no holes in the bottom. It is REALLY difficult to keep them healthy in a pot/vase without holes in the bottom.

Additionally the moss can make it even more difficult. Some people love moss, but others find it stays wet too long and can cause rot in the roots, add that to the no holes in the vase and you will find it quite difficult to avoid rot in the roots.

RosieC · #9 07-01-2010, 06:27 PM

You don't want to pot it in a big pot... phals like to be in pot only just big enough to fit the roots. If you put it in a big pot, you get back to the problem I talked about above, of roots rotting due to the medium not drying quickly enough.

The basic thing to remember with Phals is that they like plenty of air arround the roots. The easiest way to supply this is to make sure the pot is small so that the medium dries quickly and there is not constantly water blocking all the gaps in the medium.

When you water, you want to water with a lot of water, but then let it drain completely so that no water drips out the bottom (remember the need for holes in the bottom of the pot).

As you son has said, you don't want to leave water standing on the leaves or in the crown of the Phal, but all of us get water on the leaves when we water, that's not a good reason to put it in a bigger pot (see above). The best thing to do is first off, always water in the morning... this gives the plant time to dry before the cool of night. Second you can use a bit of paper towel to dried the leaves, using a corner to dry arround the crown and down in to the crown.

RosieC · #10 07-01-2010, 06:29 PM

Definately don't want to use water than has gone through a softener, the chemical reaction that these use to soften the water leave behind a chemical that orchids don't like. Rainwater is good, many people here use RO systems but they can be expensive.

I use tap water but the quality is high where I live, others who have poor quality tap water have had problems. If you can get enough rain water then use that.