MAJOR ACCIDENT! - Orchid Board

rennamix · #1 08-08-2010, 09:34 PM

Hi all,
I have a white phalaenopsis orchid & I made a major mistake. Now my orchid seems to be dying.

Let me explain - I had my orchid 6 months in May and new shoots were sprouting as well as new leaves forming. The orchid was doing amazing. In May, I accidently sprayed my orchid with vinegar/baking soda mix instead of my water bottle that I thought was what I was using. (I was under extreme stress at the time.) I squirted the orchid once after realizing what I had done. So I then took my water bottle and sprayed it alot hoping I had washed those chemicals off. (Why I didn't I just rinse it under the faucet? Beats me. I don't know what I was thinking.)

Since then, my new shoots have turned yellow and died. My leaves that were doing so well are struggling to survive. I was in the middle of a move and I forgot to place my orchid near light for a week.

I've been water my orchid under a faucet and letting the pot drain well before placing it back in its spot by the east window. I know I can revive this orchid but I don't know how. Should I repot the orchid and get the little old dead stems out of there? I believe I bought the orchid about a year old with beautiful flowers at the time.

Thank you in advance,
rennamix

BobInBonita · #2 08-08-2010, 09:58 PM

Huh? I'm missing something I think...

Vinegar and baking soda react to give off carbon dioxide. Not particularly toxic, especially if rinsed off right away.

I think your orchid is probably reacting to something else, especially if this is since May (about 4 months ago).

How do your current conditions (light water etc) compare with the conditions where it was doing fantastic?

How do the roots look?

After this long, if you have roots, or even root buds, you may be able to save it.

It reminds me of something I did many years ago, trying to feed a plant coffee instead of water. When it started to respond poorly after months, I tried flushing the coffee out of its system and nearly drowned it. I don't want to paint you with my own sins, but the two easiest ways to kill an orchid are with water and sunlight.

marydaniellesantos · #3 08-08-2010, 10:00 PM

It probably won't bloom anytime soon. I could be wrong, but I would have repotted it immediately after I sprayed it with chemicals, or whenever it seems to be failing because I would have to check the roots anyways. If you think you can revive the poor thing, I would go for it! Good luck!!! I'm sorry this happened to you, but at least you care to try saving it!

rennamix · #4 08-08-2010, 10:09 PM

Ugh I'm so sorry - I was typing too fast and left out ammonia - Its an home mix that I make to clean stuff which is baking soda, vinegar and ammonia.

This happened at my old house right before I moved. Its taken this long for the new shoots that were coming up to die and spots on certain leaves to turn dark yellow. I have to shoots with leaves that are still thriving. The roots are a mix between dark brown to a couple white roots (from the live shoots). Still the living shoots with leaves are not in the best condition. It hasn't bloomed flowers since I got it in November of last year. But earlier this spring new shoots were coming up so I had hope...

until now...

Should I try to repot it and get Orchid fertilizer?

marydaniellesantos · #5 08-08-2010, 10:12 PM

You should def try to repot, and you don't want to stress it out more by providing fertilizer. (or so that's what I've been told)

Connie Star · #6 08-08-2010, 10:29 PM

[QUOTE=rennamix;335221]Ugh I'm so sorry - I was typing too fast and left out ammonia - Its an home mix that I make to clean stuff which is baking soda, vinegar and ammonia.

That's an odd combo. I've used each one of them separately (for cleaning, not on orchids) but together I think they would just neutralize each other and generate salts. Whatever you do, don't mix chlorine bleach and ammonia together- dangerous, or at least irritating fumes result.
I'm afraid my basic chemistry is too rusty to figure out exactly what salts you would get. I think rinsing it with clear water should have taken care of the salts.

BobInBonita · #7 08-09-2010, 12:40 AM

Connie's chemistry may be rusty, but it sounds pretty accurate. They would (at the right proportions, just neutralize themselves to easily rinsed salts.

Either way, the chemical damage was long enough ago. The brown roots make me think probable overwatering.

I think repot (unless you already have 1 time). Water judiciously (let it dry after watering before watering again). If the leaves look a little dry, that's probably ok (because it lost roots). Maybe a little less light until it starts to grow new leaves (to reduce metabolism and water loss).

If you're consistent with water and you have some good root and a little good leaf, it will come back from the dead.

Rosiefuture · #8 08-09-2010, 02:19 AM

Hi there,

would it be possible for you to post a pic?

You keep mentioning shoots coming up and I'm a bit confused as Phals are monopodial and don't have shoots as such.

Thanks
Marion

Ray · #9 08-09-2010, 08:31 AM

Let this be a lesson to all. It is important to LABEL every container you use to mix or keep any chemical, no matter how innocuous they may be - even the "Water for Misting".

Depending upon the relative ratios of the three ingredients, the solution might have been highly acidic or basic, or neutral, but those dissolved salts can be pretty toxic too.

FYI, vinegar is a pretty good herbicide.

nutgirl · #10 08-09-2010, 11:52 AM

I'm so sorry about your plant.

As was mentioned before, try to post a picture. It really helps.

What is your plant potted in? Have you taken it out to look at the whole root ball?

You may have more than one issue going.

Maureen