New, Green, Uncertain! Need help with trimming stem

[gladyjane]

My windowsill orchid, a Dendrobium burana, from the local Trader Joe's is my talisman of sorts for staying alive after moving into an apartment for the first time. I've killed several plants, at least two orchids, so five months of this feisty plant is doing it for me! Watered it once a week off the tap, and its first stem of 7 flowers is finally spent. Two weeks ago, another stem started to push out, and 7 more buds are about to burst into bloom any day it seems. Do I trim just below the lowest flowering node of the first stem?

Excited that I haven't killed that one yet, I picked up an Oncindium this morning. Any tips to keep this okay will be most welcome.

Thanks!

[Dorothy]

Please make a proper Introduction in Break the Ice
We would love to hear more about you, your orchids
and/or your wish list!
and of course,
Show us your little success!

[gladyjane]

Sorry, I thought replying to a thread on Introductions would do the trick. What do I do? Thanks.

[Dorothy]

You did everything right
I didn't realize you were posting in intro
Mea Culpa!
I have to stop multitasking when I am writing posts.

My eyes are all over the place except where they should be

[justatypn]

When the last flower drops, cut your flower spike halfway down the stem. Afterr cutting the stem with a clean, sharp blade, seal the cut with melted candle wax or cinnomon powder to prevent bacterial infection. A bloom most likely will occur if you continue to carre properly. the rebloom should flourish up to 4 months. Continue with normal care.

As for your onicidium...when you first receive your Oncidium choose a spot for it and move it from that spot as little as possible. Once the plant gets acclimated to a certain location, they tend to stay the healthiest when left in one spot. After you receive the plant wait 10-12 days before watering it, after the first watering, water it once a week. When watering is complete, ensure that all the residual water has drained from the bottom of the pot. It is normal for the leaves and stem of the plant to have a "bent" almost drooping look and is natural with all Oncidium.

AOS info for oncidium. http://www.aos.org/aos/uploadedfiles...edoncidium.pdf

[Ray]

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

I would have sworn she said "dendrobium".

Dens generally do not rebloom from old inflorescences. I let them turn brown and dry up, then remove them completely.

[Lin]

That's what I thought as well.

[justatypn]

Your both correct, merely went by the subject line. Many newbies get names incorrect, we have all been there as we learn to grow with orchids. The statement above is for a stem blooming orchid, with nodes...phal??? was my guess. On the other hand she could have gotten the phrasing/wording incorrect as well...and than again...could have been a senior moment on my part