How many to kill before YOU say UNCLE?

[RJSquirrel]

well its a good/bad day.
Tossed my last miltassia/miltonopsis in the trash can today, had me so disgusted with rotten bulbs. All the new growths I had been watching fooled me as they were just hanging and dead .#4 and done. I cant seem to provide what they need being large plants I cant get them the light nor the humidity they had when I got them from the greenhouse. These plants were all too close together and I got some funk on em and it got em all that were huddled in one spot.
Cloroxed the whole work area, scrubbed all the tubs pots, pans etc. Got to keep your work place clean as possible .Then Hosed the plants down with Daconil. Physan 20 is next. I hope I dont have no more fungus/bacteria lurking in places ready to jump up on my plants. Just ruined all my miltassia/miltonopsis and took a brassia and an oncidium also ..

No more, I cant take the pain of killing these plants, I was almost in tears and I'm a grown man. My eyes are watering now, so I have to give up for time being on the large type plants.

I just have to Say NO to lots of things orchid and concentrate on what I can get to grow and respond.
Anyone else gone thru this and had to make a tough decision?
Like the man says " dont matter how much you love them orchids if you cant give them what they need they will die"

I feel like I am a bad man now killing poor helpless orchids that were depending on me..I failed them

[orchids3]

Most people who have very many orchids will loose one once in a while. I think the important thing to do is understand why? We all progress if we just try to understand. Sometime reason fails us. My hobby has progressed to the "Grow from flask" stage. Just killed 40 plants - used the method that was successful with other species - didnt work - should have done my homework before I deflasked the new one. There is a lot of wisdom on the web and in the local Orchid societies - and they love to share. Use what the successful people offer.

[quiltingwacko]

We all have different growing conditions. I have one window that isn't properly insulated and being on the north side of my house, it provides cool or downright cold growing conditions all year. So Restrepias and Masdevallias go there and a couple of Pleuros too. Phals like the southern indirect light in my bathroom. Eastern exposure has the catts, epis, tolumnias, phrags, paphs etc. Also on the east side is the greenhouse we are building, more of a conservatory really. The orchids are taking over my house!!! Anyway, I have killed three lately due to neglect mostly. Though one has never liked it here no matter where I put the thing. One of my orchid friends says if the chids don't like his greenhouse, too bad. I am sure you will find some things that suit your warm climate. I bet you can grow catts better than I can! CArol

[Anisa]

I also got hit by erwinia infection about 2 month ago. In a matter of a few days lost about 10 seedlings, cried a little, and swore not to get orchids anymore. Did some re-evaluation, and one month later got new order of orchids! This time the ones that perhaps will suit my condition better.
Dont be too sad. Of course it is awful to loose an orchid especially large one but think of it as sacrifice for benefit of future orchids. Every time that happens you learn and improve.

[ronaldhanko]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

I just have to Say NO to lots of things orchid and concentrate on what I can get to grow and respond.

Good advice - Miltassia and Miltoniopsis are not the best plants to try and grow in Houston. We used to live there and I don't remember seeing them but very rarely at the Society's meetings or in the shows. We all want to grow what we like best, but there are so many nice things that will grow well where you are that it's best to stick to them.

[RJSquirrel]

I feel better already I know Im not the only one and out of 100 + plants losing 4 or 5 is no big deal..Well it is bec I spent so much time with them it hurts to see them rotted and foul smelling..But one reason I had a little of everything was to see what works for me and what doesnt so this was expected in some small form....I find solice in knowing Im not alone thanks!!

Ill just have to oggle the pretties I cant get to do well and wish you all the luck that passes me up with them!!!!

and TAKE MORE Pictures!!!

[Eyebabe]

Originally Posted by ronaldhanko

Good advice - Miltassia and Miltoniopsis are not the best plants to try and grow...

That is the best advice I could give!
I have never killed any other orchid faster than these...even masdevalias are less demanding.
The unfortunate thing is it usually takes you a good few years to figure out what you are adept at growing.
I also really do like Miltoniopsis and settled for Oncidium/Wisonaria types which are similar enough in flower for me BUT that I can actually grow.

[Roy]

From what I read, I think your major problem has possibly been keeping the Miltoniopsis particularly, too wet. I lost a lot myself by watering too often and using a too finer mix. Miltassia's can suffer the same and are much better growing in wire hanging baskets.

[Angurek]

Squirrel, you just summarized what I've been going through over the past few months, but I've been having problems with different orchids. If you feel you're alone, take heart...it happens to all of us at one point or another. I've cried over my favorite plants, too.

In my case, it's the pescoroids that were once growing so beautifully for me. Right now, my once-glorious Pescatorea lehmannii has been reduced to a lackluster pile of stubs with rotting leads, and a formerly leafy Bollea coelestis has lost most of its fans and is losing its new growths, all because of a godforsaken fungus. My Bollea pulvinaris damped off (to, you guessed it - fungus), my Huntleya fasciata is dead, my H. burtii is dying a slow death, Bollea lawrenceana is loaded with ugly spots, and one of my Pescatorea cerina plants lost all but its newest leaves. I wish I could upload pictures from my phone so you could see the carnage.

I'm not giving up, though. Some of them are producing new fans, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they'll mature. I've already invested in a fungicide (Cleary's 3336, which seems to be working), and I'll replace the lost plants when I have the money to do so. If anything, my plants' untimely deaths have taught me what not to do, and a hard lesson in disease control.

[Izzie]

I think we can all empathize with your frustration RJ. And you know- I am a big fan of just "saying uncle" and taking a step back.

So far, the only ones I've killed have been rescues that were on their way out anyways. So I've learned the hard way to not waste money only in order to give a plant a dignified death. Perhaps in future years when I have more resources and experience, I can take more time away from my healthy plants to save a dying one.
It's a hard lesson to learn for someone that is a "motherer"!

Good luck to you, RJ, and to us all. Life's a learning experience!