Rescued Orchids need help

[krtneywalker]

Hello everyone!

I went to Lowes this morning for something totally different, but I came away with five orchids that were all brown (but with a little green peeking though).

I had to replant one due to green slime being all over the glass container. The other ones I plan on replanting tomorrow

Anyhow, I guess my question is if I should trim the stems back or wait.

The other four rescues are three Dendrobium burana jades and one Phalaenopsis, and one that I'm not really sure what she is, but probably another Phalaenopsis.

Hopefully they will do well.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Hi, welcome to the OB.

I highly recommend returning them for good, strong, healthy plants. There's no need to start off on the most difficult path possible to properly grow orchids. There are plenty of things to learn just from initially purchasing a healthy plant to begin with.

On that note...

They're no good. They're too damaged to make a significant comeback. There's a lot of disappointment waiting to happen if you hang on to them.

Sorry.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Man-made hybrids don't need saving. They're mass produced in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and Taiwan.

Species orchids are the ones that need saving. They're the ones suffering from habitat loss, not man-made hybrids.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I can truly understand the sentimental feelings towards dying creatures.

But there are greater rewards with plants that are strong and thriving - hybrids or species.

[Becca]

I agree in the last two pictures, they (the phals) are too far gone to save. I wouldn't put the time into them. The last picture without the leaves, it should have been free since it has no leaves. The first two are dendrobiums, I think they might make it, but the moss they are potted in is not a good thing for most types of dendrobiums. It will rot the roots pretty fast. Try repotting them in a mix designed for dendrobiums. I like the potting mixes from repotme.com, they are very good quality. Let us know how it all works out!

[PinkCloud]

oh my goodness! I hope they paid you to take those! How long have you been growing orchids? When I started with new plants that were pest free and healthy I managed to loose quite few and those don't seem to be doing well at all.. If you want to try and nurse them back to life I would suggest buying a bucket load of some sort of rooting agent, fungicide, pesticide, new pots, proper media and some bleach to sterilize everything! It's gonna be a long and bumpy ride and most likely you'll lose some but lets hope that at least one will pull through. I would recommend just buying some healthy ones to start of with but if you choose to nurse them back to health we will try our best to help you along with some tips and advice. GOOD LUCK!

[Daethen]

You are a brave, brave soul.

[quiltergal]

Good grief I hope you didn't pay anything for them! They are beyond gone! I agree with Phillip. As a new grower there is plenty you can learn from strong healthy plants. These are just an invitation for disappointment.

Sorry, meant to say welcome to OB!

[pedidiva]

Krtnneywalker~~~

A soulssibling. I do the same thing. I would try to save 'em, too. <I know, I know>. I have to not go by the half-price section anymore.

As PinkCloud said--start with sterile EVERYTHING. AND LOTS of fungicide. A blowtorch would be good (for sterilizing). Pretend like you're a surgeon, cutting off all of the bad stuff.

Keep them away form the rest of you plants. Get a big baggie & make an ICU. The dens may make it. The paph that has the little nub of a green leaf may make it, & I would look upon the roots only as a science experiment.

Good luck. keep me (us) posted.

Pedi

[pedidiva]

You may learn a lot. If you can get these guys to make it, then you will have learned a great deal.