Am I being too panicky? Help/advice pls!

[bnaz]

Hello. c: I've had my two orchids (both Phals: one mini, one 3") for about a week now. They were both in bloom when I bought them, and I repotted/fertilized both upon arrival. I've got them both in their own personal humidity trays, sitting in a thin layer of water in a 5-gal acquarium to help raise humidity levels, since I read this is what orchids like. Today, I noticed a couple of the blooms on my mini Phal are looking a little softer, like they're wilting. :c I hope I'm not doing something wrong. The leaves on the larger Phal seem to be a little softer too. I might just be panicking because I'm a new orchid owner, but I was wondering what your advice might be?

I have a hygrometer. Outside of the tank, it reads about 70-degrees and 48-50% humidity. Inside the tank, it averages about 60-63% humidity during the day and 73-degrees. Looking at my hygrometer now, it's reading 71% humidity. It seems to increase nightly, then dip down during the day. Is this alright? Should I water and fertilize my plants tomorrow? I don't know where to begin with the troubleshooting-- or if the wilting flowers are even really a problem.

Here's my current set-up (it's still a work in progress):

[Kelo]

Originally Posted by bnaz

Hello. c: I've had my two orchids (both Phals: one mini, one 3") for about a week now. They were both in bloom when I bought them, and I repotted/fertilized both upon arrival. I've got them both in their own personal humidity trays, sitting in a thin layer of water in a 5-gal acquarium to help raise humidity levels, since I read this is what orchids like. Today, I noticed a couple of the blooms on my mini Phal are looking a little softer, like they're wilting. :c I hope I'm not doing something wrong. The leaves on the larger Phal seem to be a little softer too. I might just be panicking because I'm a new orchid owner, but I was wondering what your advice might be?

I have a hygrometer. Outside of the tank, it reads about 70-degrees and 48-50% humidity. Inside the tank, it averages about 60-63% humidity during the day and 73-degrees. Looking at my hygrometer now, it's reading 71% humidity. It seems to increase nightly, then dip down during the day. Is this alright? Should I water and fertilize my plants tomorrow? I don't know where to begin with the troubleshooting-- or if the wilting flowers are even really a problem.

Here's my current set-up (it's still a work in progress):

OK, why did you re-pot them and fertilise them after you bought them? It could be that the flowers are wilting because of shock when moved from where you bought the plant and being placed in its new home. this is very common. Unless you live in a very arid climate you shouldn't really need to set them in a high humidity environment although they will like it. Normal background humidity will work for them too. The reason the humidity goes up at night is because as the air temps fall more water is released into the atmosphere (warm air holds more water) so you will get a higher reading - then mould could be a threat so I would suggest getting a fan to move the air around them. Fertilise them three times out of four waterings during the growing season and once in every four waterings in the winter when they as slower.

[RosieC]

For Phals I don't bother about keeping humidity high. As Kelo said, unless you are in a really arid area general the general humidity should be fine. Some orchids like higher humidity than others, but Phals do pretty well just on our window-ledges.

The flowers dropping would not worry me, as Kelo said it could be just the change in environment that causes that.

Leaves going soft is more worrying to me. I would agree that you might need more air movement if you keep them in a tank. While Orchids like humidity they don't like very still humid air. Generally when people grow in tanks they use a small fan on a timer to move the air around.

Are the leaves soft, or limp. I'm not sure I can explain the difference, but I'm thinking like soft rotting, or limp due to not enough water. You said you repotted, what sort of condition were the roots in? Do you ensure they are NOT left with water standing in the cache pots. Do they dry between waterings? I noted that my MIL kept water in the bottom of the cache pots below where the inner pot was, it raised humidity in the pot which made them dry slower and need less watering (but she watered once a week regardless and so ended up over-watering them). Remember that a plant not taking up enough water can be due to over-watering/rotting or roots as much as it can be due to under-watering.

[quiltergal]

What sort of media did you repot them in? If it was fir bark or coco both need to be soaked 24 hours before use or the media will not retain enough water. That could be the cause of your softening leaves.

Flower drop is not uncommon at all when you repot while in bloom. I wouldn't worry about that too much.

Rosie is right about the humidity. Phals really don't care much.