weekly care

[Kali Hibiscus]

I have been watching my new and first orchid daily making sure its doing ok. ( I look over all my plants daily lol)

It seems to dry out pretty fast due to the media that came with it. I am soaking it now and added some fertilizer. When fertilizing do you fertilize weekly ? or with every watering? So Far it looks like I will be watering this plant every 2 days or 3 days.

I checked the media and its bone dry but the orchids leaves are still erect and firm.

[Bud]

Follow your instincts when watering. I am sure it is new media thats why it dries fast and doesnt retain the moisture yet...but soon it will retain moisture and then you must lessen your watering regimen; after 4 months you need to water them as needed...fertilizer is weekly weakly...remember you are in LA...you have moisture in your atmosphere so you can grow them outdoors as long as theres no frost yet

[Kali Hibiscus]

Originally Posted by Bud

Follow your instincts when watering. I am sure it is new media thats why it dries fast and doesnt retain the moisture yet...but soon it will retain moisture and then you must lessen your watering regimen; after 4 months you need to water them as needed...fertilizer is weekly weakly...remember you are in LA...you have moisture in your atmosphere so you can grow them outdoors as long as theres no frost yet

Thanks Bud. I live in apt and I only get sun on my balcony in spring and summer. So it will stay inside and maybe let it go outside for real sun but the main light source will be the t5 lights.

[Arenalbotanicalgarden]

Use your nose. If it
"smells" dry. Water it.
Humidity within a pot has an odor of sorts.
Just try it. Soak it and smell it. When that smell is no longer there it's time to water again.

Originally Posted by Arenalbotanicalgarden

Use your nose. If it
"smells" dry. Water it.
Humidity within a pot has an odor of sorts.
Just try it. Soak it and smell it. When that smell is no longer there it's time to water again.

Interesting. I usually go by pot weight and it never occured to me to smell them.

[Leafmite]

If using an inorganic fertilizer, to avoid salt build-up (which can hurt roots), flush the media well about once a month. I use lava rock so I really have to be careful but fertilizer salts build up in any type of media that retains moisture. Enjoy your orchid!
Leafmite

[Kali Hibiscus]

I have one more question. In my book it says the pseudobulbs should be plump. Mine seem to have a bit of a wrinkle. Should I soak it for a few more days at 30 mins each ? I know home depot probably did not water this plant right. One of the smallest pseudobulbs had one leaf that came off ( this was brown and dead when i bought it)

[WhiteRabbit]

What type of media is it potted in? If you haven't repotted the plant, the media is likely old, and retaining moisture. Are you checking the media below the surface for moisture? Poke your finger in and inch or so, or better yet, use a freshly sharpened pencil to poke into the media (the newly exposed wood will easily show if there is moisture by becoming darker) - or use a bamboo skewer in the media.

As for condition of the canes, can you post pix? Older canes will SLIGHTLY wrinkle. New growth should be smooth. Overwatering will also cause canes to shrivel/wrinkle, as roots rot the plant cannot take up water. If you haven't already, pull the plant out of the pot to check the roots.

[Cym Ladye]

I am surprised no one has asked what kind of orchid you have? "All orchids are not created equal", and "More orchids are killed with too much water than with too little water".

CL

[Kali Hibiscus]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

What type of media is it potted in? If you haven't repotted the plant, the media is likely old, and retaining moisture. Are you checking the media below the surface for moisture? Poke your finger in and inch or so, or better yet, use a freshly sharpened pencil to poke into the media (the newly exposed wood will easily show if there is moisture by becoming darker) - or use a bamboo skewer in the media.

As for condition of the canes, can you post pix? Older canes will SLIGHTLY wrinkle. New growth should be smooth. Overwatering will also cause canes to shrivel/wrinkle, as roots rot the plant cannot take up water. If you haven't already, pull the plant out of the pot to check the roots.

It is in medium fir bark. I poured the media out 2 times to look at the roots. They where white. I need to get my camera from my friend so I will see if I can take pics with my cell and post them.