Dying orchid - please help! - Page 2 - Orchid Board

The Mutant · #11 03-14-2012, 05:27 AM

A northeast facing window? Then it's definitely not a too much light issue.

If I were you I would take it out of its pot and inspect the roots, because, as you said, they look strangely "flatish". When you do, how do they look? Are they soft and mushy or dry and hard? How does he stem feel? It should feel firm, any sign of squishyness and it might be stem rot. How fast is this deteriorating happening? Some pics of the roots and stem will be helpful for us.

Do you have any new orchid compost to re-pot it into when you are done with the inspection? If not you should get some (it's always good to have).

namford · #12 03-14-2012, 06:59 PM

Thanks Discus, much appreciate your reply.

OK, so the food numbers are: 3 - 1.5 - 4.5 (thats N-PP-PO).

I actually started misting after one of the other posts suggested it and considering the lack of humidity, I suspect this might be an issue.

As for watering - I was always told never let them stand in water, so I water straight through and out the other end. It never sits in it but the bark does get nicely moist and stays so for about a week.

Mutant - thanks again but i'd rather not take it out the pt. I have no new bark or any idea how to repot so would rather not go down that path. The roots are flat and obviously not happy, but hoping Discus can come up with a suggestion!

Thanks all...

james mickelso · #13 03-20-2012, 06:25 PM

Hello. Though the pictures are fairly good, it is hard to tell the condition of the roots. But from what I can see, the whole plant looks to be dry. Desicated in fact. The leaves look good but the roots look very dry. A couple of options. Just drench it with good quality water. I'd buy bottled water to start with. Drench it and wait until the media starts to appear dry. Then drench it again. I know this seems silly but it is importatn to make sure you don't drown the roots. Question. Are you using "softened" water? Does your water go through a water softening system? Do not use soft water. It has too much salt. Ok now... Another option is to repot it in a better or newer media. The media just looks old and dry. I would opt for a medium size bark with charcol mixed in. There must be someone else around who could give you some pointers on mixes. If your apt is very dry (winter/heating= dry atmosphere. Place the orchid on a pie tin filled with gravel and water. Place the pot on top of the gravel. Make sure the bottom of the pot is not sitting in the water though. Also you might have a spidermite infestation although the leaves look ok. But check the underside of the leaves and especially the leaf axils where they attach to the stem. Little buggers like to hide in there. From the pictures it just looks like your "phaleanopsis" orchid is too dry and in an old mix. Use good clean water, humidity, and medium light.

namford · #14 03-20-2012, 08:20 PM

Thank you James. After reading everyones responses, I started misting twice a day and have been watering more often and I'm delighted to say the roots (in the tub) are beginning to swell up again and get colour.

So, James,I think you are spot on - heating through the winter and no humidity has made this little guy much more thirsty than I knew. I never it thought it possible to underwater - you are always warned about over watering orchids!

I am using just tap water (which is quite hard). Does it make much difference to use bottled?

Regarding the bark, how long does this usually last (how often should you change it)? I thought that if I fed every so often, the bark would get "refreshed" by that? I have no idea how to repot (but can look it up) and I'm scared I may do it more harm if I disturb it. How hardy are they?

I will try sitting it above the wet gravel as you suggest.

Many thanks for helpful & what appears to be accurate diagnosis. Very much appreciated!

Best to all.

rangiku · #15 03-20-2012, 09:59 PM

namford, hard water is fine. Depending on the quality of the bark, it lasts one to two years. Fertilizer is a salt and breaks down the bark. When it starts to feel mushy, time to repot!

And, don't worry about hurting your orchid. They are very hardy. Just make sure to repot your plant in a pot that just fits the roots. They typically don't do well when pots are too big. Roots like to be crowded.

If there is an orchid society relatively near you, I highly suggest you go to a meeting. You can learn so much from the experienced growers there.

AJW · #16 03-21-2012, 12:52 AM

The orchid you have will occasionally drop off its bottom leafs.
Dont worry if the rest of the plant looks fine.
The type of orchid you have is a tropical plant and if you every want to see some magnificent examples go to Singapore they are just amazing there.
A respected commercial grower of these told me that there are two needs apart from the light and temp requirement.
One was when you are looking at the fertilizer requirement while the liquid ferts may provide the basics think about the other elements that may be missing. For example I give my Phal's a small weak dose of Epson salts (tea spoon to a litre of water) once every three months and once a year a dose of dry fert 50-50 Dolomite of lime and slow release grass fert sprinkled over the bark then washed in. Your plants look well so maybe just keep on doing what you are doing.

Paphluvr · #17 03-21-2012, 10:46 AM

Certainly looks like a Phaleanopsis, but I think it needs to be repotted to set it lower in the mix. That would be a good time to inspect the roots and cut away any dead or decayed ones. The present mixture looks rather loose and chunky for a 10 day watering interval.

LilyBean · #18 03-21-2012, 02:11 PM

Glad to hear it's picking up namford. This has been a really helpful thread for a total novice, lots of good advice x

namford · #19 03-23-2012, 04:22 PM

Hi all,

Thanks for your helpful advice. I have learned a lot! Hopefully I can save this little one and know how to better provide for future ones.

Many thanks!
Natalie