Feeling Like an Orchid Failure

[Blondie]

Hello. I'm feeling sad. My brassia kicked the bucket. I'm also failing at keeping one of my minis alive (I have 5). And I have 3 phals that are doing nothing. Well, one is kicking out a new root, but that's it. I feel like a failure. I've killed one orchid and I'm on my way to killing another one. And who knows? Maybe more.

Nothing is blooming. Nothing is spiking. Nothing seems to love me. Is this normal? I read SO many books about orchids. I try so hard. But nothing. They are rejecting me. Yes, I grow in my apt without perfect culture. Yes, I'm a bad fert girl. But come on! Why don't my babies love me as much as I love them?!

I thought you all might understand. If you've killed an orchid, please share. I need the empathy!!

[Neverend]

Okay I understand how you feel, though not as bad as you seem to be. I also have orchids that seem to go RIP under my TLC, but I guess one thing we can make good out of that is some experience on growing them.

Books can only tell us so much, but what we need is experience, I've killed more than 10 orchids before getting my 2 bellinas to bloom, and currently I'm facing the challenge of spider mites attack (curse the weather, changing so horribly right before my exams) All I can really say is that you gotta see how your orchids respond to your actions, if they don't like it, stop it, if they do, continue. People have managed to grow orchids well even when they go against all the norms (look at the guy who grew vandas in vases), so it's all up to trying.

Well, I've killed 2 equestris and I'm trying again as soon as I can find one, so don't get demoralised, until you are very sure you cannot grow certain genera or species of orchids.

[Grandma M]

Some genra just don't like my growing conditions and other love it. I have killed several vandas (I love them) and a couple of cymbidiums, but paphs, phrags, Zygo, phal, bulbo, and a few others do very well for me. I have learned what grows and blooms well in conditions. I try others, but if they die, I have learned something from the experience. I love growing Orchids and get a lot of satisfaction and happiness from having them and caring for them.

Hang in there, and ask for help if needed.

Grandma

[Ray]

Blondie,

The number one question is "what are they growing in?". Unless your growing conditions are way off from what the plants need (that is not likely considering the genera involved), the most likely culprit is improper conditions for the root system.

In orchid growing, when considering what's happening in the pot, the priority is as follows:

1. Air flow
2. Water
3. Nutrition

Try reading the article on Air Management: http://www.orchidboard.com/Orchid-Air-Management

If you can fill us in with your specifics on your potting medium, watering and feeding regimen, and light levels, I'm sure we can steer you in the right direction.

By the way: one is not considered to be an "orchid expert" until you've killed your weight in plants! (I'm just happy that after 40 years of growing, I can still strive for "expert status", having been given addition opportunity by my expanding waist!)

[caseydoll]

Don't feel bad Blondie! It happens to all of us. It's so funny that you should post this thread because I've been feeling the exact same way as you lately! I currently have 2 phals in spike but only because they arrived that way! I have nothing in spike or even close and can't recall the last time one of my plants bloomed. I just had to throw one away yesterday because I was dumb and didn't repot it until after it was done blooming (I bought it in bloom a couple months ago) and it had no roots. I did the sphag and a bag thing but it just slowly fell apart. I had to throw another away a couple weeks ago because it got a fungus while in sphag and bag and rotted. And I have a paph that it looking bad and won't perk up no matter what I do or how hard I beg. I bought a light meter and now I think I must need more light. But I grow them in an east facing front window and my boyfriend won't let me hang light fixtures from the ceiling (go figure!). And I can't afford a lighting system anyway. So long story short, I think i have a bunch of orchids that are just going to be a bunch of green houseplants or something. Hopefully my sad story will make you feel a little better or not so alone.

What happened to your brassia? Maybe your story will help one of us!

[Buds!]

Hi Blondie,
Why don't you post some pictures of your set up. Let us know your care routine, I am sure someone here is able to help. I will certainly try!
Hang in there!
Buds!

[quiltergal]

Hey Blondie you're not alone. Not so long ago I had to toss out a vanda, and a Lc. that croaked from root rot. Nothing else I had seemed to be thriving or blooming. I was not feeding at all, only water weekly. Many of my plants had been in the same pot for years in the original medium. Then I found OB. I began repotting and feeding the chids. I moved them around until I found a spot they liked. They are now kicking out new roots and growth like crazy. One dendro rebloomed for me, and a more recently purchased Blc. just bloomed. I have a little B. nodosa that has a baby spike on one of it's new growths. The key for me was fresh medium, and regular feeding. Finding the right medium for your conditions is sort of a trial and error thing. Fir bark doesn't work for me...breaks down too fast, boom root rot. I'm using coco husk chunks, perlite and charcoal for most of my plants. I have two in semi-hydro that nearly croaked from the transition but both are recovering now. I'll be interested to see how they do in that medium once they have a fully established root system again.

I'm in the process of adding some T5 lights to my growing area. They are kind of spendy but my son works at a hydroponics store and gets a 25% discount on anything in the store. I think I can get 6 four footers for $171.

Don't give up you'll get it figured out.

[gmdiaz]

I think you need a "base of operation". . .someplace with consistent humidity levels & bright indirect sun or flourescent light. . .where you can stash your sickies until you find a course of action to save them! Maybe you could set up a terrarium?

BTW, we, as the lucky lucky band of Orchid Board members don't have to spend time being sad. Help is always at hand! And if your orchid growing goes poorly, and sometimes it will, and you just can't turn the orchids around, buy another one and try again.

We've all made orchid growing mistakes. . .and are hard at it, learning to do better. Keep you chin up!

[Blondie]

You guys are so sweet! I was moaning about my babies the other day and my coworker just stared at me with a funny look on her face. Then I come here and get all the support I need!! Thank you.

OK, here is the brassia. I'm not sure what really happened because I bought it in spike, it bloomed like CRAZY, it spiked and bloomed again, and then it was super healthy for a really long time. Then, the leaves started turning. And one bulb died. Through investigation here, we determined it was just old leaves dying off. Then more leaves started dying. Then more bulbs. Every day, it just got worse. Nothing seemed to be saving it. Finally, I took it out of the pot. The roots were super dry, so I soaked it in a bowl of water for a couple of hours. Then I emptied the bowl and took these photos:



After a couple of more days, the whole thing bit the dust and I had to throw it away. It was my first orchid--may it rest in peace.

As far as the rest of them are concerned, they get tons of air movement. They are near an AC unit and under a ceiling fan which is on all the time. The AC unit points away from them. I leave it set at 82 when I'm away, turn it down for a few hours when I get home, and then turn it back up to 82 at night. They would probably like to be cooler at night, but I can't afford the bill right now. BUT it did start getting cooler last week (we almost had a frost) so I was able to turn it off for a few days and be quite comfortable. They get light in the morning from the east facing windows. Since it has been really hot this summer, I water them twice a week. I slowed that down last week when it was cooler. But I water the minis every couple of days because they dry out SO fast. And the ones in the cage have water under the pebbles and I spray them down every day. Oh yes, and I'm terrible at fertilizer. I'm still working on that. So far it only happens about once a month.

One thing I'm noticing is that the potting medium doesn't seem to be holding onto the roots as much as I would like it to. The pieces are kind of big. Could this be affecting the plants?

Thank you all so much for telling me about killing your orchids. Even though I know it is sad to see them go, hearing that this is part of the deal of being an orchid lover makes me feel good.

OK, pics of where they sit. The little ones are right next to the window:

[reinbo15]

The head grower of a very large scale operation near here said something I think is a bit uplifting to those of us who lose a 'chid here and there:

"I would consider myself and expert orchid grower not because I grow them better than anyone else, but because I have KILLED more orchids than anyone else."

You must lose some here and there to know what NOT to do in the future. It's a growing process. Don't feel bad. Keep trying!