Phalaenopsis Orchid flowers withering? - Orchid Board

norg. · #1 10-04-2012, 12:59 AM

Hey guys. Im very new to keeping orchids and my first orchid is showing signs of distress. Ive had it for around 3 weeks and it has lost 2 flowers already and another 2 are withering. I have been extremely busy with my work schedule so I havent been able to read up on orchids as much as I would like to in the last couple weeks. So thats why Im coming to you!

I water the plant once a week just so that the soil is moist. The light is a 60 watt incandescent bulb in a can light fixture. The room has a adequate air flow, the temperature does however drop to around 65 degrees or so at night. That is about all the background information I can think of... What am I doing wrong?

Also, I tried to post pictures from photobucket and it says they are denied?

dendro king · #2 10-04-2012, 02:27 AM

by the sounds of it your orchid is just losing flowers because they are old or because the move from where ever you got it from stressed it, this happens and its not a bad thing it just means it has to adjust to your conditions for a while.

silken · #3 10-04-2012, 02:29 AM

I think you need to have 5 posts before you can post pics but I'm not sure. Also they need to be downsized to quite a small file size.

Have you checked the roots of your Phal? What is it potted in? Often they come very packed in wet moss. This will not allow air to the roots and will encourage root rot. Usually as soon as I get a new Phal I unpot it and check the roots. If I can do so without disturbing it too much I pull off all the moss and clean up any rotten or hollow roots. Then I pot it in a mix of moss and medium bark. I like a clear pot with good air holes. You should never leave it standing in water and water only when they are nearly dry. If it is in packed moss, often the centre remains wet and never dries out which is not good.

Let us know some details and post pics when you can and we can go from there.

LuvPhals · #4 10-04-2012, 09:45 PM

Yes check the roots! You have to take it out of the pot carefully and pull out all that it's in and see what's going on in there. I have repotted mine in the fir bark mix for Orchids from Home Depot and all have been doing well. Usually within a few days I see one yellow leaf when it's settling into it's new home. The roots may be totally soggy on you right now and eventually you will loose the plant if they are.

norg. · #5 10-04-2012, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silken

I think you need to have 5 posts before you can post pics but I'm not sure. Also they need to be downsized to quite a small file size.

Have you checked the roots of your Phal? What is it potted in? Often they come very packed in wet moss. This will not allow air to the roots and will encourage root rot. Usually as soon as I get a new Phal I unpot it and check the roots. If I can do so without disturbing it too much I pull off all the moss and clean up any rotten or hollow roots. Then I pot it in a mix of moss and medium bark. I like a clear pot with good air holes. You should never leave it standing in water and water only when they are nearly dry. If it is in packed moss, often the centre remains wet and never dries out which is not good.

Let us know some details and post pics when you can and we can go from there.

Ah this would make sense! In regards to posting pictures and the orchid itself. Id like to repot it anyway. I bought it from a local garden store and it came in a tacky pot with a plastic lining that was able to be pulled out. I bought a different pot to put it in but it is still sitting in the bark in the plastic lining. Ill have to take it out of the plastic and repot it! Where would be a good place to buy the materials to repot it? Also, what would I all need to do so?

zxyqu · #6 10-04-2012, 10:53 PM

If its not in moss, it may not need to be repotted at all. If the plastic lining is clear like you say, you should be able to check out the roots by just looking, as this will disturb it less. Before you delve to far into your first orchid addiction, are you sure the flowers are not just old and ready to be dropped (after all, roses don't last forever, but the plant they were cut from is just fine, and will rebloom).
One thing I would caution any phal grower. Low temps are a no-no. These guys love heat. If you're growing in moss, getting into the 60's is gonna rot roots, especially those at the center. I find bark to be a bit more forgiving, but I'd still try and get your night temps up a bit.

norg. · #7 10-04-2012, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zxyqu

If its not in moss, it may not need to be repotted at all. If the plastic lining is clear like you say, you should be able to check out the roots by just looking, as this will disturb it less. Before you delve to far into your first orchid addiction, are you sure the flowers are not just old and ready to be dropped (after all, roses don't last forever, but the plant they were cut from is just fine, and will rebloom).
One thing I would caution any phal grower. Low temps are a no-no. These guys love heat. If you're growing in moss, getting into the 60's is gonna rot roots, especially those at the center. I find bark to be a bit more forgiving, but I'd still try and get your night temps up a bit.

Okay. Ill take a look and try to post a picture for the sake of doing so. I was given information that temp drops at night was a good thing? I can keep my windows closed. My aquarium and computer usually keep the room in the middle 70's which is too hot for my liking but I really want to keep some orchids and keep them properly. Ill get used to the higher temperatures. Haha.

zxyqu · #8 10-04-2012, 11:05 PM

When we speak of lower temps for phals, that's because that helps set spikes. But, from my experience and reading, these are generally changes from say 82-90 into the mid 70's. Remember than the roots will be a bit cooler due to the evaporative cooling within the pot. The lower you get, the more you risk root death and rot. 65 may be just fine in bark, but I promise you, the plant will love higher temps, and will reward with better/more flowers later.

norg. · #9 10-04-2012, 11:20 PM

Ah man... Well is a temp in the 70's adequate for healthy flowering?

LuvPhals · #10 10-04-2012, 11:23 PM

On the repotting I have used Home Depot's Orchid mix - comes in sealed bag. It is a fir bark mix and has no spag and it drains well after watering. Any minor clipping of roots that you do should be done with clean sterile clippers and especially if you have used them on different plants. Repotme.com has a solution called Physam that you soak the clippers in. This is to prevent spread of any diseases. When I have run out of Physam I have used a diluted bleach solution to soak the clippers and then rinse them several times over to get the bleach solution off. Also if you are a smoker than your hands need to be clean and sterile too as something from the tobacco can transfer to the plant.