could i be on the right path? - Orchid Board

diego_p · #1 12-23-2013, 02:47 PM

So im new to this forum and orchid care. a few months back, my wife bought me a couple phalaenopsis orchids from walmart.
They good and all i liked how the lowers looked (one purple, the other a light green/yellow wiith a slight pink center).
about a month and a half later the blooms were done and off so i took the chance to repot. . . the sight was terrible. im surprised that the leaves were even green at all. i cut away the rotted roots and that was maybe about 85-90% of the root system. no joke the green orchid only has about four nice, plump, good, green roots. and shes the worst.

its been about two months now and the leaves are doing good i placed the orchids in a small cfl grow box and im enjoying tue fact that they are still there, but there hasn't been any activity. i havent noticed any new roots or leaves. am i missing something? or is this justa waiting game now?

this turned out way longer than i planned. so i appologize to all who readthis whole thing, but i appreciate it.

jeremyinsf · #2 12-23-2013, 04:10 PM

Phalaenopsis orchids are not know for their... action. ;-)

If the plants were not in good shape, it will take them time to recover and stabilize before you see the progress. Then one day you might realize - wow, it's going again! So, perhaps give it some time.

diego_p · #3 12-23-2013, 04:29 PM

I figured as much. I just wanted to be sure of it, get another opinion. Even in their dormant/recovery stage I'm excited just because they are green and alive. I passed by the orchids in walmart the other day, and its just a shame that they waste them like that. Its messed up.
Thanks man.

jeremyinsf · #4 12-23-2013, 04:31 PM

You are welcome. Enjoy it and have fun along the way! And come back and post pictures and update us as it progresses if you'd like. Take care!

diego_p · #5 12-23-2013, 04:31 PM

How many orchids survive with such a small amount of roots?
I'm Very curious about that.

jeremyinsf · #6 12-23-2013, 04:46 PM

You would be amazed what people have saved! They say "as long as there is green, there is hope". I've done it myself, and heard of countless other stories.

If you can get your hands on some seaweed extract, it would help a lot. You can search here on the board for lots of posts about that.

Welcome to the orchidboard, btw.

diego_p · #7 12-23-2013, 08:05 PM

Wow, that's fascinating. Thanks again.

Dendy83 · #8 12-23-2013, 08:31 PM

Yes, I have several orchids that were beautiful when I bought them, and not knowing what to look for, brought them home. Once the blooms were done and I looked at the roots did I realize just how bad they were. Some of these "Beginner" orchids have taken upwards of 1-4 months before I saw signs of life, meaning a new root or a new leaf. Unfortunately it will be about a year before they'll probably bloom again. But don't lose hope, these orchids will bounce back and you'll be so proud of the result.

diego_p · #9 12-24-2013, 03:04 PM

how do you attach the pictures? i tried doing it but im notsure it worked.

diego_p · #10 12-24-2013, 03:19 PM

oh hey, it worked. haha. my bad.
any way, i think that the worst of the two is the one in the first two pics, there are still some bad roots that im actually scared to remove they are like, half and half. parts are still green but the other parts look dead so im conflicted.

the other pictures are of the second. that looks better to me (roots) there are two leaves because the rst dropped. i read onine that the lower the humidity the less leaves there are i guess. kinda makes sense. if you dissagree please let me know, I am her to learn after all.