Dtps. Joy Green Bee doesn't bloom!!!

[denvervet]

I got this Dtps. at Lowes two years ago, it was very limp and grayish. I re-potted it with large bark and it grew several keiki's. None of the orchids have ever done very well, its in a light where my Phals flourish. I live in a very dry climate and the orchid dries out completely before I water it which is 2 X a week and mist it then also. It has growth but its very slow and the original orchid has never bloomed, you can see the pathetic picture of them all. I seem to have luck with many different types of orchids blooming and this one has me stumped. I feed it full strength 2 X a month, there is air moving around the orchids also.

Anyone have any advice about this orchid? Should I be posting this in a different forum? Please help.

[Ordphien]

They look very dehydrated.
If it were me I would change the media and watering schedule.
I never let my phals dry out completely.
Just damp.
You could just water more.
I am a lazy waterer and just add in more moisture retaining media.
I use half bark half sphagnum. Which allows me to water once a week with a light watering in between.
On the flip side the media could be too wet and rot the roots.

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[denvervet]

I will take your advice, right now I dont have sphaghum moss but I have those little round clay balls, I don't know what they are called, I am going to try them since I can't get to the store for a while due to snow and stuff like that and I no longer drive. For now I will just take the keiki's and do that and deal with the mother plant at a later date. How much light do you think this variety should have and is it the same feeding schedule as Phals?

[Ordphien]

You don't have to use my mix.
For now I would just water more.

I would just treat it like any other phal. Bright light. I'd hold off feeding too much. Lightly at first till they get more established.

They look way over potted as well.
Good luck. They look like they have a good chance.

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[quiltergal]

I agree they are potted in too large a pot. They do look dehydrated, but that can be as a result of too much water and the roots rot, or not enough water. If I were to guess I would say they have been watered too much for the size pot they are in, and the roots have rotted. The first thing I would do is check the roots and go from there. When repotting the roots should just fit in the pot snugly. If your pot is too large the center really never dries out and the roots in the middle will rot.

[mattryan]

I agree with them being over potted. I would also up the light. I put all my phals under lights several months ago and I have almost every phal spiking (34). I got several that I bought on sale rack to set spikes this year. Also I believe that using clay pots dry out faster than plastic. Goodluck

Cheryl

[denvervet]

I believe you folks all figured it out. They have always been over-potted and I checked them, they should be pretty dry since tomorrow is watering day and they were wet in the middle as you said. Here is a picture of them now, re-potted, best I can do for them at the moment. THANK YOU so much!