Flowers wilted after 2nd day of purchase

[Rinikusyuniati]

I bought a pot of orchid over the week ends, the flowers are purpule and really tiny with very thin petals. They are really pretty but very fragile. The leaves are long and thick and its stem really thin. I have yet to figure exactly what kind of orchid it is. I sprayed some water onto its roots as what i was told by the store worker. But on the second day after bringing the pot home, the flowers have wilted.. Is it normal? I also noticed really tiny spouts on the stems where the flower use to be on. So am at a lost as to what I should do next. I have read through some articles and posts on this website saying that it needs repotting and to cut the stems after blooming? Is the wilting process considered the after blooming stage? or did i do something wrong for the flowers to have wilted so quickly?

[Ordphien]

Pictures!

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[The Orchid Boy]

Yes, it can be normal, especially if you bought it from a non-orchid specialist.

[Rinikusyuniati]

I see.. What would you recomend to do to keep the the plant healthy and potentially bloom again?

[Bill U.]

It is extremely difficult to give you recommendations on the culture of your newly acquired orchid without knowing the type of orchid it is, as the culture requirements for various genera can be extremely different. Please post pictures and that can give us a start on how to help you better!

[Rinikusyuniati]

Thanks Bill! I will get some pictures posted as soon as I can!

[yousillygirl]

Rinikusyuniati, where did you buy the plant?

I notice that most of the gardening centers in Singapore buy imported orchids from Taiwan or Thailand, unpack them immediately and slap them out on the table for a quick sale. However I think these many changes in environment - from the overseas grower, then the refrigerated shipping, then the garden center, then your house - causes a lot of stress to the plant. As a result there is premature bloom fading and bud blast.

There are a number of orchid farms out by Choa Chu Kang which breed and grow orchids right here in Singapore -- the plants are already adapted to SG weather and growing conditions. I see far less problems with flower drop and bud blast when buying a plant grown locally.

Plus, it's a treat to see the huge variety of orchids that they grow - fields and fields of every color you can imagine, it's just beautiful.

Each farm seems to have a specialty, although they all have a little bit of everything -- I recommend Woon Leng Nursery (they specialize in phalenopsis); Toh Gardens (vanda, dendrobium); and Song Orchids for everything else (they carry types I have not seen in most SG nurseries- paphs, phrags, cattelya, brassavola, tolumnia).

The only problem is that Choa Chu Kang is quite a schlep from where I live... so I then I have to justify the long trip and cab expense by buying more...

[Rinikusyuniati]

Hi yousillygirl,
Thanks for your post. I got my pot from the nursery along upper Thomson Road. I will visit the orchid farms that you've mentioned and see what i can do to save the one with me now. Will leave an update with pictures after my visit to the orchid farms! Thank You!