Can this orchid be saved?

[ocpaul]

Hi,

I am not an orchid grower per se, but I have a question about a plant we were given about a year ago. Unfortunately I cannot tell you the name of the plant, but I do know it is some type of orchid.

Here goes - The plant has a number of green leaves at the bottom and originally had a single stalk or cane that had a number of bud locations when we got the plant. After some time we got a number of blooms (3 or 4 as I remember) that were very long lasting and very nice to look at.

After the blooms died off the stalk started to dry up starting at the top. After a couple of months I cut the stalk back to where it was still green in hopes of forcing some new growth. However, that did not work and the stalk became dry and brown all the way down to the leaves and the roots which protrude from the growing media. So, I cut the apparently dead stalk all the way down thinking that eventually a new stalk would start up from one of the exposed roots. After a number of months, no activity.

The leaves and roots still appear to be healthy. A photo is attached.

Is there something that can be done that will start a new stalk growing so that we can see more flowers from this plant?

Thanks in advance for your help.

OC

[shakkai]

You have a Phalaenopsis orchid - and yes, it will rebloom for you. From the photo it looks like it is growing a new leaf, which is a good sign. Phals quite often follow a flower -> grow leaf -> flower cycle. Your plant looks to be in good shape, nice and healthy, with good roots - as you say. I'd just keep doing what you are doing, and once the new leaf matures, you are likely to see flowers again.

Here is some more information on Phalaenopsis:
http://www.orchidboard.com/Phalaenop...ure-Care-Sheet

Hope it helps! And good luck with your plant.

[ocpaul]

Thanks for the reply Shakkai!

Glad to hear this plant will likely bloom again.

That said - other than providing good light, nutrition and water, is there anything else I need to do to get it to grow a new stem? Or is growing a new stem part of what orchid experts call blooming?

Thanks again.

OC

[shakkai]

The new stem is the flower spike - sometimes Phalaenopsis need a slight drop in temperature to trigger the spikes to form. However, personally, I wouldn't worry about trying to arrange that unless you don't see a spike form when the new leaf is complete.

To recognise a new spike, check around the base of the leaves in the area where the roots grow out from. Here are some photos that might help showing new spikes just starting to form:
Monthly Status Reports - Including November reports

[Ray]

As Shakkai mentioned, temperature plays a significant role in blooming. For literally decades, we all pretty much had the understanding that a day/night temperature drop of 10°-15°F was needed to initiate spiking. Recent studies have shown that that's not exactly correct.

It seems that at elevated temperatures, phalaenopsis grow vegetatively, but at slightly reduced overall temperatures, they will initiate the growth of inflorescences. So in reality, what we're looking for is about a 10°F reduction in average growing temperature for a few weeks.

Do not let the plant get below 50°-55°F, and if I may make another suggestion, it looks like that puppy is being grown a bit too dry. If it was mine, I'd add more of that bark medium to cover those roots, and water more frequently.

[ocpaul]

Shakaai and Ray,

Thanks a million for the inputs - I'm amazed at the response - looks like I am going to have to try to save this puppy!

Happy New Year!

OC

[ocpaul]

Ray,

Just wondering if the type of light also has an effect. Does more blue light encourage vegatitive growth and more red light spiking and flower production?

OC

[cupcake]

Of course you could always buy another to keep it company, and to have blooms to look at

[Ray]

OC - If I recall correctly (questionable, especially with increasing age), the red end favors growth, blue favors flowering. However, it is not a good idea to enhance only one, as the plants need both to grow strong and healthy, and that's what gives us the best blooming.

[Neverend]

It looks alright.. but maybe you should take a clearer photo , just so we can spot any diseases or pests.