I'm still scared of killing all my plants. How do I get over it?

[Pattywack]

You could kill one, or you could just relax a bit. I have 3 kids, well they are grown kids, 29, 28 and 24. Believe me the orchids are just small stuff, grow them to enjoy not stress out over.

[801229001]

I don't really care if one of the cheap ones dies. Its good experience for when you move on to the expensive plants

[astrid]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

Kill one.

I've killed a few!!

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by astrid

I've killed a few!!

Apparently not enough!

[gngrhill]

Growing orchids is supposed to be FUN. So, kill a few if you must we all have, then use the empty space to buy more

[RandomGemini]

I agree... kill a few more. You clearly haven't killed enough.

My Ada Aurantiaca is going to die. At first I thought it was just a leaf tip issue. So, I cut off the leaf tips, disinfected everything... and for a while, it was fine. Then I found a rotted pbulb. Cut it. No sign of the evil purple ring. Figured, "Okay, must be ordinary aging." and for a while it was fine... now the whole plant is rotting from the roots up.

I don't have the conditions to grow this plant and I've tried and tried for six months to make it work... and it's just not thriving. I think repotting it to what I thought would be a better medium, is exactly what has done it in. I'm bummed, but I'm not freaking out.

I'm gonna buy a plant to replace it and move on. I have the pictures of the flowers though. It did bloom for me once. Just the once. I wish I could have kept it alive, but it's just not meant to be.

[dbarron]

Astrid, I worry that I water too much, and all the roots will die...not that they'll shrivel up like a cute little grandma. I can see the shriveling, i can't see the roots dying
Oh...wow, there's a new saying for you to worry about.

What about: Wow, the plant is growing so well, I just KNOW there's rot underneath, I must unpot it and inspect it ?

[astrid]

Originally Posted by dbarron

Astrid, I worry that I water too much, and all the roots will die...not that they'll shrivel up like a cute little grandma. I can see the shriveling, i can't see the roots dying
Oh...wow, there's a new saying for you to worry about.

What about: Wow, the plant is growing so well, I just KNOW there's rot underneath, I must unpot it and inspect it ?

Oh god that one is great!!
Hahaaaa! I absolutely know that feeling. I seriously wish I could unpot and repot my orchids like once a week because I worry so much about what lurks below. And I even grow my orchids in ALL clear pots! I can see their roots!! Oh I am just an anxious person haha

[Skycat]

Since roughly half of my orchids are Phals, I get "oh no this non-Phal's roots are NOT GREEN, THEY MUST BE ROTTING. Never mind the fact that they're still light-colored and there's a crapload of them!"

[dbarron]

I do understand the overwatering part and the clear pots. I'm using clear pots to try to get my hands around my new babies (paphs).
I actually worry like you...about under and mostly overwatering.

Edit:

Ok, you guys are awful, I look at beautiful photos and want things. I went and added a miltonopsis to an outstanding order.

I will now have to bear the weight of seeing crinkly leaves if I fail to water enough...and crinkly leaves for 2 or 3 years somewhat rend my soul. Now I must fear underwatering even more.

See what you've done?