Is this Orchid dyiing?

[Jo Ann]

Originally Posted by suefourmet

I'll try to get some bark as soon as this darned storm goes away, and then will repot.

Sue

Hi Sue,

I saw a little in yesterday’s newspaper about some of the weather you’ve been having stay safe…and glad to meet you...

[christina waines]

there is another product which I use to disinfect roots etc. It is homemade and I got the recipe from a member of the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Orchid Societies. it is: 170ml 35 % Hydrogen peroxide + 70 ml Rubbing alcohol + afew drops dish soap. Mix in 1L water and keep on hand for disinfecting roots and such. After you've repotted your baby keep the humidity really high around the plant and nice and warm temps. Plus I strongly urge you to use KLN in your watering program for the next couple of months to encourage lots of healthy root growth. Oh PS the grower I got this recipe from regularily wins CCms and HCC's at the shows! She grows fantastic plants and is one of my mentors

[suefourmet]

Originally Posted by Jo Ann

Hi Sue,

I saw a little in yesterday’s newspaper about some of the weather you’ve been having stay safe…and glad to meet you...

Thanks, Jo Ann.
It's been quite a week. First about 2 1/2 feet of snow, then about 8 inches of rain and now it is snowing again.
I'm using the indoor time to read more about orchids and do a little repotting. Any suggestions for good orchid books?

Sue

[suefourmet]

What is KLN, please?

Sue F

[Ross]

Hi Sue, haven't had the pleasure of meeting you yet. KLN is a rooting concentrate marketed by Dyna-Gro. Lots of us use it in a couple ways. At times of transplant when roots may be in shock or if you feel the need for the plant to have more roots (say you've clipped a bunch off) then you'd use a strong mix (label says 1 tsp/gal water). Many of us use it routinely as an admixture with the fertilizer to just encourage lots of root growth (we love roots ) Hope this helps.

[Gwenchanter]

Thanks for posting the pictures, Sue from lake arrowhead. I grew up in Orange County myself and we used to go camping up there!

I'm definatly not an expert but my phal orchids do that too. I just cut the bottom leaves off with my shears when they start looking bad like that. I grow my orchids outside here in Florida so they don't always look picture perfect but they give great flowers. As long as the top two leaves are looking good I think thats really what counts.

Thanks for posting the picture of the Keiki! I have a Dtps too but never seen a Keiki on one. Now I know what to look for!

[suefourmet]

Thanks, Ross.

KLN sounds like something I should keep handy. I just discovered an orchid supply place that's fairly close to me - yea, no shipping fees! I'm hoping to pick up a few things that I need to have on hand. Any other items that any of you would recommend that I can't (shouldn't) live without. The orchid supply place is Calwest and it looks like they have a pretty good selection.

Sue F

[Ross]

Originally Posted by suefourmet

Thanks, Ross.

KLN sounds like something I should keep handy. I just discovered an orchid supply place that's fairly close to me - yea, no shipping fees! I'm hoping to pick up a few things that I need to have on hand. Any other items that any of you would recommend that I can't (shouldn't) live without. The orchid supply place is Calwest and it looks like they have a pretty good selection.

Sue F

Sue, my arsenal includes KLN, Physan 20 (which is not a rot treator, but is an effective algaecide/fungicide, and pretty good against mold that tends to get on pots, mounts, etc. Thiomyl (which is a systemic rot treating agent useful for root rot and leaf rot), and MSU fertilizer blend for RO water. Let me know if you need sources. Be aware, Thiomyl is a pretty strong agent that should not be used carelessly.

[suefourmet]

Gwen,

From the few pictures I've seen, I thought keikis grew from the base of the orchid. I'm pretty excited that I might actually have kept something alive long enough so that it sort of reproduces. (Sorry folks, I am absolutely lost in about what to call things, but I'm trying to learn the proper terms as fast as I can.) I do plan on joining a local orchid society and expect (hope) that I can learn a lot from the people with more expertise.

Sue F

[cb977]

Calwest is great! I've ordeered from them a number of times...and paid shipping charges

I always have KLN, SuperThrive, Physan20, Thiomyl, Bayer's 3-in-1 and good old brown Listerine within hand's reach I use MSU for Rainwater fertilizer which I order from Ray at Welcome to First Rays Orchids