Orchid problems

[larrylwill]

I have had these Orchids for min 2 years some as long as 4. In the last couple of months I have neglected them due to unforeseen problems. too little or too much water, some maybe diseased. Can anyone take a look and give me an idea of what I can save and what I should discard. There are 2 that need re-potting, the roots are growing out the bottom. I will post several pictures in several posts.

[larrylwill]

more. The biggest problems are on the cats, leaves drying out and getting hard then the plant dies, and some have spots or black streaks.

[wintergirl]

What I would do for first group of plants:
1)Toss
2) Keep, nice new growth there
3)? might be saved, if you really want it
4) Looks like same plant #2 keep
5)? Mostly toss, could be saved but will take work
6)Toss immediately, far away from others
7)Keep
8)Keep
9)Keep
10) Keep

The 2nd group of pictures are all keepers. They need TLC and calcium. Catts leaves get black spots when they don't get enough. I crush egg shells in all my catts media. You may want a more quick acting calcium though for now. The black on the sheath coverings is nothing. Later after they grow more and dry some you can peel those off. Don't do it while the sheaths are still growing though.

[larrylwill]

How much calcium would you suggest. I have some calcium carbonate in pill form 600mg I could desolve in the water. I water with distilled water from a dehumidifier, I use a fertilizer with minerals in it.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by larrylwill

How much calcium would you suggest. I have some calcium carbonate in pill form 600mg I could desolve in the water. I water with distilled water from a dehumidifier, I use a fertilizer with minerals in it.

Plants can't absorb the calcium in human supplements. And, to be perfectly frank, orchids aren't going to readily absorb the calcium in eggshells. Hell, they don't even absorb the calcium in most water supplies very well. The best thing to do is to pick up a Ca/Mg supplement this way you know 1) how much you're actually giving and 2) it's the correct form for the plant to easily absorb and utilize.

It isn't expensive and easily picked up at any hydroponics store or on Amazon.

Side note - not all black spots are a sign of calcium deficiency.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by katrina

< snip>Side note - not all black spots are a sign of calcium deficiency.

Right on, Katrina. With few exceptions, a calcium deficiency will shoe up at growth fronts, usually at the tips of new leaves.

Calcium is poorly translocated within the plant - it doesn't move well from old tissues to new - so if the irrigation water is lacking in calcium, the new-growing tissues will die. A black spot occurring in the older tissue is not a calcium deficiency, as that tissue already has plenty.