Orchid suggestions?

[shams]

Ok.... so I have pictures of my orchids though the oncidiums were much nicer when I brought them home a few weeks ago and they were in full bloom

I also have pictures on my dying trio.... I've repotted them this morning, but the roots are all whitish and stringy, though not dead yet... ( I don't think). If anyone has any advice in bringing them back, I'd appreciate it. Especially my Psychopsis! I think it may be a lost cause... but it's been declining since I moved from an apartment to my house. I don't know where I'd find another one!

The last picture is what it looked like when it was blooming in my old place

I'm hoping I'm not killing the new ones already.... I was doing so well in my old place....

[shams]

Also I was wondering if anyone would be going to the Toronto Orchid show Feb 9th. I think I want to try and find myself a new Vanda, and maybe something more interesting. Shopping partners?

[Ross]

I see you're not getting many responses. Do I see lots of moss in the pots? That's a pretty sure sign in our climate of root rot, because the sphagnum moss holds so much moisture. It works sometimes, but most of the time for us northern latitude folks, it doesn't. So first thing, pull the orchid out of the pot. You will find one of two situations. Either the moss is a top-dressing (just to make it look good) in which case you can pull it off and throw it away, or the moss is the main potting stuff. If this be the case, you'll have to repot (and trim the old dead rotted roots off) into a more air passing medium. Some use bark (like fir bark) some use artificial medium like LECA, Aliflor, etc.

[pedecamera]

the orchid show is this part of Canada blooms?

[shams]

When I checked the roots, they didn't look rotted or anything. The dens were packed tightly in moss, but I changed the medium, now it's mostly an Orchid Mix I got from walmart that has charcoal and bark in it as well as some moss on top. I'm worried that the pots they are sitting in will not hold any moisture with the mix alone, as they are rather decorative and have holes in the sides.

I've done the same with my Psychopsis, because I've read somewhere that they like a lot of moisture, and I'm thinking maybe I wasn't watering it enough....

[shams]

The Orchid show is the SOOS Valentine's Show at the Toronto Botanical Gardens. I've never been to an orchid show before, and feel that I may come out of it with a much lighter wallet

[Tommyr]

I LOVE Oncs and grow them in LFS. Let the mix dry almost all the way then water well. Bright indirect light. Cool fall temps to induce spikes. My carnival costume has been blooming for over 2 months now, one had 4 spikes. One is about to open some buds!

[Lagoon]

Bonjour Shams,

What about your lighting
You can put orchids in the best possible media, but without good lighting, they will fail anyways.

There's nothing wrong with growing in moss. I prefer to use a mix of moss and rok - keep it fresh and don't be heavy handed when watering.

I hope you do end up at the orchid show, you can become our OB reporter and give us all the hi-lites.

[shams]

Everything is growing in the kitchen. It faces west, and I've got them in the window and near the screen door. Both have sheer curtains.

[Tommyr]

West window is fine, that's where mine are. No sheer curtain needed this time of year.