HELP!!! - Orchid Board

sabinawr · #1 08-26-2009, 12:31 AM

I just got 2 orchids as a gift and now what?

If you would help me identify them that would be great, please I don't want to kill them

zxyqu · #2 08-26-2009, 01:59 AM

Hello sabinawr, and welcome to OB. The first three pics are of a phaleonopsis orchid, and the later two are of the cattleya orchid family, I'm pretty sure. I dont know on identifying these, as without an identification card, it would be difficult, especially for the phal. As to taking care of them, that'll vary a little between where you are, and your conditions. But a good window that receives indirect light would be great for it. Watch the roots inside to decide when to water it. When the roots go silver, time to water, if they are green, you can wait a bit. Brown, or black roots may be dead, so ignore those until the blooms drop. Use a balanced fertilizer, "weakly" weekly, or about a teaspoon per gallon of water. Like I said above, watering will be a little variable, sometimes earlier than a week, sometimes later. I'm sure other questions will pop up, so feel free to ask. There are some incredibly helpful people on here, so I'd be surprised if noone had an answer. Welcome!

zxyqu · #3 08-26-2009, 02:00 AM

Also, post some more pics when you can, showing us the roots. Hopefully we can help you tell if the plant is healthy. Also hopefully some of the Catt people will hop on and correct me if I mixed up anything above.

Junebug · #4 08-26-2009, 05:18 AM

The last two photos look like a Dendrobium to me.

buckie · #5 08-26-2009, 05:25 AM

DEN they are, have tried growing these in the same place,,,,WOOPS,, not a good idea,,they have different requirements.

Warren

RosieC · #6 08-26-2009, 10:29 AM

Hi sabinawr and welcome to Orchid Board

The first is a Phalaenopsis hybrid of some sort and the second is a Dendrobium hybrid, probably what's referred to as a Dendrobium phal type hybrid.

Here are the caresheets for these...

Phalaenopsis - Orchid Board

Dendrobium - Orchid Board

Dendrobium can be a little difficult to understand what you need to do, because their is a vast range of them with very different requirements, but if (as I believe) yours is a Den Phal then it does NOT need a winter rest like some of them. Also I look after mine in a similar way to my Phals but with a little more light, and so far it's doing OK (well it's growing and not dying anyway

)

RosieC · #7 08-26-2009, 10:31 AM

I meant to say that the leaves on both look a little dark, but that may just be due to lighting of the pics.

If they are dark like the pics show then I think they need brighter light, but never move them suddenly, gradually up their light if you need to.

sabinawr · #8 08-26-2009, 10:33 AM

thanks, looks like i have some serious nursering coming....
Should I change the pots (they are in small plastic you have soup to go) or wait when the flowers will drop?
I left them in the kitchen for now since I heard they like humid- a lot of cooking so is steamy.
Could I put them in the garden for the rest of the summer?

RosieC · #9 08-26-2009, 11:50 AM

The pots look fine to me, provided they have holes in the bottom. Clear plastic pots are great because you can keep an eye on the roots. Personally I put a decorative ceramic/glass pot outside the plastic one for looks. Provided it's not too tightly fitting that would be fine if you want it to look nicer.

More important on the question of whether you should repot now is the condition of the medium. Many people like to repot as soon as they get a new 'chid to ensure their roots are in good condition. I sometimes do, but I wait for the blooms to drop if the medium looks OK (it should be mostly pieces of bark, once it starts breaking and getting compacted down it needs changing).

If you repot you may risk loosing the blooms. Phals generally cope well and don't loose them, I'm not sure about the Den. Generally the opinion is that ensuring the roots are in good condition is more important than blooms and I agree with that... although I sometimes risk it if the medium looks OK and I can see lots of fat nice roots through the pot.