first time orchid owner needs help

[jeninhk]

Hey everyone,

if you didnt see my introduction i have just inherited about 40 orchids, and I am really interested in learning to care for them. (please see my intro in the breaking the ice forum)
I know most of my plants have no flowers and i know its harder to identify without flowers but what i am hoping to achieve is just a general knowledge of at least the family and what care the plant needs to survive and even flower. I believe with my untrained eye a lot of the plants need some rescuing.. so this is sort of a rescue mission he he...

So here is a start to some photos... any help would be great..
-it is really hot and humid here in hong kong at the moment
so basic care would be great...
how often should it be watered? how much light? fertilizer? what kind.. ect.. basically i dont know anything about orchids he he

Photo #1 - Any ideas what this wee funny thing is?

Photo #2- Plant 1- is it dead?
Plant 2- is it dying? i think it needs help

Photo #3- this is definitely dying.. its yellowing and has black marks... whats happening?

Photo#4 -????

Photo#5- are these orchids? and if yes they are turning yellow.. how do i make them better??

Thanks in advance!!

[orchidbingo]

Photo #1 - Any ideas what this wee funny thing is?

Photo #2- Plant 1- is it dead?
Plant 2- is it dying? i think it needs help

Photo #3- this is definitely dying.. its yellowing and has black marks... whats happening?

Photo#4 -????

Photo#5- are these orchids? and if yes they are turning yellow.. how do i make them better??

photo 1- don't know but looks to be in the best shape of all

Photo #2
plant 1 looks like a dying phalaenopsis
suggest you pull it out of the pot and post a picture of the roots. It may be possible to save it

plant 2 looks like a very sad oncidium intergeneric- also suggest pulling it out of the pot and posting picture of the roots. Can probably save it

Photo 3 looks like a sunburned cattleya
can you show picture from a different angle so we can see pseudobulbs below leaves? Also pull it out of the pot and show roots. Will probably be ok if roots are ok. Roots will likely need work

Photo 4 Looks like a Vanda. Probably ok since it seems to be putting out huge roots.

Photo 5- Cant' tell from photo. Can you post picture of plant from different angle? Side view and not from the top.

All except photo 1 and the Vanda will need repotting (assuming there are salvageable roots)
Vanda looks to be mounted ok- can you post a picture where the plant isn't in silhouette?

I know lots of people who know more will chime in.

goodluck!

bingo


Everything

[jeninhk]

great thanks for your help.. I am a bit afraid of pulling them.. I dont have potting media at my house.. and since I am new at this I am not very sure where to buy it.. I have just emailed the old owner to ask where she got the supplies.
How long do these plants live out of the potting media?
I am going out to the garden right now to take some better pics for you.

[Psyched]

Hi Jen, welcome to OB.

picture#1: Looks like ascocentrum or some sort, A miniature vandaceous orchid
--> mounted orchid gets dry easily. I think you need to spray this orchid more frequent.

picture#2: A phalaenopsis and oncidium or related.
--> Pull the weeds out and check the roots especially for the phal. They might need to be repotted.

picture#3: I'm 95% sure that this is a Paphiopedilum.
--> they tend to like cool and damn place. Maybe in the summer, put them indoor. They tend to like moist potting media. I think the current media is too porous and does not hold water too well. Might be best to put a plate of water underneath the pot.

picture#4: Vanda teres or the hybrid
--> they like direct sunlight but avoid being exposed to summer sun. Looks just fine to me, maybe increase sun exposure a bit. Water the roots regularly, maybe 2 times a day or 3 times a day if it gets really dry.

picture#5: I can't really tell for sure if this is orchid or not. If it is orchid, probably Cymbidium.

Hope this help for starter.

[jeninhk]

thanks Psyched and bingo for your help so far! I am glad to know that I am on the track of helping these amazing plants survive unfortunately I have a lot more, but i thought to take this one step at a time as to not overwhelm me and you ha ha.. i wish i could just teleaport one of you's here for the day to help identify and better care for them.

I took some more photos as bingo suggested.. i havent yet taken them out of the pots to take pics of the roots yet (waiting on more learning on repotting before i do that) but i hope these views help out more.

Photo #1 (b) - another view of the assumed ascocentrum or mini Vanda- i wanted do these roots look healthy? there are some black dead ones around the green ones.. is this ok?

Photo #2 (b) -dying phalaenopsis - closer look i am not sure that this photo gives you guys enough.. i have since pulled the weeds and took that dead leaf off.. i did notice a very small dead snail near the base of the plant

Photo #3 (b) this is another pic of a vanda below the previous one....i hope its a better pic.. so I should just leave these as is and water it everyday?

Photo #4 (b) orchid or not an orchid... i hope this is a better view...there is also a fern growing in with them.. should i pull that out?

Thanks guys.. this is really exciting!! i am happy to hear that these have hope! i just hope that i can succeed.

[b amateur]

You should ,if you haven't already,pick up a book or two for orchid basics.May I suggest one of the Ortho titles such as'Complete Guide to Orchids' or one of the books by Brian and Wilma Rittershausen such as 'Growing Orchids'.You will find invaluable info on care,feeding and watering,pests[like the little snail you found],diseases,potting,and basic identification at a very reasonable cost.I wish you the best of luck and welcome to orchid board.You are in good hands here. Brad