Hello!!!! Boy do I have questions!

[Amanda L]

Everyone! I'm so excited to be apart of this forum. I'm not exactly new to orchids, I've had a few Phalaenopsis and a Dendrobium. Sadly, though, they didn't make it . I just bought a Phalaenopsis about a month ago, to celebrate moving into a new house, and am hoping beyond hope that this one doesn't meet the same end as the ones previous. I'm hoping that with some special care and attention and not loving it to death, this one will make it. Hopefully, with the support of knowledable people, like yourselves, I will be able to keep this one for a long time. If it makes it, then i will undoubtly buy more. If it doesn't make it, I won't make anymore orchids suffer from my black thumb.

My questions are as follows:

1) The blooms have fallen off (no worries, I know this is normal), but the flower spike is turning black at the tip and drying out further down, about 3 inches. The spike looks healthy and normal otherwise. I am hestitant to cut it, because I am afraid that I will damage it. I'm cut shy, because I cut a spike from my Dendrobium and it never flowered again, then sadly died from neglect, it was in a room I never go in. 2) I have my new baby in the bathroom, where the best light is. I have it sitting on the side of the bathtub near a window that has the glass bricks (?), anyway, it is about 4 feet from the window. I hope it is getting sufficient light, I don't know exactly how much it needs.
I have 5 cats and can't put it in the windowsills, for fear they will knock it off, I know they will and the plant will get scorched.

Any suggestions would be most welcome, because I am lost and will be very upset if I lose my baby. Thanks!

[tbr202]

Hi. I am new to orchids but not new to bulletin boards, though I find it difficult to figure out how to post here.

I have my first orchid. Am I allowed to post a picture? I bought the orchid because I had always wanted one and I wanted to paint it. While I am old in other things I am a beginning artist.

IS there a good book or website that tells about the care of orchid for dummies?

So far my cat has not eaten it.

Tommy

[Amanda L]

I just today posted for the first time on this forum. i've seen pictures inserted into threads, but don't know how to do it. I'm sure you can. There is a thread that tells you how to do that.
I do believe there is an orchid for dummies book, but haven't seen it. I need that one as well!
My cats eat anything that has a leaf on it. I have to be careful with what I bring into the house. Good luck in your search and from what I've seen this is an excellent source of knowledge.

[Ross]

Hi Amanda and hi Tommy.

Amanda, there are two perswasions (is that spelled right? ) of Phal growers. Those that cut off the flower spike (like me) and those that don't. I feel by cutting off the spent spike, while I may give up a few potential late flowers) I gain in plant vigor and health. It's what works for me. Those that leave the spik on feel the later flowers are a plus. I have found that with my plants the later flower are not as nice as the original and the plant seems weaker in the long run Just my 2 cents.

Tommy, yes you are welcome to post any pictures you care to. Just create your own free Gallery (see side bar to left) and upload the photos of your choice. There are some limitations on type of file and file size, but that's explained. Also there are several threads explaining the whole process such as http://www.orchidboard.com/community...chidboard.html or http://www.orchidboard.com/community...load-pics.html

Welcome to both of you. Tommy, you may want to consider posting a seperate introductory post under this same forum, just so others see you and can give you a proper welcome. Just a thought.

[LinhT]

Hey Amanda,

What is your location? What state are you in? It might help the OB'ers give you even more advice on growing conditions.

[Chubidubi]

Amanda and Tommy

[dgenovese1]

Hi Amanda,

Welcome to the OB!

It looks like Ross has given you great tips on cutting your phalaenopsis spike. I'm including a link here to the AOS culture sheet for Phalaenopsis so that you will have a basic guide to help raise your new baby. By the way, congrats on your new home!

AOS Phalaenopsis Culture Sheet

I thought that I'd add a note about Dendrobium spikes too, as you mentioned them in your opening post. When a Dendrobium is finished blooming, it will not re-bloom on the same spike, so by all means cut those off when they are done. I'm sure that your dendrob didn't die because you cut the spike off.

[Amanda L]

Thanks for all the good advice. No, my Dendrob didn't die because I cut the spike, it died because I forgot about it. That kind of neglect will NEVER befall another of my orchids!
LinhT, I live in Middle Tennessee.