Hello from Ohio

[Grandma M]

Welcome Bob:

I'm sure you will find you love the site. There are wonderful people here who will be very willing to answer your questions, give advice, and make you feel like we are all your friends.

I feel sad because of your loss. Hopefully you will find comfort caring for the orchids which gave her so much pleasure.

I also started growing orchids late in life. After my husband died from cancer, I felt lost. My son gave me an orchid plant as a gift and the collection just grew from there. I have found that caring for my plants filled some of the lonely times, gave me something to take my mind off the sad memories, and gave me sunshine in my life again.

Please feel that you can always come here for orchid answers, and a lot more, recipies, jokes, and a lot of 'fun stuff'....and fun people, can also be found here.

are you ready to give us opportunity to help you learn the care necessary for those babies. You might even see your collection grow, we are great enablers.

Marilyn

[bellini girl]

Bob. sorry for your loss. I know that looking after the 'chids is bound to keep you occupied with good thoughts and memories.

Lecent

[Ethan]

Bob, I'm afraid your zygopetallum doesn't look so well. It looks kind of like mine! Maybe it's the Ohio winters that do it!

Those brown leaves look like the newer ones and I can't see any new growth. But I always say if there's still green there's still hope!

Anyone have any ideas?

By the way, nice job at posting the picture in the post!!

[sarahrm]

Bob, welcome to OB. I symphatize with you on your loss and the pain you are going through.

I have 2 zygos. They don't mind cooler weather. From looking at yours, I do see some green healthy leaves on the bulb further back. I think there is still hope. I don't know why the closer leaves are so brown. Maybe the did not get watered for a while? They are not limp, so I don't think they got overwatered.

I would suggest reading up on zygo culture, that may help the most. I hope you can help this plant. It has a beautiful scent My husband thinks the zygo is the most beautiful orchid I have, and he wouldn't mind if the entire collection consisted of zygos. So, they must be really beautiful, right. I hope you can get yours back in tip top shape.

[cb977]

Zygos don't do well for me so I can't offer any personal tips but maybe this will help?

Orchid Care - Zygopetalum

Zygopetalum Orchids

Basic Zygopetalum Culture

[editorbob]

Darn, I was kinda hoping you'd be inspired. Thanks for the effort, though. Down here, our Ohio winters usually get the orchids blooming -- the phalaenopsis especially -- and we've set the thermostat for a nice nighttime variation (70 day v. 65 night), with plenty of humidity. (I know it's generally colder up where you are.)

I'll post over in the beginner's forum, too, so maybe more people will see it.

Anyone with any insight, please reply! Thanks in advance.

[editorbob]

Susanne B -- Thank you for the links. I'd been to the orquideas one, and a couple of others, before I found you guys. those other two I hope will be useful as well.

As far as I can tell I'm doing everything right -- at least, I'm doing what these sites all say to do. Our front window faces East by slightly North, and so far nobody's been burned.

I'm worried it's a virus or something, but I don't know how to tell. Nobody else is acting like this plant is. I do have a couple of others, of different species, that Suzanne was isolating because she thought they may be sick, but neither is displaying symptoms remotely like the Zygopetalum, and in fact appear to be much better lately.

Any Zygo lovers out there?

[orchids3]

Bob,
Sorry for your loss and many of us can relate. My life was full of work, family and orchids. When I retired followed by rather serious surgery - the orchids filled the gap. Without the orchids and yeard I might have gone quite crazy. Recomend finding an orchid society in your area - they will help you with your growing problems and I have always found good and caring people to include in my circle of friends. You may be overwatering the zygo and I would check the pH of the media. The culture sites posted may help. I would suspect that the roots are dying from its look so repotting might be in order.

[editorbob]

I will investigate this. Thank you. Currently I'm watering every 8-10 days.

Kinda scared of the repotting thing . . .

[herfy]

Originally Posted by editorbob

Kinda scared of the repotting thing . . .

I was to...but i jumped in feet first and tried it..its not all that bad. good luck