Saying hello

[Tyrone Kendall]

Dear all. Bit nervous about this as never done anything like it before.Like most people, after I bought my first orchid I was hooked and now own 30.Everything going fine and they are stunning things of beauty. However I am having problems with a particular specimen. I can't remember it's correct name but it is the type with no soil and grows in a basket with the roots growing through and down the slats in the basket. Have had it about 6 months and all was well and gas beautiful blue blooms. But recently, the leaves are turning yellow, shrivelling up and falling off. I water it once a week by sitting the roots in a bucket of water for half an hour.It is situated in my kitchen out of direct sunlight.I would be eternally grateful if any one who can help with this. Kindest regards, Tyrone.

[Charles]

It sounds like you are describing a Vanda or Ascocenda. If so, you must water it every day. Sometimes three or four times according to hot hot and dry you are.

I live in Florida in a dry area. I water at least three times. And I mean with a hose. Gently soak the roots and plant.

This kind has no way of storing water. No bulbs. It needs water every day, but not stay wet overnight. My last watering in the summer is about 4pm. That gives everything enough time to dry before it gets cool and dark.

You also want to fertilize this one every two weeks or weekly with a half strength mixture (weekly-weakly).

Lot's of light. More so than most other types. Some go as much as 20% shade here in Florida. Watch out for direct sun and introduce to these higher light conditions gradually. These plants might seem fine for a week in too much light, only to begin getting black from sunburn.

This is where the group splits on advice....

It's hot here. It's dry here. I like to give my Vandaceous some moisture holding medium in the basket. I use large bark chunks.

But you need to feed and water it if it is a vandaceous. Check the vandaceous forum link and look at the pics. You will quickly know if this is the case.

I also have mine in a shade house of 50% shade cloth and they get about four hours of heavy heat and sun midday.

I hope this helps.

[Tyrone Kendall]

Dear Charles. Thank you so much for your advice. I will up the watering regime immediately. The weather where you live sounds lovely. Unfortunately I live in England where we only have two seasons, winter & June. I hope I get the opportunity to discuss further orchid topics with you in the future. In the meantime, once again, many thanks. Kindest regards, Tyrone

[Dorothy]

I didn't know June was a season ..


Uh oh Tyrone .. sounds like you need a greenhouse!

BTW - Welcome to OB!
Glad you can join us here
It's nice to have another person from across the pond as a member
I would love to see some
so I can and

[cb977]

Hi Tyrone Don't be nervous...you've just met close to 2000 new friends

If you could possibly post a picture, we'd be able to give you more direct advice. If what you have is a vanda, it needs a lot more water, misting every day becuase with no bulbs, it has no way to save it's own water and vandas need lots of light too.

We'll help you through it

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[justatypn]

Aboard Tyrone, its great that you have joined our community. So many globally, it's the hobby of nations

What other type of orchids do you grow, many of us grown indoors, myself included, tricky I might add but strengthening in knowledge is what it's all about. Charles gave you excellent advise and one thing he forgot to mention, we can ship you some of our summer weather to round out your growing enviroment. If only we could, but one has to remember that you have to teach your orchids to grow in your enviroment, no different than raising kids, the screams are silent, but we know when we have to beef up the attention and give them what they want.

Great that you are here...holics here on the OB.

[Ross]

Tyrone, welcome to the finest source of Orchid discussion, questions and answers, general goofing around and camaraderie. I hope you join right in with discussions and when you are able, please show us some of your orchids through pictures. We especially love to share our growing experiences with one another.

[Tindomul]

Welcome to the Orchid Board! Glad you could join. It also sounds to me like you have a Vanda type plant. But you have to make sure thats what you have before changing your watering regimen. Actually, if its not in a pot or potting media, then you should water everyday, a quick mist will do for most, but Vandas need to be soaked from what I've heard. Good luck!

[watsgw1155]

Welcome Tyrone. Sounds like a vanda. Charles gives sound advise above.

[Charles]

I sometimes forget to say welcome when I am thinking technical.

Welcome and come back often and anytime Tyrone. And be careful what you wish for, the weather here has it's drawbacks too. Hot, hot, hot! Sometimes too much so for a transplanted New Yorker.