Helen, I'm so sorry to hear about your plant! I'm not sure exactly what went wrong... but try to look at it as learning experience, and above all, don't give up!
By looking at how orchids grow in nature, I learned that they are not particularly suited to being stuck in a pot. In nature, nearly all of their roots are completely exposed to the elements (and air!) - so I figure this is quite important to try to replicate in their adopted home. For the ones with pseudobulbs, they have adapted to be able to withstand regular dry periods - that's what the pseudobulbs are for! They suck up water from downpours of rain and store it until the next downpour. So, I make sure that they are growing in something that allows plenty of air circulation and quick drying to allow the roots plenty of time to 'breath' fresh air. (I have also read somewhere that part of the gas exchange process of the roots gives off gas that, if it can't escape, can become toxic to the roots. So unless there is air circulation around the roots, they can end up killing themselves off. Too fine a mix will reduce air circulation, too much water making the mix too heavy will reduce air circulation, too large a pot will dry unevenly and the centre -where the roots are - will stay too moist and not get any air circulation, etc. To my mind, the only reason we use bark or whatever medium is simply to hold the plant in place in the pot (for non-terrestrial orchids, of course)!
Thinking about it this way really helps me to understand better just what my orchids need.
I don't know what to tell you about this one.... but maybe looking at things this way might help you with some of your other orchids? Keep your chin up, Helen!!
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Gin
Hybrid Mode
