Murphy's law - Orchid Board

nikkik · #1 07-17-2013, 09:20 AM

So I just wanted to share a cute story about one of my former orchids. I had an orchid that had some suspicious markings on the leaves, the markings looked like pictures that I've seen on virused plants. I know to be sure you have to test and since I have too many plants to chance it I decided it would be best to get rid of the plant.

Now, I know you should always destroy a virused plant, but I haven't confirmed it and I didn't have the heart, so what did I do? I called my husband's grandma who loves orchids, but is notorious for killing NOID phals (death due to drowning) and explained the situation. Since she doesn't have any other orchids or many house plants, I thought she would be my best bet as a one-home-orchid-only caretaker. She was excited but I explained to her that it wasn't a phal, but an ascda and would need different care.

I took the plant over there the first week in June. I picked a good spot as far as lighting. I wrote down step by step care instructions then I answered all her questions (which there were a lot of, thought the hand written instructions would eliminate some questions, lol). I premixed fertilizer for her in a bottle and told her how often to feed. I told her if she follows my instructions it should bloom soon (even though the plant has been with me for 1 1/2 and it never bloomed, I wanted her to be excited about the prospect).

Since giving her the orchid, I have received weekly calls in regards to its care. Yesterday, I got a call and she asked me if the green things growing out between the leaves are ok?! After all my efforts and knowledge and creating what I thought were the perfect conditions, someone who doesnt really understand orchids blooms a vanda alliance plant in a month and a half. I give it away, it blooms; Murphy's law!

tucker85 · #2 07-17-2013, 09:54 AM

I feel your pain. I had a little cattleya for 3 years and it never had more than one flower on it. I eventually gave it to my ex-wife. She just put it out in her back yard. Occasionally watered it and never fertilized it. After 18 months at her house it bloomed with 13 flowers.

bellini girl · #3 07-17-2013, 03:35 PM

Sometimes you just have to "leave them alone, and they will come home, wagging their tails behind them "

WhiteRabbit · #4 07-17-2013, 08:18 PM

Figures, eh?

Wild Orchid · #5 07-18-2013, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikkik

So I just wanted to share a cute story about one of my former orchids. I had an orchid that had some suspicious markings on the leaves, the markings looked like pictures that I've seen on virused plants. I know to be sure you have to test and since I have too many plants to chance it I decided it would be best to get rid of the plant.

Now, I know you should always destroy a virused plant, but I haven't confirmed it and I didn't have the heart, so what did I do? I called my husband's grandma who loves orchids, but is notorious for killing NOID phals (death due to drowning) and explained the situation. Since she doesn't have any other orchids or many house plants, I thought she would be my best bet as a one-home-orchid-only caretaker. She was excited but I explained to her that it wasn't a phal, but an ascda and would need different care.

I took the plant over there the first week in June. I picked a good spot as far as lighting. I wrote down step by step care instructions then I answered all her questions (which there were a lot of, thought the hand written instructions would eliminate some questions, lol). I premixed fertilizer for her in a bottle and told her how often to feed. I told her if she follows my instructions it should bloom soon (even though the plant has been with me for 1 1/2 and it never bloomed, I wanted her to be excited about the prospect).

Since giving her the orchid, I have received weekly calls in regards to its care. Yesterday, I got a call and she asked me if the green things growing out between the leaves are ok?! After all my efforts and knowledge and creating what I thought were the perfect conditions, someone who doesnt really understand orchids blooms a vanda alliance plant in a month and a half. I give it away, it blooms; Murphy's law!

Yeah, you're so right!
I had a Phal that would not grow even a leaf for about a year. Then it finally bloomed but kind of weekly, a couple of flowers that didn't impress me. I lost heart and re-gifted it to an elderly neighbour who reported happily that the orchid got transferred to a "much bigger pot and been planted in soil" (even though I supplied some bark to lessen the shock.....)
I heard the plant has been blooming for months and developed lots of arial roots....

Go figure!