Ill mature orchids, newbie help please.

[annerobeson]

Hi, I am a newbie to the Forum and have looked for information quite a bit.

Can anyone please give me any advice on the following orchids which have started to get ill on me.

I have had then 2-3 months and recently I was away and my husband accidently used the air conditioning too much which is what I think has happened along with the weather being very hot and then becoming very dull (no sun) and cold.

The first is a large 1 metre (42 inches) tall and the top 6 flowers are ok but bottom 4 have started to shrivel since I fed and watered it. Please see first two photos.

What do I do to try and remedy the problem and save this wonderful orchid please.

The second one is a pink orchid which is buding but some flowers are shrivelling. http://www.orchidboard.com/community...1&d=1234691948

The third is a white orchid which is shrivelling all the flowers and the stem has turned yellow so I have cut it back to the best green part. See photo of how it was.

This fourth orchid was in the sun too much and has lost all flowers.

Is there anything I can get to keep them humid in cold unsunny weather... Please let me know any advice. Many thanks in advance.

[CoolPhrog]

The second plant looks healthy enough. The blooms last a long time on phals but they do fade and die after a while. Just cut the bloom spike down to about an inch from the leaves and wait until it spikes again next season. The first plant looks like it needs some water though.

[annerobeson]

Dana
Thanks for your message. The second plant had yellow stem and shrivelled flowers. What does this mean? Also the first tall plant seemed to start shrivelling the flowers after I watered and fed it. I have watered it a tad. Do you water as much when it is cold and there is little sun and humidity?

[CoolPhrog]

Water should be reduced in cooler months but Phals don't really have a defined winter rest...so I usually water mine every week to 10 days...same would hold true for cloudy or overcast weather...continue to water/mist just do a little less of it

[phearamedusa]

I'd check the roots of the first plant, it looks droopy, like when I have problems with them. The second one looks really healthy, if you cut the spike back to above a node it might branch for you, and then you can enjoy flowers longer, but watch that you don't drain the plant by letting it flower for way to long.

[vmax3000]

Anna,
In your fourth picture of the white orchid, one of the leaves looks a little yellow. Is it? If so, is it mushy, too boot? It may be a case of rot, which will need to be treated by removal of the leaf with a sharp, clean blade down to uncontaminated tissue and the application of a fungicide (i.e. cinnamon) to the wound on the plant. Phal's are notorious for dumping blooms at the first dip in temperature. Like others have said, clip the spike back and treat it well and it will produce next year. Good growing!