Is she dead?

[vicachic]

HELP not sure if my Phal is dead, dying or just really really sick. The leaves are green and very healthy looking (the underside has a brownish line around the edges) but the stalks are brittle and brown. One of them is green at the bottom of the stalk. I am attaching pics but I need some input. Also, need what kind of fertilizer? If its worth getting?

[trdyl]

Welcome to OB!

This is perfectly normal. It has finished fowering. Just clip off the flower spikes as close to the stem of the plant as possible. If they were still green I would tell you you can leave them on as this type does rebloom from old flower spikes. As far as fertilizer goes, I like using Peter's 20-20-20 and Miracle-Gro.

[vicachic]

Trdyl - by "flower spikes" do you mean the stalks (the parts that are brown in the picture)? Thank you!

[trdyl]

Yes. Here in the orchid world, they are refered to as flower spikes.

[vicachic]

ok, thanks - I'll get used to the lingo!

[trdyl]

You'll get used to it in time. Also about the fertilizer mix about a 1/2 tsp per gallon. If you go by the label it is too strong.

[BikerDoc5968]

I cut spikes all the way back, green or not, because usually rebloomers are smaller flowers and I like the plant to have new spikes. As to fertilizer I like any that are urea-free. Both of the ones mentioned above contain a portion of their nitrogen in urea form. I use Better-Gro products and many on this board use the MSU formula... google it and you'll find it available on the web. The Better-Gro products are usually available at the Big Box stores for $3.85/#

[lycaonpictus]

Welcome aboard, vicachic! Those are "flower spikes" because they're a temporary part of the plant. When your phalaenopsis is getting ready to bloom, it'll start to grow those spikes from underneath the leaves. The spike will be very green and soft as it starts (so a lot of people use sticks pushed into the planting medium to gently tie the spike to for support), but it will harden as it gets longer.

Eventually, it will start producing flower buds on the end of the spike. Those will open into the beautiful flowers like your plant had before. Those blooms will last a month or so (depends a little on the plant), then gradually die and fall off, at which point the flower spike will likely get dry and brittle like you have now.

Your plant will then be a flat spread of glossy, beautiful leaves while it soaks up energy for its next round of blooming! (Usually the next year.)

Enjoy!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

What kind of pot are you using?

What kind of potting media is in there?

I recommend being mindful of these elements to orchid cultivation.

The wrong media for a particular orchid for a specific micro-environment (your growing area) can be disastrous in the long run.