Orchids dying, why?

[CAHCO81]

Hi all,
Ok so I posted a few weeks back (original post is below) about my phal dropping blooms and another phal I have. But with in the last week my larger phal has dropped all it's blooms and has a wilted yellow leave, not the bottom one but right above it. I am not certain if this is just it's normal cycle or if it is very sick. I have been trying to water when it looks like it needs it, when the roots dry a bit or when the bark is dried. It is sitting in an east facing window with shaded light but not direct light. If this is just part of it's life cycle should I cut the spikes back if it is sick, please what should I do?
I am posting some new pics of the larger phal, also there is a weird spot on one of the leaves, can you tell what it is.


(Original post)Hello,
I am a new Orchid owner and I got my first Orchid, a moth orchid about three months ago from a florist. It started dropping blooms about a week after I got it. At first I noticed these little white fuzzt bugs on it. I killed every one I could. Then after dropping more blooms I decieded to look at it's roots. They were not good, rotting or dead. It was the bedding it was in, the roots where packed in moss and too moist. I trimmed the dead or dying roots and repotted it in appropriate bedding. It continued to die and as a last resort to try and save it I trimmed both stalks down one more then the other. Now it is starting to sprout new roots and even a new leaf. However the white bugs where back with a vengence. I killed all of them with out thinking to take a picture to show you all. If there are any suggestions on what I can do, they are more then welcome. Secondly I got my second Orchid, also a Moth Orchid about two months ago. Until a week ago it was doing good. But on one stalk it has dropped all it's blooms and is "wilting". I read on line not to re-pot while in bloom but I don't want it to die. I will try and attach some pictures. Please I am loving my Orchids and I don't want to lose them.
Thank you,
Carrie.

[CAHCO81]

I keep trying to post pictures but it won't let me. I will keep trying. I should add that they are sitting in a East facing window and get about 1/4 C. water a week.

Thanks,
Carrie.

[Bud]

resize your pictures before you post them....
it is important that we all see pictures of the plant in order to efficiently help you ....
also take note that you said this plant came from a florist: and they are the number one place to neglect orchids...they receive it from a large box and then they decide to partition the plants in smaller portions on sphagnum moss tightly jamming them in pots for aesthetic purposes not for the comfort of the plant...its all on retail and selling; its a bussiness.

its good you trusted your instincts...the first thing I do with Phal is repot it so I can check the roots and the freshness of the media...

the blooms are dried up and withered and the way you give it 1/4c of water a week will kill it

when repotting soak the plant first for 5 min to ease the roots and make it maleable to handle them

water it by putting it under the sink with the faucet at full throttle until it is soaking wet...dry the crown with papertowel to avoid crown rot...dont be scared to water it, because its the warmer months at its time for it to grow roots and leaves(in winter then it is scary to keep on watering it might give it root rot)
then let it be for a week or if the media becomes dry

it depends on your grow zone, humidity, temperature and you said east facing source of light
...and air flow

[WhiteRabbit]

Glad you found us!

Tips for posting photos here: http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ng-photos.html
If you still need help, let us know!

I'm sure you will get lots of good advice to help with your plant. I don't do well with Phals myself, tho - so will leave that to other members. Good luck!

[Arenalbotanicalgarden]

99% of Phal problems are caused by the grower not caring about the conditions the plant will live in when the CONNEDsumer takes it home.
Study mounting orchids and growing orchids in lava rock.
Orchids in the wild don't normally get watered. They get SOAKED... the winds often follow to dry them out a bit (not totally).

[silken]

Welcome! I can't say for sure but the bugs sound like mealy bugs. Fairly good sized fuzzy white things. They seem to be a common orchid pest and will spread to the other one so keep it far away. I have only had a few once so am not an expert with these. It sounds like many people take a Q-tip soaked in alcohol and just dab them and they die. They get on the backs of flowers and in crevices and wherever they can hide so you need to be diligent until all the eggs have hatched and bugs killed. Or you could spray your plant with a bug spray.

Phals are usually packed in wet moss and will die of root rot if left this wet, long before the blooms are done. So I always re-pot immediately. Phals don't seem to drop their blooms from re-potting like some orchids would. What kind of media did you change the first one to? Most people use fir bark or coconut husk chunks or a some of those mixed with moss. The roots need some air and should get close to dry before being re-watered. Good luck with your new orchids!

[CAHCO81]

There is one picture of the one I cut down and then three of the one that is starting to die.
Thank you for the responces!!!

Carrie.

[silken]

Your pictures seem a bit small to see much detail. The first one has a few good shorter roots from what I can see, but as mentioned, can't tell for sure from such a small photo. the other three of the 2nd plant look good. It appears to have 3 spikes of flowers?? That is a lot and maybe they have already been in bloom for a while and are just finishing. Hard to say.

I guess I would stress not to leave them in tight soaking wet moss and move them into something more open. Having said that, some people who go from wet moss to straight bark chunks find it is too dry and too much change for the plant. I myself have good luck with a mix of the two. the moss is what they are used to and holds moisture longer and the bark keeps it open and airy. Don't just measure your water and put it on weekly. Water them according to what they need. That is to water them well, then let them get dry or nearly dry all the way to the bottom of the pot before watering again. Pot them in a pot that will only fit their roots-no bigger or it will take too long to dry out. Never let them stand in water in the decorative pot. flush with water, drain well and then place them in the pot although it still restricts air flow. If you have some SuperThrive or KLN rooting hormone, you could soak the roots in that to help stimulate root growth.

[Wynn Dee13]

The plant with flowers isn't dying. Just the flowers are. The second pics leaves look fine. Like Silken said, when you buy a plant in bloom you don't know how long it was in bloom before you bought it so the flowers might not last as long as you think they would.

The bugs you are describing sound like mealy bugs. Take a Q-tip and dip it in rubbing alcohol and put it on the bugs. The alcohol will kill them on contact. Like the above posts recommended keep that plant away from your other plants until you get rid of them. Check everyday and have the Q-tips and alcohol handy until you don't find them anymore. Look in every nook and cranny of the plant. I would keep an eye on your other plants too just in case. Here is a pic of mealy bugs. mealy bugs - Google Search Good luck!

[james mickelso]

The phals look fine. The flowers are dropping because of a change in their environment. Either from the grower to the florist but most likely from the florist to you. My first question is...where do you live and what is your growing environment like? Yes the orchids come planted in spagnum moss and yes normally that isn't conducsive (why can't I spell today?) to good orchid growth. But remember that these were grown in this moss for at least two years or more and did fine. Ah and here is why. Good air movement (almost hurricane like) and warm temps. They were watered about every two weeks but the humidity was around 70-80% all the time with temps in the 70-80 degree range. "Perfect" conditions for phals. When we get them home, or they get to the florists store, they start to deteriorate. The florist (or big box store- until they die) keeps them for a week or so and by that time they are going downhill fast. And the first, and worst, thing we do when we get them home is.... to water them!!! Your phals are in good shape but need care. I can see from your picture that the roots that were in the spagnum moss have started to deteriorate but the roots that were on top of the rotting moss are in very good shape. Cut off the rotting roots, dab some cinnamon on the cut ends, plant in new medium to fine pine bark, sponge rock, charcol, and chopped up spagnum moss like Silken does. If all you can get is store bought mix, then sift out anything that seems a bit fine (smaller than 1/4 inch chunks). Chop the spagnum into 1 inch lengths and mix it into the bark mix about 1 handful moss to two handfuls bark mix. About right Silken? Then water well and leave alone for 7 to 10 days depending on the temps and humidity in your growing environment. Don't water unless the temps are over 80*f in your area. You can mist them daily with RO or distilled water if you like. That will help them alot. Then after that, water them thoroughly and feel the weight of the potted phal. When the pot feels light again, in about a week or so, then water again. Don't over water. That is the biggest mistake new owners make. Also cut off the spikes. Down to within an inch of the plant. Any regrowth of the spike will just set back the health of the plant. Plant in a small pot. The one it came in is fine. Make sure it has good size holes in it for air circulation and drainage. Also if you have a small fan, set this somewhere that will allow the plant to have good air movement. Plants get rid of their waste gasses by osmotic pressure. If the humidity is too high, they aren't as efficient. Air moving over their leaf surfaces (especially the undersides of the leaf) strips away the waste gasses and supplies them with CO2. At night it reverses and it supplies them with more O2. Anyway, new mix, good air movement, and warm temps will get you back to a blooming plant in no time. Good luck.
PS- here are a couple of pics from a recent phal rescue. The one hanging on the GH wall is about three weeks later from the first pic of it (the double phal). If you don't over water them after repotting, they will do very well.