Help Please - I do not know what is wrong with my orchid. - Orchid Board

cybernok · #1 04-21-2015, 08:33 AM

Hi there,

It would great if someone could help me with keeping my orchid alive. I was given this orchid who brought it from Thailand a couple of years ago - it was and still is growing on the a piece of wood that is not visible in the photos as it was hard to keep it watered as i do not have a greenhouse and it lives indoors. It was very healthy when i got it with around 4 - 6 leaves but it has never flowered and in the past year as soon as a new leaf if nearly fully grown it then looks like it has been burnt and the leaf eventually dies and the process continues. I have been washing the leaves each month and keeping it out of direct sunlight as it used to live in the window - but this does not seem to help. Any suggestions on this problem would be great and also any advise on how to get it to flower as this would be even better as i have never seen it flower.
Thank you for your time.
Charles,

wintergirl · #2 04-21-2015, 09:37 AM

Is the piece of wood it's attached to rotted? If it is take it off. Otherwise you can leave if it's ok. Not sure how much drainage you have in that pot. There should be at least holes in the bottom and you can put some in the sides. Find out what orchid you have and read up on how to grow it.

jcec1 · #3 04-21-2015, 10:28 AM

It looks like a vanda to me. It needs to be in full sunlight, so I would gradually acclimatise it back to full sun, South facing is best in the UK. They also like plenty of air movement around the roots, so I would take it out the bark, I grow mine barefoot in glass vases, I would take the plant and wood and stick it in a glass vase. Water the plant in the vase about once a week, by letting it sit in the water for about thirty minutes before emptying it. The leaves look like they are rotting so try not to let water sit in the apex of the leaf and stem. The new leaves look healthy so I wouldn't give up.

ula · #4 04-21-2015, 10:43 AM

I'm not an expert, but your growing medium looks very compacted to me and perhaps your growing container could use some ventilation/drainage holes. If I were in your place, I would repot with fresh, more airy medium and a flower pot that would allow more air to the roots. Good luck, and don't forget to post a pic when it flowers

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cybernok · #5 04-21-2015, 10:49 AM

I have enclosed a picture of what it is supposed to be when it flowers -

I kept it out of the bark for the first year and growing on just the wood but the leaves looked the same and there were 3 to start with and 2 of them died and this is why i moved it into the bark and the main root looks really good now - so i am a bit hesitant to go back to that method. I will make a lot more holes in the side of the container and place it back in the sun - do you think i should cut the damaged leaves just leaving the 2 good ones?

Charles.

jcec1 · #6 04-21-2015, 12:46 PM

It's a rynchostylis (a member of the Vanda family). I would trim the leaves back to healthy tissues using a clean blade or scissors. If your plant seems happy in bark then that is working for you. Attached is a vanda that looked like yours last year and how it looks now with a bit of care.

Plodde · #7 04-21-2015, 03:13 PM

I agree, it looks like a Rhynchostylis retusa.
I have two in spike right now that i'm very excited to see bloom.
My suggestions could be to either 1. let it go bare root. but you will have to soak it AT LEAST once a day, maybe two times a day in the summer for at least 10-20min. or 2. Repot in chunky bark and water every other day.
They do like a lot of sun. as much sun as possible without burning the leaves. and they are heavy feeders so fertilizer every other watering or once a week. Remember, never fertilize dry roots. always water first then fertilize.

jcec1 · #8 04-21-2015, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plodde

I agree, it looks like a Rhynchostylis retusa.
I have two in spike right now that i'm very excited to see bloom.
My suggestions could be to either 1. let it go bare root. but you will have to soak it AT LEAST once a day, maybe two times a day in the summer for at least 10-20min. or 2. Repot in chunky bark and water every other day.
They do like a lot of sun. as much sun as possible without burning the leaves. and they are heavy feeders so fertilizer every other watering or once a week. Remember, never fertilize dry roots. always water first then fertilize.

I think that the watering regime would be too much for a plant grown in the UK. I water bareroot vandas once per week, with no adverse effects.

tarev · #9 04-21-2015, 03:59 PM

Thanks for showing the photo in bloom, it is indeed one lovely plant when in bloom. As far as I know, it loves lots of moisture but grown like a vanda, however in dappled shade. I have a friend who has it in a clay pot with many side holes and he uses charcoal as his media, it is in a part shade area of their garden. Their area has high humidity too and frequent rains, so the plant thrives very well.

wintergirl · #10 04-21-2015, 07:38 PM

I have my vanda and vandaceous orchids in clay pots with chunky bark. I just spray where the roots are and avoid the leaves and the stem or center of the plant. I don't have extra holes in my clay pot and they are doing great. If you keep it in plastic get lots of holes and add some chunky bark. Let us know how your plant does.

I had jury duty this AM so I really didn't have a lot of time with my first response.