Damage to stalk - Orchid Board

Titch88 · #1 07-19-2018, 07:14 PM

Hi, I’m complete new to owning an orchid, I got it about 5 days ago and today have suddenly noticed a brown/purple patch on the bottom of one of the stalks and it has a hole in the centre of the patch. The flowers are starting to drop but the leafs look healthy. Any idea what if could be and how I can help it? Thanks

Roberta · #2 07-19-2018, 08:11 PM

Was this perhaps one of those "dyed" orchids? (you don't show the flowers). If it was blue, or some other unnatural color, what you are seeing is the site where dye was injected. If you bought it in bloom, there is no way of knowing how long the flowers had been open. A Phalaenopsis can stay in bloom for several months, but eventually the flowers do drop. If it got a draft, or some other change in its environment flower life can also be shortened. However, the plant is very much alive and appears healthy, and with proper care will bloom again. (If the color is from dye, it will revert to its natural color such as white the next time it blooms) Usually new flower spikes are produced once a year though sometimes more. For this one, once the flowers are spent, you should repot it. These often come in sphagnum moss that is very densely packed - hard to get wet and hard to dry. The plant really wants a wet-dry cycle, which can be accomplished by potting it in medium bark, watering well (running through the pot, then drain so that it never sits in water) then letting get almost (but not completely) dry before watering again. Place in a window with filtered sun (like with a sheer curtain) to give it the light that it wants.

Titch88 · #3 07-20-2018, 04:08 AM

Yes it is one of the dyed ones. It didn’t even occur to me that it could be where it was injected. That is really helpful so once the flowers die, will I need to prune it it aswell as repot it? thank you.

Roberta · #4 07-20-2018, 10:17 AM

When the flowers die, you can leave the flower spikes until they turn brown. Actually, it is better for the plant since it can re-absorb the energy and water from the flower spike. If you find it annoying you can cut the old spikes, but certainly not necessary. (Sometimes, if you leave them, they may send out a side branch with more flowers) But the repotting is important for the health of the roots.

Titch88 · #5 07-20-2018, 05:44 PM

Brilliant thank you for your help

Titch88 · #6 07-26-2018, 11:36 AM

Hi, I now have a new problem. I have 2 stalks on my orchid, one is growing really well and I have had a few new flowers however the other the one where the injection hole is, isnt Doing well, all the flowers seem to be dying. Can I help it? Or should I remove that stem? Thank you

Roberta · #7 07-26-2018, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titch88

Hi, I now have a new problem. I have 2 stalks on my orchid, one is growing really well and I have had a few new flowers however the other the one where the injection hole is, isnt Doing well, all the flowers seem to be dying. Can I help it? Or should I remove that stem? Thank you

If the spike with the dying flowers bothers you, it can be cut. But it won't make any difference to the plant one way or the other. The plant is healthy.