Inherited greenhouse_what to do
 

Hi all :-) I have just inherited my grandfathers greenhouse after 3+ years of neglect. There are over 30 pots of orchids inside, labels are so old the writing is gone. The pots r so root bound the roots are coming over the top and bottom n I can't see the pots from the roots. Nothing has flowered in over 3 years but there are green leaves n shoots inside the pots. Where do I start :-0

Watch videos on how to repot orchids on YouTube and learn. If you can still decipher any tags then rewrite it. The rest might be identified if it blooms. good luck!

You have a hell of a lot of work in front you.. still I'm jealous!

Thanks bud I will give it a try :-)
Laser, I have just stood inside the greenhouse for 3 hrs thinking "where do I start" lol and "please please don't let me kill any"

I took over a neglected greenhouse three years ago (only about 20 orchids, tho). Do you have an orchid society or club near you? I joined one and got a lot of in-person help that way. If the plants look healthy, I would not be in a big hurry to cover exposed roots in media. I've been told the roots will often die and might slow down your plants blooming, if this is necessary for identification. They grow in nature with exposed roots. Look up how to care for mounts.

Just start repotting one at a time. Step by step is the best way to do it. If you try to get it done in one afternoon you'll get overwhelmed.

Even if you can't read the words on the tags keep them with the pots. Sometimes there are numbers on the tags and you can find the registration number of the species and hybrid. Also look at separating them into the major groups like phal, phap, catt, etc.


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Play around with the contrast on your scanner and scan them one by one, not mixing them up or forgetting where each tag originally came from. I've heard that this technique works. Good Luck!

I agree, start with just one at a time. They lived as they are this long, they will hang in a little longer. Learn what you can about orchids and figure out what kind they are. Most should be re-potted only when new roots are growing so you could tackle them as that happens. Good luck and congrats on the inheritance!

I agree that you should try to get in touch with a local orchid society. Maybe someone will come over and check them out for you and help you. Like someone said above, the roots out of the pot would not be as happy when you repot if they're buried bc they won't be used to less air, but I'm sure it will have to happen eventually.
I also agree with keeping the tags even if you can't read them.

Don't over water. They've grown this long without you.
But don't completely neglect either.
I hate to say this, but if you end up not wanting to take care of them, you should see about donating them to the society or someone.
I think it will be greatly rewarding if you keep them and stick to it.
Here is a good place to start. There are plenty of you tube videos on repotting too.

I want to emphasize the repotting part of the discussion.

I think it best to learn to grow them -- water, light, get the air moving, etc. -- first.

I would then learn about the re-potting so that you do it when the time is right, not just because you have roots all over.

Do you know what genera you have? some are particular about repotting -- usually timing issues.

Overgrown pots in a greenhouse is never an emergency. Please understand that orchids growing all over their pots is part of their nature to do, and might actually be quite healthy for it -- think mounted in a tree in nature, etc.

So learn what you have, and how to take care of it. The second fastest way to kill an orchid is to repot it at the wrong time. The first is watering too often not allowing air to the roots inside a pot where they suffocate and then rot.

Take care
Hope you understand what I am saying, and consider it.

If you don't wish to continue, of course the local orchid society, as mentioned about above would be the logical place.

Actually the logical place to learn what you have, and best way to take care of it.

Take care
May all your orchids bloom like crazy.

Rex W. Ulmer
newsletter editor
Central East Texas Orchid Society
Tyler, Texas

To add to what Polka has said...some Cattleya species bloom better after they have grown outside their pots.

Excellent bit of advice from Polka...figure out what you're working w/first...then proceed.

If you'd like....take some pictures and post them here. We might be able to help at least figure out what genera you're working with there....which is a great first step in all of this.

If you don't know much about orchids I would agree with the others and say contact your local orchid society. Ask someone to go and atleast ID the Genus of each plant. Also I would note their position in the green house before moving them as your grand father probably had them well placed for them to have survived 3 years on neglect

^ awesome advice about the positions within the green house!


That makes me think, you could get all ultra organized and put a sticker with a number on eat plant (on the pot, or I have also seen people do it on a leaf, small sticker) or a tag or another little label stake thing and draw up which was where. And later use the numbers for which plants you have ID'd.
But that might be too much work? Idk

Also, if youd like to post some pics here (not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet), we'd love to see!

Soooo Excited 2 Orchids_ID help please
 

Hi All :-) thanks do much for all your advice. I watched youtube, took note of pot positions, made mix after finding old empty bags of grandfathers mixes (lol plus he wrote mixture combos on the walls in his shed... Who would've thunked it lol). Then I repotted and separated 4 Orchids (2 had established aerials). Within 3 weeks 1 of the orchids I separated bloomed n now 2 aerials have grown spikes after repotting n bloomed (5 weeks later) I have attached pictures n would love some help with identification if possible.

Also, I'm a little confused because it is summer here (42 degrees) n a aunt who loves the orchids n took some said she had never seen the orchids bloom in dimmer. Did the repotting n separating have something to do with the blooms.

Once again thank u all so much for your help, u can't believe my excitement when the first bloom came sine I thought I may have to wait 6+ months or more.

Lol can't figure out how to attach 2 pics at once

Also I have notice the plants have spots etc but can't tell if they have fungus, insects or viral. Would anyone mind if i uploaded pictures for help with identifying what the problem is so i can then know how to treat them?

Congratulations on the blooms.

Many orchids flower at different times of the year. Your first picture looks like a cattleya alliance flower, the second, a dendrobium alliance. Here is help on identifying others. Focus on leaves and other structures (psuedobulbs, canes, or lack of), that will get you their alliances. Once they flower, post pics and we'll help further on their IDs.

Post pictures of the spot. We'll try best we can to identify the cause.

Pho-tos! Pho-tos!

Thanks for sharing and please don't hesitate to share more!

Getting to know each of these plants, in a way, helps all of us to know your grandfather :)

Lots of good advice here, just wanted to comment and say that the two plants that you posted are lovely! Definitely want to second you joining a local orchid society and if your aunt is good with orchids, getting her help might be useful to you too!

Happy growing!

I would love such a thing to happen to me! Welcom to orchid care! If a member of the orchid club helps you out, maybe you could time share for green house space in return for orchid knowledge. Basically read somethig like dummies guide to orchids, figure out what they are, figure out their needs. If your grandfather was a good plant man, where they are sitting now should be where they need to be so dont move the pots.
Different varieties need to be nearer orcloser to the source of sun.

Tell us how it goes.

Inherited greenhouse_what to do
 

Where are you? You might be able to get someone to come by and help. If you're near MN (no one ever is) let me know.

Get some help from your local orchid club or society.

Dear Kristie:
First, the fact that you bothered to look for help with your grandfather's orchid green house situation and found this forum (rather than try to sell or just give them away and use the funds for a non-plant purchase) means you already have a relationship between you and your grandpa's plants.

Heed the advice of many of our members and, if you can, get direct advice from somebody local. However, (my suggestion) don't ever give anyone any of your grandfather's ENTIRE plants. Split them as per directions if you need. At this point you don't know which ones will thrive with you or which will pass off with their former care (or non-care, relocation, etc.). We all have many orchids that are doing great but also we have failed with particular species..and may have no clue why.

You are essentially starting your own initial orchid collection - don't blow it, it's worth it.

Good Luck and Welcome to a great hobby!

Howdy
the NOID / NONAME / NOTAG yellow/green cattleya appears to be BLC Ports of Paradise 'Emerald Island' -- or something of similar breeding, which tends to bloom mid-summer; it is /will become tall (to 15 inches or so) and blooms in twos, maybe threes; occasionally more than once a year when really grown well, and mature / undivided.

Hope this helps you on your way.

Rex

---------- Post added at 09:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:36 AM ----------

Howdy again
and -- the purple/pink flower you showed us is a dendrobium of some sort. Being that you are down under, it is likely to be a dendrobium-phalaenopsis sort (read: common hybrid) with some native Aussie blood in them, with some antelope dendie genes in there too.

Don't forget to saddle up to your local society, if you have one.

Rex

You could post some pictures of plants, and tags. I have put years, and 2 or 3 repots and what I ended up with was junk sometimes. Pick your battles, then get some orchids that you like. I have bloomed a orchid out of flask faster than saving one in bad shape. I always do the save thing it's like a sickness, do as I say not as I do.

Hi All :-) thanks so much for your wonderful advice. I have struck luck with my local orchid society, it turns out they meet once a month in my suburb approx 2 streets away lol but downside is they meet once a month except in jan and feb :-(
I have started a tag system as recommended in your fab posts, as I have several plants I have split and several that had multiple aerials. So I have labelled mum plants n littlies so I can hopefully ID later.
Rex :-) your ID was so helpful for pics, I appreciate it so much. After your post I had a long look at old tag on the Catt, scraped off years of dirt.. Then stuck it right over naked bulb n could just make out pencil indent if "isl..d" lol so now I'm trying same tactic with the other old tags :-)

Sick orchids
 

Can anyone tell me what's wrong with this plant and what I should do:-( I found it at the back of greenhouse yesterday hidden amongst a heap of others

More sick orchids found
 

And another :-)

More sick orchids
 

And another ...... I have found quite a few with marks on them so I have downloaded a pest/bacteria/fungus booklet with pictures and purchased some kodicide ....

. But I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by how many there are that seem to be sick and bevause they are all sitting side by side touching i think its possible some plants have multiple problems (black spot on one leaf, brown rot on another)

I just feel too inexperienced to know :-( and I don't think my heart could handle them dying because I didn't try to treat them.

I woul really appreciate any ID help of problem (don't be gentle.....lol I'm poised and ready for the worst since its been 3+ years since they've had love) any Amy tips on how to treat (including isolation, sanitation etc.)

i also don't think I've mentioned that my grandfather built in an overhead irrigation system by hand himself in greenhouse that waters overhead directly from rainwater tank. I'm not sure if this assists when advising, maybe I'm just having a brag about how amazing he was and just how much he loved these plants :-)

Sick orchids
 

Another

Sick orchid
 

This is the last one. Hope it's ok I posted so many pics, I was just hoping to give you an idea of the rang of different marks I have found during my triage :-(

You've got me teary eyed thinking about my departed grandpa. He lived with us from when I was 2 till when I left home for college.
The cattleyas of many hobby growers have their share of spots and nicks. And we all have plants that die on us too. I'm sure your grandpa had his losses too, its part of the process. He would not want you to be sad.

They look like Cattleya alliance plants. The first one might be too far gone. They can all use repotting, the media looks old (super saturated bark?). Red tinge is an indication of maximum light threshold. Yellowing can be caused by many things but I think new media will help here.

Edit: I had to go look at the pics.

Not sure about the 2nd and third pics, might be pathogenic.

Overall, I suspect the roots are in poor shape considering the shriveling on all the pseudobulbs. If there is little to no roots, stake the pbulbs and pot them up anyway. The pbulbs should be sitting on top of the media, hence the stakes.

Good luck.

Hi W, it must have been wonderful living with your grandpa and u must have so many wonderful memories :-) I know my grandfather started his orchid collection when he inherited his brothers orchids when he passed, so I often smile thinking that he probably felt just as clueless and lost as I do now and I'm sure your right, he probably had many losses with his brothers orchids as well and his own over the years :-)

---------- Post added at 04:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:00 PM ----------

Thx Anon, I stocked up on more mix and am ready to repot, kodicide and fertilise lol with the old shrivelled yellow or brown bulbs I'm the pots do I cut them off and throw away or repot with them on or cut off and repot them split away from main plant?? What would u recommend??

Pot them up as is, into the smallest pots that will accommodate the roots (another reason to stake or clip-on). Do not divide weak plants.

Pbulbs normally sustain plants through tough times but yours are shriveled. They will not plump back up but new growths might start at the base of the pbulbs.

Fertilize only if you have good roots.

Thanks Anon I will leave as is, small pot. All the ones I've reported have had extensive squishy roots, which I have cut off. All roots have all been stuck fast to pots so I have soaked pots (a couple I had the smash or cut). I have noticed new roots r minimal and stuck fast to pot. After I cut old roots, should I fertilise where new roots are healthy and long (10cm +) even if minimal (5 or so)???

Anothe Orchid Flower - ID help please for possible Stanhopea :-)
 

Hi again all :-) I have another bloom yaya this one is in a hanging pot about a metre wide :-0 I think it's a Stanhopea after google searching as the flowers grow from underneath. I would love your ID help to find out what type.

Also the medium (you may see in picture) looks like it needs redoing :-s but redoing that hanging basket looks like a major challenge..... I'm 5"4 so just getting it off the roof seems like mt Everest lol but challenge accepted :-)

Does anyone have tips on how to re-basket

Oh my gosh! You are so lucky. What a huge plant. So many spikes. Many Stanhopea species are fairly similar looking, so I'll let an expert help you there. But the culture doesn't vary terribly much from species to species. Also it looks happy in your environment, which makes care less of a challenge than trying to grow it, say, in Oregon, land of winter gloom. My only tip to rebasket is to cut all the wires first and just sort of peal them away from the root mass (after flowering, of course). They like a lot of water and food while growing, so choose a medium that doesn't break down quickly. Maybe wait till the orchid club people
can help out. Personally I wouldn't divide it. The size makes it special.

Laurel

Wow. That's amazing.

If you want a lot of roots use a seaweed extract like kelpmax. Also Superthrive and KPN are really good supplements to get the roots growing again.