Orchid with mildew smell on moss
 

I recently got an orchid as a gift. It is large with two stems, thick fat flat meaty leaves, and white flowers with light pink in the center. We were getting along great until I went away for the 4th of July. I gave it some extra water because I was afraid it would get to dry and hot in my apartment but it still hasn't dried back out and there is a little bit of mildew smell to the moss. The flowers aren't wilted at all but they are looking a little vainy and more wrinkly then usual and I don't know what to do to help it get back on track :(

1. It's a Phalaenopsis hybrid (most likely a NOID since you didn't type the name on the tag, should it have had one).

2. There might be other issues with the plant, so it's best to post a photo of the entire plant, not just the wilting flowers.

3. The flowers may be wilting because it's time for them to fall off.

Can you see any of the roots to check if they are still firm? Smooth green or white is what you want.

Sounds like it's got root rot...Try to lift the plant out of the pot and see if your roots hasn't turned mushy brown if so...remove the dead roots and repot into new medium asap. If there are no more roots left after removing the dead roots...check out the threads in OB about regrowing new roots. There are several technics you can try such as sphag and bag. I was actually successful with S/H and rooting hormones. Good luck!

Follow up on Orchid moss
 

So I spoke to my florist and he told me the moss was the problem. Let's remember that I watered this Orchid last on 7/2 and it's STILL WET. I pulled it out of the pot and the moss was so densely packed I think it was smothering the roots. it still didn't dry after I took away some moss so yesterday I took a bunch out from the bottom because it was so wet. The smell I was smelling was just the smell of the moss and the roots look green and some areas white but are still firm. The flowers are taking a bad turn though they are starting to get all dry and a few have fallen off. I don't know what to do. The leaves on the other hand seem happy they are big and the upper ones are lifting up maybe to get more light I don't know.

I would always advise that if the medium smells it needs replacing, if it's broken down enough to smell you should get it out before it kills the roots.

One of the major problems with growing in moss is that for some people it stays far to wet for far to long. Some people get on well with it, but my advise for Phals is that if it takes longer than about 10 days to dry then it's taking to long (better if it takes 5-7 days).

If the roots are firm then it sounds like you should be OK, although you are likely to loose the flowers. Best thing is concentrate on getting/keeping the plant healthy then new flowers can come later.

I would leave everything out to dry. Personally if the moss is smelling I would not put it back in that even when dry, but if you do don't use all of it and just have a little to try and keep some moisture arround the roots but still alow plently of air.

Then you need new medium, If you have already found moss too wet then bark may be a better choice, but it's one of those things that everyone likes different things. If you do use moss then don't pack it too tight when you repot. Get good quality medium, I'm in the UK so use a vendor here, but I've heard that www.repotme.com is good in the USA.

Oh, forgot... what I would do is keep the orchid 'bare root' while I got hold of new medium. I just don't like to use smelly medium even for a short while as I'm sure I've had root loss as a result of decaying medium.

If you keep it bare root you have to water 2-3 times a day so it may not be something you can do.

If you wish...as much as I myself am new with S/H. I must say I'm pretty happy with the results I'm getting. Perhaps you might want to try leca in S/H as medium instead of the use of sphag.

Orchid with Issues ;)
 

I had a feeling it was the Moss causing issues.... This is my first Orchid I used to keep many in my old job as an office manager but I had a professional to help me from the florist.

Is there a link you could recommend on how to repot? Also where can I get this bark I personally have no loyalty to any medium because this is my first Orchid it's my new baby so I want it to survive. Should I get it some Orchid food too? I live in New York City does anyone know a good place for Orchid supplies?

what is S/H?