IS MY ORCHID DYING??? - Orchid Board

kmigs26 · #1 09-17-2010, 02:48 PM

Is my orchid dying???
I have had this orchid for about two months. Within a month of buying it all the flowers had fallen off. My boyfriend bought the flower for me and told me NOT TO LET IT DIE (because it cost so much money!) and I think that is exactly what is happening now. I didn't water the plant for three weeks (I honestly just forgot) and when I looked at it a few days ago the bottom three or four leaves are turning yellow. I watered it a few days ago and I think that might have sped up the yellowing. Also, there are little black spots near the base of the leaved. After the plant stopped flowering I cut the stem down to the second node, but I didn't sterilize the scissors before I did so. I fed my plant with orchid feed three weeks ago (the first and only time). I don't have it in direct light, I have it sitting on pebbles with a layer of water (the pot doesn't touch the water). The temperature in the room stays somewhere between 70-75 pretty much 24 hrs a day. What exactly do I have to do to save this plant?!?!?! Thanks so much for your help in advanced!!! PLEASE LOOK AT ATTACHED IMAGES!!!!!!
Kelly

(p.s. what is that little white/ green bump? Is it a root or a new stem or leaf? I can't tell. It almost looks like it is green with a white film over it)
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goofy · #2 09-17-2010, 03:22 PM

Hi Kelly,

Welcome to OB.
Your phal does not look too bad. The yellow leaves might be just old aging leaves. The little white/green bump is a root.
Most people here would check the media (what's in the pot) and repot if the media is to decomposed. If you are new and too nervous about repotting it, you can just water it when the media is almost dry. How often you water it depends on what the media/temperature your phal is in. Fertilize it weakly weekly.

Thuy

Anisa · #3 09-17-2010, 03:24 PM

The green little bump is a new root coming out. It looks like you still have 5 good leaves Soo... despite you, your orchid wants to live.

The yellow leaves show that roots are damaged. I would repot it in bark as soon as possible, cut off the yellow leaves and treat cut with cinnamon. Then use skewer method to water it - stick bamboo skewer into to the bark and check if the part that is in the pot is moist. As soon as it dries out your orchid is ready for watering.

kmigs26 · #4 09-17-2010, 03:25 PM

great thanks! is it okay that the temperature doesn't go down into the sixties at night? and also is it okay that i have my ceiling fan on high pretty much 24/7? what steps do I take to get a new stem to grow?

trdyl · #5 09-17-2010, 04:00 PM

Hello and welcome to OB! If the plant does not get a good temerature drop from day to night, it wont flower. Usually you get enough of a temperature drop if it is on a windowsill. Phals can take direct morning sun in east or northeast windows. I have included a link to a culture sheet. If you have any questions please ask. We have quite a knowledgeable crew here and we want you to succeed.

AOS | Phalaenopsis

kmigs26 · #6 09-17-2010, 04:19 PM

Thanks for the welcome! I stuck a pencil down into the pot and the pot is completely dry from what i can tell. I watered the plan on monday. what should i do?

trdyl · #7 09-17-2010, 04:50 PM

It looks like it is potted in straight sphagnum moss. And possibly in a 6 inch diameter pot. Moss in larger sized pots like this one can be a bit dangerous if there are no styrofoam peanuts in the bottom half of the pot. Reason being the sides might dry out but the portion right under the plant my still be wet. Check to see if it is in straight moss and while you have it out of the pot check to see if the roots are plump and firm. If they feel hollow then there has been root damage and a repotting and dead root trimming will need to be done. Let us know what you find. And we can go from there.

quiltergal · #8 09-17-2010, 05:41 PM

Hi there. Welcome to OB!

There could be any number of things going on with your Phal. Clay pots tend to allow the medium to dry out faster than plastic pots, so you may have a case where you are underwatering rather that overwatering. You won't really know for sure until you repot it. As Ted says if there are mushy brown roots then you have a rot problem and it's a case of overwatering. If the roots are shriveled and dry then you have a case of underwatering. If you forgot to water for a few weeks then that may have triggered the plant to drop flowers and start to shed leaves. I personally would not cut off the yellow leaves. The plant will suck whatever remaining nutrients are in them out and when there is nothing usable left they will just drop off on their own.

Basically it looks like a big healthy plant. The roots that are visible on top look pretty good. Give it a good repot and it should bounce right back. Just don't wait too long. Let us know what the roots look like.

kmigs26 · #9 09-17-2010, 05:53 PM

i have one more question! how do i encourage a new stem to grow? thanks!

quiltergal · #10 09-17-2010, 06:01 PM

Most Phals require a 10 degree drop in temperatures from day to night to trigger spiking. Most of mine start initiating spikes in the fall. We sleep with our windows open most of the year so temps in the house easily drop down into the 60s most nights with daytime temps inside around 68-70 in winter and 70-77 in summer.

Because yours appears to be a bit stressed it may skip blooming this year. Once it's recovered it should bloom just fine.