Please help me guys. - Orchid Board

Kevinthe3 · #1 01-26-2025, 05:49 AM

I NEED HELp WITH THIS NEW AERIDES(I am new here btw)

I just bought these aerides online from the Philippines and I think these are not doing so well. The seller told me to just hang them up and water everyday and I have been doing that for 1 week(pouring more or less 1 ltr of water per plant) and still no signs of improvement on health. Should I fertilize? Relocate them? They are getting morning sun and shade in the afternoon and I think humidity is not a problem here because of rain(every other day).

Waterdog111 · #2 01-26-2025, 07:09 AM

I will have to leave the help to someone else with a great deal more experence than me. I dont think they are siriously in trouble. Are you located in the ?

Kevinthe3 · #3 01-26-2025, 07:41 AM

They used to have greener and firmer leaves and roots when wet. Now they have brown roots and have dropy leaves. I tried cutting aome roots thinking it was root rot but when I saw inside I think they were still alive.

Keysguy · #4 01-26-2025, 09:15 AM

Kevin---- first rule of orchid growing? Be patient!

OK- so from my response to your other thread I hope you'll trust me here but you may have caused some serious damage by cutting roots. I NEVER cut roots. If they are dead they will eventually fall off on their own. If you didn't sterilize your cutting instrument you may have introduced a virus to your plants.

Hopefully they are ok. Because you haven't provided the specific conditions under which they were grown by the person you acquired them from, understand that the following is general guidance only. Pretty much any orchid that gets relocated will sulk for a bit after it is moved. The more drastic the move, the more drastic and prolonged the sulking. In my experience, epiphyte's even more so for a whole host of reasons we don't need to get into here.

1) you need to closely replicate their prior home environment initially. If you can do that, their transition/recovery time will be shortened.

2) to intentionally change any single aspect of that initial environment (light/temps/water/food), you need to do it very gradually (what we refer to as "hardening off") to reduce the chance of shock to the plant. (see now why knowing the exact environment is important?).

3) Not being privy to that environmental knowledge, let's be super cautious and do this.....a) low light( no direct sun, at least 60% shade), b) mist for 10 minutes early morning and mid afternoon. Make sure they have good air circulation. Feed a weak 20-20-20 fertilizer once a week after a misting session.

Let's do that for 60 days and check back in with a report. Mine just went through some weather they've never experienced. Wind chills down to 49F for 4 days. I withheld all water and they are fine. Once they get established, they are tough as nails.

Kevinthe3 · #5 Today, 07:56 AM

I just realized what I did was wrong. Thanks for the advice, turns out what I've read in regards woth root rot shouldnt always be followed. Thanks btw. Just started fertilizing earlier, also bought some rooting hormones and fungicide. I hope it would start growing better soon.

Waterdog111 · #6 Today, 09:26 AM

Best rooting hormone Ive seen is Kelpak at Rays. But if this plant is stressed out it would not be a time to start throwing fertilizer to it. You wouldnt end a long fast with a steak dinner. I always went with yogart. Sorry didnt mean to get off track. Good luck.

Ray · #7 Today, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waterdog111

Best rooting hormone Ive seen is Kelpak at Rays. But if this plant is stressed out it would not be a time to start throwing fertilizer to it. You wouldnt end a long fast with a steak dinner. I always went with yogart. Sorry didnt mean to get off track. Good luck.

Kelpak is not a rooting hormone. Yes, it stimulates root growth, but that is not entirely due to hormones, and it is better thought of as a general biostimulant that affects and boosts all aspects of plant growth and health.