Q&A
Do you have an orchid question? Post questions or comments here, and find an answer from the AboutOrchids community.
Q&A Guidelines:
- Orchid questions and comments only, please.
- If you have an orchid problem, it helps if you’re descriptive. Different orchid varieties vary greatly in their care needs, so start with what kind of orchid you have. When relevant, describe your growing conditions, like light, water, temps, fertilizer, or humidity.
- Check AboutOrchids for basics. You may find the answer you’re looking for.
- Questions are usually answered by me or another person in the AboutOrchids community within a day or two. Please be patient.
- No spam. Links that are not relevant to the conversation will be removed.
Explore posts in the same categories: Q&A
Subscribe to the About Orchids Blog:
Your comments will appear immediately, but I reserve the right to delete inappropriate comments.
June 9th, 2010 at 9:05 am
My orchid has stopped flowering and the top of the stem is going brown. I read someone else’s comments on forum with a similar question and it was suggested stem should be cut. Can you please tell me how far to cut the stem down to?
June 9th, 2010 at 9:06 am
Cut the flower stem back as far as you can without damaging nearby leaves or roots.
June 9th, 2010 at 9:09 am
I received a orchid in December 2009, it bloomed and remained beautiful until June 2010, now all the blooms have fallen off and the section of the stem where the blooms where is turning brown. Is it dead? Will it bloom again? Should I cut off the brown section of the stem? Thanks.
June 9th, 2010 at 9:11 am
No, your orchid isn’t dead; it’s just finished blooming. I recommend your cut off the old flower stem with a sharp scissors cleaned with hot water & soap, rubbing alcohol, or bleach solution. It will help to ID your orchid so you can learn its specific care needs and help it bloom again.
June 9th, 2010 at 9:13 am
I received a beautiful phal orchid for Secretary day and was wondering how long the blooms will last. Last week, one flower became limp and this past weekend, 3 more became limp.
June 9th, 2010 at 9:14 am
Phals are known for flowers that can last weeks or even months, but if the blooms were already open when you received yours, there’s no way to know when they’ll drop. Common causes of premature flower loss include too much or too little water, allowing the plant to sit in water, low humidity, and inadequate light.
June 10th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
I just got an orchid a few weeks ago for my birthday. Its a Phalaenopsis I’m sure. I heard that when it finishes blooming, I can force it to rebloom. How do I do that? Thank you.
June 10th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Immediately after your Phal finishes blooming, you can cut the flower spike above a node to force it to rebloom. Check the complete instructions here.
June 13th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Hi Marc,
I have a Phal that is currently with new flowers in the last week and three other blossom’s on the stem..I water once a week…and mist every day as I live in the dry Southwest..I’ve noticed in the last week that the leaves are much softer than normal..not firm like they have been and they are have begun to wrinkle..
What’s that from? Too much water? Also should I fertilize while in bloom and is it every 4th watering as my sister (who also grows orchids in Florida) recommended to me.
Thanks for your answers.
June 14th, 2010 at 7:44 am
Hi Robin. Soft, wrinkly leaves can be a sign of either overwatering or underwatering. Check the potting material by sticking your finger in to the first knuckle. If it’s soggy and the roots are mushy, overwatering may be the problem. However, I suspect underwatering. It may be that watering once a week was sufficient in winter or spring, but it’s not enough in the summer. Your sister is correct to fertilize regularly while in bloom. Also pay extra attention to humidity during the hot desert summer.
June 15th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
hi i have an orchid which finished blooming and i cut back the flower stem down to the leaves…… the orchid has grown many new leaves but i wondered have i done the wrong thing cutting the stem back? it had gone brown? will i ever have a new flower stem?
June 16th, 2010 at 7:40 am
Your orchid will grow new flower stems when it’s ready to bloom again. Brown stems are dead and will not bloom again.
June 17th, 2010 at 6:59 am
I have three orcids that I purchased from Lowes on Clearance. Only one was blooming at the time of purchase, but the leaves looked healthy and since they were only $1.00 i couldn’t pass the deal. I have always enjoyed Orchids but never tried growing myself so this is my new project! I water them twice a week, or when the media feels dry. Two are Phalaeonopsis and one is Dendrobium. First question, should I cut off the bloom sticks. Second Question, the Dendrobium has new leaf growth but it appears that new roots are sprouting from the bottom of the new leaves. Should I break it off and start a new pot, or does this variety’s roots just use air? Third question, I currently have them in front of some bright windows that allow the morning sun in. The room is air conditioned and we keep it about 70 degrees F, is that ideal or should i move them on the patio where it will continue to receive morning sun only but it will be in the humidity and rain of Nashville, TN. Thanks for any help you can provide.
June 19th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
I recommend you cut off the bloom sticks (usually called flower spikes) with a sharp scissors cleaned with hot water & soap, bleach solution, or rubbing alcohol.
It sounds like your Dendrobium may have keikis, or baby orchids. This can sometimes indicate a problem, such as too much water over winter dormancy, or insufficient light. You can leave them to grow and mature, but they will drain energy from the mother plant, which probably won’t bloom again as long as the keikis remain.
It sounds like your patio will be great for your orchids, as long as nighttime temps remain about 60F for the Phals. They’ll really enjoy the morning sun, rain, and humidity. Dendrobiums needs more light than Phals, so place yours in the brightest position.
June 20th, 2010 at 9:14 am
I recently purchased an orchid from Lowes that was on the clearance rack. I have always wanted to try and grow one but was afraid to for fear of killing it. I was able to bring it back and the leaves are now wonderfully green and healthy however the flower stem is turning yellow. Since this is the first time I have tried these flowers I am at a loss as to what to do next. I purchased a small Phal in a 3″ pot and it sits in my kitchen window which receives indirect light most of the day with a small amount of very late afternoon sun. It has been warm and humid the last few days but the weather in Western PA can change on a dime. Please help!
June 20th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Flower stems usually die back after the flowers fade, so it doesn’t sound like anything is wrong. Your light and humidity conditions seem good, but be careful of temps below 60F for Phals.
June 21st, 2010 at 4:13 am
Marc, Thank You so much for your help! I think I am going to let the Keikis grow a little longer and then cut it off to start a whole new plant!
June 21st, 2010 at 6:26 pm
My orchid leaves have stick stuff on the bottom of the leaves that look like water drops. What is this from?
June 21st, 2010 at 8:52 pm
Clear, sticky liquid is probably sap, and nothing to worry about. However, aphids can also leave sticky residue, so check for pests.
June 26th, 2010 at 11:57 am
Based on what I’m reading here, we definitely overwatered our orchid. My husband was watering it and so was I – didn’t know he was doing that. Anyway, all the beautiful flowers died and the stem is entirely brown, so I cut it back. There are two green leaves which are a bit mushy now. I checked the roots and they are still moist and some are green. Is there hope that it will come back at some point? If so, how long will it take?
Thanks.
June 28th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
As long as there are still some firm leaves and roots, your orchid is still alive. Make sure it dries thoroughly before watering again, and make sure the pot isn’t sitting in water. If the potting material is rotted, you should repot ASAP. Depending how many leaves and roots remain on your orchid, it may take a few months to recover, or several years.
June 29th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
When my orchid sent out a new flowering shoot it also began developing new leaves at the top of the old stem (about 8 inches above the rest of the leaves). Should I cut the new leaves off or leave them be? Could I repot the new leaves to gain a second orchid plant?
June 29th, 2010 at 11:38 pm
Your orchid is growing a keiki, or baby orchid. You can leave it to grow and mature, but it will drain energy from the mother plant. If you want to keep it, don’t remove it from the mother plant until the roots are at least 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) long.
June 30th, 2010 at 2:14 am
firstly i really enjoyed your site and also the lovely pictures. my husband loves flowers especially orchids. so he ended up getting different kinds of orchids and i have no idea what they are. the first one has really long thin stems with green soft leaves sprouting on the top of theses stems, and they also seem to be wrinkling or folding- please help with the variety and problem. secondly i have another orchid which seems to have thick wide dark green leaves, again they look a bit dull. thirdly i have the last orchid which has bright green leaves but unfortunately from the portion where the plant seems to touch the media it is brown and i tried shifting it from a warm to hot but shaded sun. still no use…please help with variety and the problem, i am located in central india
June 30th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
Thanks, Priya. I’m glad you enjoy the site. There are tens of thousands of orchid varieties, so there’s no way I can ID your orchids from a written description. When trying to ID yours, remember that you don’t need the exact name to figure out care needs, just the family of orchids where it belongs.
Wrinkled leaves usually mean insufficient water. Even if you increase watering, the leaves will remain wrinkled, but new growth should be normal.
Not every brown spot is a problem, but if the brown portion of yours is the base of a stem or pseudobulb, that part of the plant may be dying. It could be caused by over or underwatering, pests, disease, or rotting potting media, but it may also just be old age of that part of the plant.
July 5th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
hi i recently got a phal and i am new to this world of plants
there are 5 flowers that have bloomed, and around on the branches are other flowers waiting to open but 3 of them fell off. one of the leafs has cracked in the centre not sure how this happened i had my nieces up d other day so maybe it was them? and another leaf around the edge of it has turned yellow in colour.
i water it once a week and it is sitting on my sitting room floor beside the patio doors but not directly in front of them.
is it ok to move the plant to different parts of the hse or should it stay in one area?
in the evening can i put it out on my balcony and then take it in the next morning?
when i am sitting on my balcony can the phal sit wit me?
i am from Ireland and at the moment the weather is hot night time is 13-17 degrees celsius
thank u for your answers
July 6th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Start by checking basic care info for Phals. I can’t account for your nieces’ behavior, but dropping flowers buds can be a sign of too much or too little water, allowing the pot to sit in water, low humidity, or sudden temperature changes. Yellow leaves or split leaves may point to watering problems, too. Orchids love trips outdoors as long as temps are right for that variety. For Phals, only leave outdoors when temps are above 65F (18C.) While it’s ok to move the orchid to different parts of the house, its flowers may try to re-orient towards the sun each time, which may cause flowers to drop. Good luck!
July 7th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
My phals flowers wilted and some dried up and fell of others are just shrivled but still there. Now the stem is turning yellowish brown but the leaves still look healthy. What is wrong with my orchid? Is it best to go ahead and cut the flowers when they shrivel?
July 8th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
Phal flowers fade eventually, but if you think yours have died prematurely, common problems include over or underwatering, allowing the pot to sit in water, low humidity, or cold temps. Healthy leaves are a good sign. It’s best to cut off the flower stem with a sharp scissors cleaned with hot water & soap, rubbing alcohol, or bleach solution.
July 9th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Hi!
I work at a company with a specific aesthetic and therefore in many of the executive’s offices and in every reception area there is usually a blooming Phal orchid plant. When it is done blooming the plant is thrown away. Over the last two weeks I have been looking for any tossed plants and have so far collected 5! However, I know nothing about the care of orchids. Each and every one of these orchids comes in a glass vase with moss and bark at the bottom. And they have all just finished blooming recently. So my question is, do I need to repot them? What about the bark at the bottom of the vase? Can that stay? Or do I need new bark? When I do repot them should I repot them in the same glass vase? Or something bigger? Or something with holes in the bottom? Thanks! Joanna
July 10th, 2010 at 9:00 am
Hi Joanna. Orchids are often a disposable commodity. Ironically, many of these are tough modern hybrids, and among the easiest orchid varieties to grow. Start by checking basic care info for Phals. It is possible to keep some orchids in a vase with bark, but I recommend you pot them with new bark into regular flower pots with drainage holes. Good luck!
July 10th, 2010 at 9:34 am
MY PLANT STEM BROKE WITH FLOWERS ON THE END OF IT DO I PLACE THE BROKEN STEM IN WATER 2 SAVE IT AND WILL THE STEM THAT THE FLOWERS WERE ON BLOOM AGAIN ?
July 10th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
You can place the flower stem in water to keep them as cut flowers. Some kinds of orchids, like Phals and Epidendrums, can bloom again from a broken flower stem, but other orchid varieties may not bloom again until next year.
July 17th, 2010 at 9:00 am
I have a Oncidium orchid (everglades) after it bloomed I cut the stem off half way. I noticed about a month later that the end of one leaf turned brown about 1 1/2 inches. A month after that the leaves which are about 18 inches long started turning brown and black and now are falling off at the point where the pseudo bulb attaches to the leaf. the roots appear to be white and are sticking out of the top of the pot. I water about every 7 days and fertilize with a weak fertilizer when I do. Leaf color is green otherwise.
Any suggestions what might be wrong?
July 18th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Check this post on Reading Your Orchid’s Leaves. Old leaves may die as part of the plant’s nature life cycle, and are replaced with new growth. On some orchids, old pseudobulbs shed their leaves, but remain green themselves, and this is also normal. Your roots sound healthy, and are happy sticking out of the pot as long as you have good humidity. Depending on your growing conditions, you may need to water more often; check out this post on Summer Watering.
July 22nd, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Dave. How old is the plant? It may be natural progression of the cycle of the plant. I am assuming nothing about it’s enviroment has changed(Lighting tempature, humidity ect…) If the plant is using the same amount of water as usual and getting fertilized,this is a sign pointing to normal cycling. However, check the roots to see if they are green on the tips. If they are your fine. Also are the roots spongy,Like the’re supposed to be. Or are they mushy? one last check the pot size. it might be time to repot.
Good luck
July 23rd, 2010 at 7:10 am
I have a Phali that bloomed for months. When blooms were done, I left stalks in place. One died. The other is still alive and has now produced a NEW PLANT. The main leaf is about 2 inches long. How do I care for it? Do I cut and plant of leave it? Never have had this happen before. It’s so cool!! THANKS. Tina
July 24th, 2010 at 8:33 am
You have a keiki, or baby orchid. Some Phals may grow keikis even when growing conditions are good, but others may be indicating that there’s a problem with the light, water, or temps. It’s your decision whether or not to keep it, but keep in mind that while the mother orchid is diverting energy to the keiki, the mother probably won’t bloom.
July 25th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
I was given a seedling with a tag that says: BLC Sea Swirl, Large Green, lip red and yellow FRAGRANT…..when I search for a picture, the picture does not look like the description….can you tell me what it is? Cym, Phals, what???? Thanks a million
July 26th, 2010 at 9:23 am
BLC stands for Brassolaeliocattleya, so you have a hybrid in the Cattleya family. Cattleyas like bright light, warm temps, and to dry thoroughly in between waterings.
July 26th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
I bought a phal from Walmart. The flowers died so I cut the stem per instructions I read on another website. Now my leaves are splitting. What does this mean? How should I cut them back?
July 27th, 2010 at 11:15 am
Cutting the Phal flower stem to force another set of blooms will only work on a healthy plant, and it sounds like yours is having some trouble. Check basic care info for Phals, and also this post on Reading Your Orchid’s Leaves. Common causes for splitting leaves include over or underwatering, or allowing the pot to sit in water. Low humidity or insufficient light could also be factors. If you need to remove the leaves, use a sharp blade cleaned with hot water & soap, rubbing alcohol, or bleach solution.
July 29th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Do you have to prune the orchid to get it to bloom again the blooms feel off about a month ago and the stem is all still green but i don’t know if i am to prune the stem back or just leave it alone it is all still bright green
July 30th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Even if you saw this post about Forcing Phals to Rebloom, your flower stem (or spike) is too old for the process. It won’t work to prune a Phal spike after the last flower falls. A handful of other orchid varieties can bloom from old flower spikes, but generally the advice is to remove it so the plant can direct energy to new growth. Use a sharp scissors cleaned in hot water & soap, rubbing alcohol, or bleach solution.
July 31st, 2010 at 5:58 am
My husband bought me an orchid plant for Mothers Day from our local Kroger. All of the blooms have fallen off and I have continued to water it once a week. The leaves are thick and firm and a nice light to med green color. It has 2 stems about 12-15 inches high. Since the blooms have fallen off, half of the stem has turned brown but the lower half is still green n looks very healthy. What should i do? I would love for it to bloom again I just dont know what care it needs…Also, i keep it on my kitchen table where it recieves a good amount of indirect sunlight during the day. Please help! Thank u.
August 1st, 2010 at 3:49 pm
To figure out its care needs, it will help to identify your orchid. You don’t need the exact name; just the family of orchids where it belongs. If you can’t ID it, check these generic orchid care instructions. I recommend you remove the old flower stem so the plant can direct energy to new growth.
August 2nd, 2010 at 6:12 am
Im almost positive its a Phal. How do i remove the old flower stem?
August 3rd, 2010 at 7:41 am
Check basic care info for Phals. You can remove the old flower stem with a sharp scissors cleaned in hot water & soap, rubbing alcohol, or bleach solution.
August 3rd, 2010 at 9:10 am
it didnt exactly tell me where to cut the stem w the clean scissors and i dont want to ruin my plant…
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Cut the old flower stem as close to the plant’s base as you can without damaging nearby leaves or roots.
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:38 pm
I received a Phalaenopsis in May and it still has a bunch of blooms but some of them have started to fall off. About a month after I got the plant I noticed what looks like to me as new buds growing. They haven’t gotten any bigger or smaller since then. But all of the blooms have fallen off one stem and half on another stem and 2 stems still have all of the blooms. Each stem has one bud. I also noticed a few weeks ago that I have a new leaf growing as well. Is there something I should be doing to help the buds bloom? The plant sits on my kitchen table next to my sliding glass door. It gets indirect light pretty much all day up until 6ish when the sun goes down and the sun comes directly in that window. I water when I feel the soil is dry (about once a week maybe week and a half). Am I doing something wrong that the blooms are falling off and the buds aren’t growing? Or do I need to be doing something else?
August 4th, 2010 at 8:14 am
It sounds like your Phal is trying to rebloom, but a problem with your growing conditions is causing the buds to fail. Possible culprits include cool temps, low humidity, or insufficient water. Direct sun in the early evening shouldn’t be a problem as long as watering and humidity are sufficient.
August 5th, 2010 at 6:40 am
Thank u so much!!!!!
August 5th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
I have a phalaenopsis orchid that I received in February. It stopped blooming in March and I cut back the stem. The leaves are droopy and very soft, with lines running through them. One leaf is turning yellow/brown. It is still in the original pot, which is nothing more than a cup. What could be wrong with it? Thank you for your help.
August 7th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Check this post on Reading Your Orchid’s Leaves. Soft, droopy leaves may be caused by over or underwatering, allowing the pot to sit in water, low light, or low humidity. As long as the pot has drainage holes, it’s fine to keep it.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:38 am
I got a phalaenopsis orchid in early May. It’s now mid-August. It sits inside in a window with diffuse sun and is still in the original pot (circumference is 14″ and depth is 5″). It was blooming when I got and just this week began to drop those blooms. What do I do now? Does it need to hibernate? Be cut back? What? Thanks. S.
August 8th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Your Phal may go into “hibernation” or may start growing new leaves and roots right away. In either case, check basic care info for Phals. Diffuse sun is good; remember to increase watering when it’s warm. You can remove the old flower stem with a sharp scissors cleaned in hot water & soap, rubbing alcohol, or bleach solution. Cut the old flower stem as close to the plant’s base as you can without damaging nearby leaves or roots.
August 10th, 2010 at 7:05 am
A while back I asked how to get my phal to flower again. You recommended to cut it between the 2nd and 3rd node. It has flowered again and the flowers have went away. Do I need to cut it again to make it flower again, and if so where? You were absolutely right about cutting it the first time. A new flower spike grew out just under where I cut it and covered it with wax. Thank you for your response.
August 11th, 2010 at 9:24 am
You can only force a Phal to rebloom once. The plant has drained its energy to bloom again, and will now need to recover. Some modern hybrids may recover quickly, but many other varieties may take a year or longer before blooming again.
August 13th, 2010 at 8:45 am
I received a Milt. Rouge Picardie as a gift last July. It has bloomed for a year and the last flower fell off a few weeks ago. I am reading the name of the orchid from the stick in the pot.
I have two long stems about 18″ long as they got longer when the flowers were blooming. I do not see any new shoots forming from these stems as in the past for several weeks now. Is this the end of the plant? Should I cut back the 18″ stems. I don’t know what to do — it is a beautiful plant and would like to save it if I can. I have never repotted this plant — it looks like its planted in bark pieces and the roots are all wound around the bottom of the plant — I water once a week. Please let me know what I can do to get it to bloom again. Thank you.
August 13th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
You have a Miltoniopsis hybrid in the Miltonia family. Since it stayed in bloom for so long, you’re obviously taking care of it well. The plant has stopped blooming, but that doesn’t mean it’s dead. It will store up energy and grow new leaves and roots sometime during the next year so it can bloom again.
Remove old flower stems with a sharp scissors cleaned in hot water & soap, rubbing alcohol, or bleach solution. Cut the old flower stems as close to the plant’s base as you can without damaging nearby leaves or roots.
August 14th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
I bought a small tiny orchid and the name is T. Latifolia ‘Enano’. I am new at orchid growing and can not find this plant. I am sure the T. stands for something but I can not locate it. thank you
August 15th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
I believe your plant is a Tillandsia, which is a type of bromeliad, not an orchid. Like orchids, Tillandsias are air plants, and they are often companion plants to orchids in the rainforest. However, bromeliads are a different plant family, so you’ll need to search elsewhere for care info. You may find some info at the Bromeliad Society International.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:27 am
I have 4 vanda orchids. They are all growing new roots. Some of them are really weird, like 3 roots glued together. I took a picture., but cannot figure out how to insert here. They started out looking like a pea (green) at the end of the root, it then became white roots with the greenish brown tips at the end, but the three are fused together along their length, separating at the very tips. Is this a problem?
August 29th, 2010 at 7:29 am
I also have a chocolate cimbidium for 1.5 years that has grown new leaf clusters (whatever they are called) but has not rebloomed. It is in the same pot. How do I get it to re-bloom?
August 29th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Your Vanda roots sound fine. Healthy new orchid roots grow with green tips which become silvery-white. It sounds like the root is branching into 3, and that’s a sign of healthy new growth, not a problem.
Check basic care info for Cymbidiums. Cymbidiums need bright light, regular water and fertilizer, and nighttime temperature drops to re-bloom.
August 29th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
I need help! I have 2 Phals; one has completely lost all of its flowers and it has not bloomed for about 3 months now and the other is losing it’s flowers rather quickly. I was reading the other posts and I am not quite sure and a little nervous about cutting since I am not sure exactly where on the stem or how close to cut it. I need help majorly. I don’t want to lose my plants. Is there a way to revive an orchid if it’s close to its death?
Help!!!
August 31st, 2010 at 8:32 am
All plants lose their flowers eventually, but that doesn’t mean that the plants are dying. If you think your Phals are losing their flowers prematurely, common causes are over or underwatering, allowing the pot to sit in water, cold temps, low humidity, or low light. You can cut off the old flower stem as close to the base of the plant as possible without damaging nearby leaves or roots. Use a sharp scissors cleaned with hot water & soap, rubbing alcohol, or bleach solution.
September 5th, 2010 at 11:35 am
I recently purchased a rather large orchid (about 3-4 feet) which I believe is a type of Dendrobium orchid. It was doing fairly well at first but has had to move to college with me and is now seeming a little sad. 3 or 4 of the flowers have turned brown and I’ve had to cut them off and now the stems are developing a sort of white-tan covering? It comes off easily from some of the stems and there seems to be healthy green underneath. Do I remove this covering or leave it on? Also, does this mean my orchid is dying?
Thank you very much!
Alysha
September 5th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
No flowers last forever, but that doesn’t mean your Dendrobium is dying. The flowers may be dropping because of changes in growing conditions in its new home. If it gets good light, good humidity, regular water and fertilizer, and winter dormancy, it should bloom again next year. The white-tan coverings sound like drying sheaths on the stems, or pseudobulbs. That’s normal, and they don’t need to be removed. They’ll eventually dry completely, and if you don’t like the sight of them, you can carefully peel them off later.
September 6th, 2010 at 9:25 am
I have 2 Phals, each of which has developed new shoots and leaves on one of their respective branches (i.e. approx. 1.5 feet above the soil line). May I cut them off to pot them? If so, where can I go to learn the proper botanical technique(s) so as to minimize the risk of injuring/killing this beautiful new growth?
Thanks in advance for your assistance . . . .
David
September 6th, 2010 at 10:30 am
It sounds like you have keikis, or baby orchids. To remove them, use a sharp scissors cleaned with hot water & soap, rubbing alcohol, or bleach solution. The “branches” are flower spikes. Don’t cut the keiki’s roots. Instead cut the spike and leave a segment of the spike attached to the keiki. Pot each keiki in their own small pot.
September 6th, 2010 at 10:35 am
Helloooo…I just start to collect Phals and I would like to know the apropiate soil for this…..tks!
September 7th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Phals are epiphytes, or air plants, and cannot grow in regular potting soil. Most growers use a bark and perlite mixture. Other choices include coconut fiber or moss. Ask local growers, orchid society, or garden center what works best in your climate.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:05 am
My phalaenopsis is in bloom, and I have noticed 2 more stems growing near the flowering stem base. Do I let these grow and bloom or do I cut them off?
September 12th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
If the Phal is capable of putting out more flowers, I would let it. The current flowers may be faded by the time new flowers open.
September 18th, 2010 at 7:31 am
Why does my cymbidiums have little black dot like bugs on them?
Thanks
September 18th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Check this post on Reading Your Orchids Leaves. Not every spot is cause for concern. Old leaves may have spots or drop as part of the plant’s natural growth cycle. However, black dots could indicate problems such as bug damage. Cymbidium leaves are susceptible to fungal infections if there is low humidity or poor air movement.
September 18th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
my leaves have white spots and they appear to be dead or dying a new leaf is starting to grow should i cut the dying ones off
September 19th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Check this post on Reading Your Orchids Leaves. White spots may be mealybugs, which can look like small pieces of cotton. If the leaf is dying, it may fall off on its own. If you want to cut it off, use a sharp scissors cleaned with hot water & soap, rubbing alcohol, or bleach solution.
September 20th, 2010 at 11:26 am
I have inherited an orchid from work. all blooms are gone and most leaves are gone, essentially dead… however, on the flower stem there are three leaves that have started to develop about 16″ above the soil line? is this a new plant that needs cultivating? Do orchids stem new plants this way (similar to bamboo shoots?) Sadly I don’t know what variety plant it is….any thoughts on how to revitalize? Thanks
September 20th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
OK, I’ve read some more, and I think I have a Phal. Sounds like I’ve got keiki’s on it, but no new roots yet… thinking I’ll wait for some roots and then try to separate and pot as directed a few posts up. Thanks for all the insights!
October 3rd, 2010 at 9:13 am
My Phal, purchased earlier this year with some flowers and many buds. The flowers all appeared and then, eventually, they withered and died. When the stem turned completely brown, I cut it off close to the main plant. Since then a couple of the leaves have started turning yellow. The Plant is away from the window but gets a lot of light. It is fed weekly with three (2) ice cubes and seemed to be very happy. Any suggestions?
October 4th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Check basic info for Phals, and this post on Reading Your Orchid’s Leaves. Yellow leaves may be from over or under watering, low light, or lack of fertilizer.
October 4th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
My friend has a Phal,that has been great over the last couple of months, it still has a lot of flowers on it, but they are not opening & are drooping. The leaves are also very soft & droopy but still quite green. What’s wrong?
October 6th, 2010 at 9:45 am
Check this post on Reading Your Orchids Leaves. Drooping buds and soft, droopy leaves could mean that the orchid is being overwatered, or the roots are sitting in water. It can also be a sign of low light.
October 9th, 2010 at 7:24 am
Dear friends,
I made such a terrible mistake. In an attempt to improve my orchid’s situation I cut its two stems, only to realize after removing them that one of them started budding… Can I rescue this stem and plant it to produce roots? Can I plant the buds (like you can do with some lilies)?
Not having orchids before I must have ignored their growing cycle, as it was probably ready to give flowers in a month or two. How can I rectify the situation?
H E L P !!!!
October 10th, 2010 at 10:21 am
You haven’t ID’d your orchid, which can affect the answer. Under good growing conditions, Phals and Epidendrums can regrow broken flower stems; most other orchid varieties cannot, and will not bloom again until next year. The flower stem won’t grow if you plant it. The good news is that you haven’t hurt the plant itself, and it can still live to bloom another day.
October 16th, 2010 at 7:59 am
Why did the leaves on my phal suddenly turn yellowish/brownish and fall off? It’s been growing ok though no blooms for a year or so. Natural light–water with ice cubes.
October 17th, 2010 at 8:03 am
There are several potential causes for yellow or brown leaves. Check this post on Reading Your Orchid’s Leaves, and also check basic care info for Phals. Lack of blooms for a year or so may indicate insufficient light, insufficient water, or cold temps.
October 17th, 2010 at 8:27 am
My orchid (it looks like a Phal but I am not positive) has been very happy since I got them three years ago. But now the stem is turning yellow.
Does this mean I am underwatering it?
October 17th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
If it’s the flower stem turning yellow, it’s not a problem. The orchid will grow a new one when it’s ready to bloom again. If it’s the stem of the plant where leaves grow from (Phals don’t have these, but other orchids like Dendrobiums do,) then it may be a problem with underwatering, overwatering, or need to repot.
October 30th, 2010 at 5:57 am
The latest flower on my Phalaenopsis Orchid did not fully open, is droopy and the stem of it is becoming like a thread but there is another bud coming, what seems to be the problem please. I am new at taking care of orchids and I find them absolutely gorgeous. I watch every flower open and grow and find it amazing. Please help. Thanks
October 31st, 2010 at 10:23 am
Check basic care info for Phals. It’s possible that the one bud was damaged, and your plant is readily growing a replacement. Other common causes to investigate are lows temps (blooming Phals should always be above 65°F/18°C,) low light, over or underwatering, or low humidity.
November 10th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Unfortunately I do not know what type of orchid I have. There is a tag which says, “P1109-S Medium white.” It was given to us almost a year ago. It bloomed for months. I watered it about once a week. Once all the blooms fell off, I set it in a bedroom by a window.
Now it has two strong stalks with small buds developing. What I am asking about is the roots. They are huge! They stick out from the top of the planter and are pale green/grey. What do I do with these roots? Can they be trimmed back? Should I replant in a large pot so the roots are in the mix? They really detract from the beauty of the plant. Hope you can help me. Thank you.
November 11th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Healthy orchid roots are important for the plant, so do not cut them off. Do not repot while the plant is trying to bloom, or you will probably lose the flowers. As long as you have good humidity, the roots are fine sticking out. Most orchids are air plants, and that is how they naturally grow.
November 12th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
My orchids are being attacked by something that strips all the green of the leaf but leaves the skeleton of the leaf.
I suspect slugs but have not seen any yet, can I flush the potting mix out with a heavy solution of salt water quickly washed out by fresh water.
The salt should kill slugs??
Peter Williams
November 14th, 2010 at 9:28 am
From your description, it sounds like you have slugs or snails. Salt water would kill them, but may also kill your orchid. I’d suggest slug and snail bait. Metaldehyde baits work, but are very toxic to people and other animals. Iron phosphate baits also work well, are non-toxic, and break down into fertilizer. Diatomaceous earth also work well and is non-toxic. Copper strips or tape around the pot can block future infestations.
November 14th, 2010 at 10:20 am
I do not know what kind of Orchid I have, I have two and since I got them they have not bloomed. However the are very healthy looking and continue to grow new leaves..I notice a lot of these air roots growing, some very long others just a couple inches. They grow and grow and then wither up. Some have grown down into the pot.. Just no stems for flowers have ever appeared. From reading the comments I think I have too much light on them so I will cut back on that. What can I do to make it flower? I just can’t wait for some beautiful flowers to grow on it. Maybe I need to fertalize more.. I water once a week, lots of healthy leaves and the other stems grow very often and well. Please help me wth this problem, Thanks
November 17th, 2010 at 9:46 am
Withering roots suggest low humidity or insufficient water. Unless your leaves are sunburned, they do not sound like they need less light. Often a gradual increase in light can help an orchid bloom.
November 20th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
I have a Phal and it has flowered and fallen off. There are so many stems growing (it looks like Medusa). Am I supposed to cut most of the stems off or do I just leave it as it is?
Thank you.
November 21st, 2010 at 7:31 pm
It sounds like you’re describing new roots. Don’t cut them off. The plant needs new roots to grow and bloom again, and they’re fine in the open air as long as you have good humidity.
December 2nd, 2010 at 5:04 pm
I’ve had my orchid for 4 years now and it has almost continuously flowered. It has currently finished flowering with a new stem growing up but one of the old stems that i’ve yet to cut back has grown 2 small leaves at the top and between these leaves another flower has grown. It has mystified us as it hasn’t happened before, people we have talked to about it have never heard of it before either. Was wondering if you could throw any light on the subject?
December 3rd, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Your orchid has a keiki, or baby orchid. These are not uncommon, and the fact that your keiki is blooming indicates that you have a very happy plant. You can leave it attached, or remove it and pot it separately so you have a 2nd plant.
December 9th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
I had two orchids, and both have the same problem. Both of them had lovely flowers, and then they fell off… and then so did the leaves! What did I do wrong? I watered them as directed and used 2 ice cubes. I even purchased orchid food and have been giving 2 tables spoons a week. Will they grow back? Should I just toss them?
December 11th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
It’ll help if you can ID your orchids. Different varieties have very different care needs. Leaves quickly falling off may be caused by too much or too little water, allowing the plant to sit in water, low light, or temperature extremes.
Some orchid varieties like Dendrobium may lose their leaves in winter dormancy, and this is normal. Most other orchids won’t recover if they’ve lost all their leaves.
December 22nd, 2010 at 12:38 pm
I have a phalaenopsisi orchid and was recently offered a beautiful self watering pot. It’s catalogue shows orchids but I’m a little uncertain as to how well it would grow there. If it is ok, would you suggest I plant it in bark or mainly granulate?
I would very much appreciate you feedback on this. Thank you
December 24th, 2010 at 9:54 am
Without seeing the self-watering pot, I can’t know if it’s appropriate for orchids. Orchids need good air flow around their roots. If they sit in water, their roots will rot. You may want to contact the vendor directly and ask them if there are special instructions to use the pot with orchids. Orchids can grow in a variety of potting materials. Bark is standard, but some growers use granulates. However you need to be extra careful supplying appropriate fertilizer since the orchid will not obtain any from the granulates.
December 28th, 2010 at 10:09 am
my collection of phal and dendro developoed what look like mealy bugs — have been following your advice and wiping with alcohol but no real progress. what causes this and what additional preventive measures can I take? they are in greenhouse in CT.?
December 29th, 2010 at 9:58 am
The key with any pest control is to be persistent. Multiple weekly treatments are almost always necessary. Ants sometimes “farm” mealybugs, so be on the lookout for them also. Pests may indicate some underlying problem with growing conditions, which is one reason why they infest during winter. Make sure your orchids have proper temps, watering, humidity, and air movement. Most Dendrobiums are dormant and should receive little water during winter.
December 29th, 2010 at 10:47 am
I have been collecting “phalaenopsis” plants for years now, and they tend to get “mealybugs”. I have quite a few plants now, and some of them are infected again. Today I will clean them with rubbing alcohol, and rinse them as advised, but what do I do with the potting soil that they’re in? In the past, I have completely re-potted the plants, and it still returns. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!! Kind regards, Margaret
December 30th, 2010 at 9:52 am
Check the answer right above this one. If your mealybug problems are so persistent, there’s probably some underlying problem that’s not being addressed, like low humidity, cold temps, ant infestation, etc. You may need to try a more powerful insecticide to eliminate the pests once you’ve addressed any underlying problems.
January 4th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
My boss brought me her phalaeonpsis that has been dead in her office for well over a year. It is completely brown and the potting medium reminds me of a rice cake. Is there any hope of bring this plant back to life?
January 5th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
It sounds like the orchid is dead. Once a Phal is completely brown, it’s completely gone.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:23 am
Well, at least it came in a nice pot!
Thank you.
January 16th, 2011 at 10:06 am
I purchased an Orchid last summer at an estate sale (my first). I believe it is a phalaenopsis. I have it in my kitchen window (south) above the sink. It seems to be thriving there! When I got it, there were what I believe to be roots growing up out of the pot and someone had clipped them to a stick stuck down in the pot. A new leaf began to grow a few weeks ago and I noticed a stem coming out of the plant below the leaves. I am so excited! I am going to have a bloom!….. what now? Also, the “roots” coming up out of the pot, are they roots? or are they old stems? I appreciate your answers.
January 18th, 2011 at 9:24 am
Since it sounds like your Phal is thriving, keep up the good work! It can be tough to distinguish a new flower spike from roots, since orchid roots may grow in any direction, and both new roots and spikes are green. In time, roots take on a silvery-white color. Spikes remain green and grow upwards. Roots will start to bend and curve as they grow longer. You can keep your Phal in a south-facing window through winter, but as the sun strengthens in springtime, you should move the plant into a shadier spot.
January 21st, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Thank you for your vote of confidence.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:01 pm
I have a phal and it is reblooming about 9 buds on one branch one of which just bloomed. Unfortunately the branch got riped off and I am not sure what to do. I tried to re-attached to the plant with tape but don’t think that will work. What is recommended. Should I just put the branch in water and see if the rest will of the buds will bloom ? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
January 24th, 2011 at 9:27 am
Tape won’t work, but Phals can sometimes regrow broken flower spikes. Check this post on how to force Phals to rebloom. Even if that doesn’t work, with good basic orchid care, your Phal can grow and bloom again.
January 24th, 2011 at 10:23 am
I was recently given a cymbidiam orchid and the leaves r turning yellow near the dirt. I have it in a west window – I do move it near a humidity source as often as I can. I am afraid I may have watered it too much. hELP. I don’t want to loose it. What kind of food should I use-do I need to buy special soil?
Thanks for ur help
January 26th, 2011 at 7:26 am
Check basic info for Cymbidiums. Cymbidiums need bright light and regular water. Make sure the pot has good drainage and is not sitting in water. Many Cymbidium varieties like cooler temps, but there are also some warm growing types. All varieties need nightly temperature drops.
February 8th, 2011 at 11:33 am
I recently bought my first orchids (Phalaenopsis). They are in flower and have some buds. It is in the bathroom with bright light. . .but no direct sun.
The temps in there are pretty cool at night, but warmer in the day. I have them sitting above a tray of moist pebbles, and spritz them twice a day am and pm – to be sure they have the humidity. None of the buds have opened and instead are droping off. What do they want me to change to prevent this?
February 9th, 2011 at 10:23 am
It sounds like you’re providing good humidity and good light, but Phals should be kept above 65°F (18°C.) They are probably too cool at night, and this can cause problems for the flower buds.
February 14th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Ok I’m new to this and can faithfully say, know nothing. I bought my wife an orchid from the super market it is lavender and white in color with yellow in the middle and its petals or kinda tear dropped shaped, looks to have leaves like a Lilly pad and is in a small vase with water. Please if you have any information on what type it may be it would be much appreciated. Thanks.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:52 am
You can try to ID common orchid varieties here. Many varieties come in multitudes of colors, so it makes it hard to identify by color. Instead, look at flower shapes and leaf shapes. Phals are most commonly sold in N. America, so they’re a good place to start.
February 16th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
i have a orchid that has quit blooming and i need to know if i cut the old stem back or does new flowers grow on them. it is a onc. sweet sixteen orchid. could you please tell me what to do. and how many times a year does is bloom.
thank you
tina miller
February 18th, 2011 at 7:49 am
Check basic info for Oncidium care. Oncidiums don’t rebloom on old stems like Phals can do, so you can cut it back. Your Oncidium is a hybrid, and some vigorous hybrids may bloom more than once a year, but most will bloom just once a year.
February 18th, 2011 at 9:11 am
I bought a Phal. at Walmart and the instructions were not very clear. It didn’t
tell the kind or much anything else except water with several ice cubes once a
week. I always feel the moss and sometimes it feels dry before the week is up
and time to water. Some of the blooms are wilting do I cut them off or what do
I do. The wilted ones are not pretty and take away from the other blooms. My
plant has one main stem and toward the top it has two off shoots that are in full
bloom. Also do you cut the one main stem back to just above the leaves or how
do you do it since it does have those shoots. This is my first orchid and I don’t want to kill it. Any help appreciated.
February 19th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Check basic care info for Phals. Wilting Phal flowers may be a sign of low water, low humidity, or cold temps, but they just be old flowers finishing their normal life span. If new flowers buds are continuing to open, then the plant is doing ok. You can remove any wilted flowers, but if you cut the main stem you’ll lose the offshoots coming from it.
February 24th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Hello I received a Plalaenopsis Orchid in October for my birthday. After the first blooms started to die I cut the stem 2 inches bellow the dead flower. The last flower died about 3 weeks ago and I have cut the stem down 2 inches. I was reading my How to Care for Your Orchid card and it instructed to cut the flower stem all the way back in 6-8 weeks if nothing happens. Does all the way back mean to where the leaves and stem meet?
Also I notice the tiny webs that the spider mites give off where forming under and on top of my plant. I still have dark green leaves but I am wondering how I should proceed.
February 25th, 2011 at 9:08 am
Check basic care for Phals, and this post about how to prune orchids. You can cut back the flower spike as far as possible without injuring nearby leaves or roots. No pruning trick can change the fact that plants only bloom when they’re happy. Spider mites may indicate underlying problems, such as low humidity, inadequate watering, or cool temps. Neem oil or horticultural oil are standard treatment for mites, but be sure to address these underlying problems also.
February 27th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
My vanda orchids hang in my patio. I water their roots daily. Some of the leaves, especially lower ones on some of the plants are yellowing then brown, then fall off. I have one that has never lost leaves. My newest one is losing leaves in the same way intermittently not only from the bottom. They bloom twice a year for me and are beautiful otherwise. HELP! I would submit a picture, but don’t know how to here!
February 28th, 2011 at 6:48 pm
Check this post on reading your orchid’s leaves. It sounds like your Vandas are healthy if they bloom regularly. Lower leaves are the oldest ones, and can fall off as part of the natural growth cycle of the plant. If it’s winter where you live, they may be reacting to lower light or temps, and should recover in spring.
March 12th, 2011 at 6:23 am
My Phal flowers seem to be drooping as if they are not getting enough water but watering does not make them sit up again. What else may be wrongÉ
March 14th, 2011 at 9:43 am
Check basic care info for Phals. If the flowers are dying prematurely, common problems to investigate include overwatering, underwatering, allowing the pot to sit in water, cold temps, or low humidity.
March 20th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
My Phal orchid is growing roots over the top of the pot. My Phal is still blooming. Should I wait till the orchid stops blooming before I repot into a slightly larger pot?
March 21st, 2011 at 6:30 pm
Yes, wait until your Phal stops blooming before repotting. If you repot during flowering, you’ll probably lose the flowers prematurely.
March 24th, 2011 at 8:37 pm
My phal spike has thick clear sap on the buds and the buds are getting soft and falling off way before blooming… Help! This does not seem to be “happy sap” to me.
March 27th, 2011 at 9:12 am
Clear sap may be a sign of pests like aphids. It may also be a sign of a Phal in distress from cold temps, overwatering, allowing the pot to sit in water, or low humidity.
March 27th, 2011 at 6:37 pm
I KEPT THIS MINIATURE ORCHID ON MY KITCHEN COUNTER ISLAND AWAY FROM DIRECT SUNLIGHT BUT NEAR WINDOWS. IT BLOOMED BEAUTIFULLY. I HAD A CANDLE ON THE COUNTER THE MUST HAVE LET OUT TOO MUCH HEAT AND THE BLOOMS BEGAN TO WILT WITHIN 1-2 DAYS AND DIED. THE STEM LOOKS AS IF ITS DRYING UP. THE LEAVES HOWEVER LOOK HEALTHLY AND GREEN. WHAT SHOULD I DO? PRUNE OR CUT THE STEM? IT’S BEEN ONE WEEK NOW SINCE THE CANDLE INSIDENT.
March 30th, 2011 at 8:55 am
It sounds like you’ve just lost your flowers, not your plant. Continue to provide good basic Phal care, and it will bloom again when it is ready. You can prune off the old flower stem.
April 5th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
My phal just started blooming again and I moved it ouside about a month ago since the weather has warmed up–I live in Louisiana. In the past I have usually kept it outside on the back patio and moved it inside in a laundry room that has a large window for when the temps drop. I repotted it last fall before I moved it inside for winter. It has a new stalk and seems to be thriving. The new blooms were nice and bright white. I went out of town for a few days and we had a pretty good storm while I was gone–wind, rain and a little drop in temp, but nothing under 48 degrees. When I got back, I instpected my plants and noticed some dirty looking spots on my pretty white blooms and some holes on the petals. It is a covered patio so it shouldn’t have gotten too much of the rain from the storm but several of my plants were knocked over from the wind. I don’t see any other bugs or aphids on the leaves and they are a nice green color. The new sprout with buds on it looks free of pests also. I have never seen these on my blooms before and have had the plant almost three years now. What has happened to my pretty blooms? Help.
April 7th, 2011 at 9:49 am
Torn petals with dirty looking spots suggest wind damage. On top of that, cold temps may have taken their toll. Many tough Phal hybrids can manage below the typical 65 degree minimum for Phals, but 48 degrees (or even colder with wind chill factor) may have been too much. As long as the rest of the plant is intact, it should recover.
April 13th, 2011 at 11:58 am
My husband and I married on March 26th. Instead of fancy flower arrangements, we chose 1 orchid on each piller, either side of the alter. It was a beautiful and elegent choice. The orchids remain lovely, with big beautiful flowers, and are growing rapidly. Roots are climbing out of the pots, some appear dry and withering, yet the plants show no sign of damage. I don’t know what type of orchids they are, so I am unsure how to repot, what to pot them in, or if I should repot. Is this an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” situation?
April 13th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Sorry, also the flowers have become quite heavy, and are bending low. Would it be alright to simply extend the support sticks?
April 14th, 2011 at 11:43 am
Their roots are withering because of low humidity, and orchids need good humidity. They probably won’t need repotting for a year or two. It will help to ID them so you have a better idea of their care. The most common kinds are Phals, so start there. Remember that flower shape is more important than color, since orchids have many color variations. It’s fine to extend the stakes to support the flowers, so that the plant doesn’t tip over.
April 14th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
*This really answered my problem, thank you!
April 16th, 2011 at 7:43 am
I have a phaleonopsis orchid that I got a few years ago. It was blooming when I got it, and bloomed the following year, then nothing for a year. I repotted it last winter and it has grown new leaves and two flower spikes full of buds. The plant is in a well-lit window facing southeast, and I water it every week or two. Last week, however, the buds on both spikes dried up and fell off. Now I have two naked spikes. Should I cut them? What did I do wrong?
April 17th, 2011 at 10:11 am
There’s no set formula for watering frequency, but one watering every 2 weeks is not enough for a Phal. They should be watered thoroughly at least twice week. If you have bright light, high temps, low humidity, or strong air movement, water more often. Older potting material usually holds more water, so your fresher potting material may need more frequent waterings.
April 27th, 2011 at 8:31 am
I have an orchid not sure what kind it is growing new plant on the stems how do I cut and plant those new plants
April 28th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
I think you’re talking about a keiki, or baby orchid. Follow the link the find out how to remove and pot it.
May 17th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
Hi I’m curious if the orchids can be grown in different country?or its depends of the weather, climate seasons? I just want to learn more..Thanks
May 18th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
Orchids can grow all over the world, and there are varieties for every climate. Different types are suited for different light and temp ranges. There are many cool growers. Orchid lovers in desert or dry areas need to work to maintain high humidity. Check orchid care basics too.
May 27th, 2011 at 6:49 pm
Hello,
My parrot pulled a godzilla on my phal orchid. It has been several months later and the roots are still very healthy but there is only 1 leaf left with no signs of new growth. Can my orchid be rehab’d?
Thanks,
Holly
May 28th, 2011 at 10:30 am
If that single remaining leaf is still in good shape, and roots are healthy too, your Phal should eventually regrow. However it may take months before it does, and it may be years before it can bloom again. Be patient, and keep the pet parrot entertained with other chew-toys.
June 3rd, 2011 at 1:22 pm
I received an orchid as a gift and the card attached said to water it with as much water as one ice cube per week. The plant seems to be doing fine. I keep it about 5 feet from a patio door facing south so it gets indirect sun almost all day and I do turn the pot once a week to keep it growing fairly straight. Once it finished blooming last fall, I cut off the tall stem down to almost the leaves, but it has never started another stem. How long should it take to start a new stem, and where does that stem start from so I can watch for a sprout?
June 3rd, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Not sure of type of orchid, instructions said water about as much as an ice cube once a week. Enough water? Seems healthy. cut off flower stalk once done blooming last fall, but no new stem has appeared. How long will that take? Have near south facing patio door so gets nice indirect light.
June 4th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
I advise against using ice. Besides being too cold, one ice cube per week is maybe a tablespoon of water. That’s not enough for any orchid. Whatever kind of orchid you have, water thoroughly. If water isn’t draining out of the holes at the bottom of the pot, it’s not enough. Remember to allow the pot to drain thoroughly, and dump out all the extra water from its tray. Never allow the orchid to sit in water.
Check out more watering tips here.
It sounds like you’ve got good light conditions, but that also depends on IDing your orchid. If may be good light for a Phal or Paph, but too little for a Cattleya, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, or Oncidium.
June 5th, 2011 at 5:35 am
I cannot figure out what type of orchid I have. All I can say is the petals are blue! Also my orchid has a long stem with the blooms at the to and it also has another stem curling up at the bottom with some more blooms. Do I have two plants here with one of them needing to be repotted??
June 7th, 2011 at 8:39 am
To ID your orchid, check these commonly grown varieties. You don’t need to figure out its exact name to know how to care for it, only the family where it belongs. Check the shape of the flowers to ID it. Color isn’t a good indicator because most orchids come in a wide variety, however, there are few true blue orchids. Some Dendrobiums and Vandas are blue, and some Phals are dyed blue. Many other varieties come in purple, so if it’s not a true blue, that could include a wider variety of possibilities. To know if your orchid needs repotting, check here.
June 13th, 2011 at 12:44 am
Hi – I was told when my flowers were finished to cut the stem above the 3rd notch which I duly did. I am also “orchid sitting” at the moment for a friend. Her orchid has now sprouted on the 3rd notch but it is a bunch of leaves? Everyone says this is odd and wrong. Am I supposed to nip it off or is it normal? Otherwise an extremely happy plant on my kitchen windowsill with new leaf growth at the bottom.
June 14th, 2011 at 6:52 pm
Forcing a Phal to rebloom only works when the orchid has good growing conditions. The leaves on the flower stem sounds like a keiki, or baby orchid. Check this post about keikis to learn more. It’s not odd or wrong, but it probably means that there’s a problem with growing conditions, such as too much water or too little light.
June 15th, 2011 at 7:20 am
I received my first Phal in April. I’ve been watering it weekly and my coworker gave me some liquid food for it. The blooms are just now starting to turn papery and wither. I accidentally broke off some of the blooms on one of the stems today – EEK! I’m guessing it’s about to get to the point where the stems should be cut off, right? When should I do this, when the blooms fall off? What about the broken-off piece? Any advice is greatly appreciated for this orchid newbie!
June 17th, 2011 at 7:11 am
It’s your choice when to cut off the flower stem. You can remove it when the flowers start to fade, or wait until the last flower falls. The broken piece may continue to bloom if you place in a bud vase of water, but it won’t grow any more. Check out basic care info for Phals. Check these orchid watering guidelines too.
June 20th, 2011 at 9:57 am
Thanks for the advice Marc!
June 20th, 2011 at 11:48 am
Hello – I just received a beautiful phalaenopsis that is currently potted in a clear flexible plastic pot. In addition to the plant, I was also given a vented orchid pot to replant it into. The orchid is currently in bloom – should I wait until the flowers are gone to repot into the new pot? When is the best time in the flowering cycle to do this?
June 22nd, 2011 at 8:42 am
The ideal time to repot is when the orchid has finished blooming. That’s when most orchids start growing new leaves and roots. Check out how to know when to repot your orchid here.
June 28th, 2011 at 7:20 am
Hi – I received a phal in May that was in full bloom. The blooms lasted until over a week ago then slowly each one started wilting and dropped off. The stem started turning brown where the blooms were – so I cut it off but as I did this the two green healthy leaves fell off?? Does this mean my plant is dying? The roots appear green and healthy. Is there anything I can do??
June 29th, 2011 at 10:53 am
Flowers fade as a natural part of the plant’s life cycle, but healthy leaves falling off indicates a problem. Possible causes to investigate include cold temps, inadequate light, too much water, too little water, or allowing the pot to sit in water.
June 30th, 2011 at 6:54 am
Thanks Marc – I live in Az and my plant sits on a table near an east side window so it gets the morning sunlight and that area stays bright but not hot during the day…but I do think I may have been watering too much – do you think my plant will be ok – the roots in the pot are still green?
July 1st, 2011 at 9:47 am
If all the leaves are gone on your Phal, then the chance for recovery isn’t good. If there are leaves left, the orchid can recover. Let it dry well before watering again. Since you live in Arizona, pay extra attention to providing good humidity too.
July 11th, 2011 at 1:42 am
Hello I have several orchids and usually I a pretty lucky that they flower after I have cut back the flower stem and after a dormant period.
I have one that I cut back the flower stem not at the bottom but to a bud stem and it has started to grow new leaves on the stem. What shall I do with it can I cut it off and pot it with growing medium. This did happen before and I left them and they just died off.
July 12th, 2011 at 8:18 am
It sounds like you have keikis, or baby orchids. Check this post to learn how to remove them and pot them.
July 16th, 2011 at 11:29 am
Hi, I have many a Phalaenopsis Family orchids and one of the flower stems lost all the flowers and started growing a pair of leaves, what do I do?. This is the first time that something like this has happened. Thank you
July 17th, 2011 at 9:09 am
Like the question above yours, it sounds like you have keikis, or baby orchids. Check this post to learn about them.
August 11th, 2011 at 8:11 am
my orchids have mealy bugs, i thought i had managed to get rid of them by removing the adults with small tweezers and very gently getting the eggs from the petals with a cotton bud, as the plants showed no sign of infestation for a week or so, but now they have come back and i have been using a bug spray but it don’t seem to help have you any suggestions pleas
August 13th, 2011 at 6:21 am
To control pests, persistence is important, but it’s also essential to look at any underlying problems. Low humidity, low light, or cool temps can weaken the plants so they remain susceptible to pests after your treatments. Also, ants sometimes “farm” mealybugs, so if they’re around, they may be part of the problem. Mealybugs may also get into potting material, so you should treat their bark or moss as well. For really bad infestations, it may be necessary to repot the orchids.
August 13th, 2011 at 7:17 am
About a year ago I overwatered my first Phal to the point that most of the roots rotted. It had 2 to 3 roots about an inch long each. I repotted in a mix of 25% sphagnum moss/75% pine bark. It survived but hasn’t grown. After doing some internet research, I’ve been keeping it in a ziploc bag with moist sphagnum moss (not touching the moss). I soak the rootlets in a very weak fertilizer solution every other day, then let it dry. I dust the rootlets with rooting powder before returning it to the bag. It did sprout some new roots and leaves and the leaves plumped up. I potted (same potting mix as above) it when I had 2 roots that were about 1 inch long. I have been careful not to overwater, but the new roots and leaves stopped growing and the leaves started becoming limp. How can I get this orchid healthy enough to pot it and then help it thrive once it’s potted? Poor baby!
August 15th, 2011 at 8:46 pm
It sounds like you’ve given it lots of TLC and brought your Phal back from the brink. Assuming you’re keeping it warm and in bright light, you may have potted it too soon. Some orchids may take years to recover from severe root loss. Your Phal is probably a hybrid, so it may not take so long, but still may be a long wait. Even with 1 inch roots, it still wasn’t strong enough to leave its high humidity ziploc. Return it to a high humidity environment, and be patient.
It’s also possible that the orchid has some other problem, such as pests or disease, which may be complicating the problem. Unfortunately, many diseases can be difficult to diagnose or cure.
August 17th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
can you help my white phal is in full bloom and beautiful and was sat on the kitchen window which takes the sun during the morning only, however the 2 leaves it has have gone a yellowy colour, can you advise why this has happened? we’ve had the orchid plant for over 10 years now and has been pretty healthy till now
August 19th, 2011 at 10:26 am
There are many possible causes for yellow leaves. Check this post on reading your orchid leaves. You haven’t described your watering, temps, or humidity, but if your orchid has been healthy for over a decade and suddenly has troubles, my guess is that it’s overdue for repotting.
August 23rd, 2011 at 1:14 am
What is Rubbing Alcohol?
August 23rd, 2011 at 7:45 pm
Rubbing alcohol is generally used in medicine, but it’s also helpful as a pesticide and fungicide. It’s also known as isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or methylated spirit. In the UK, I believe it’s called surgical spirit.
August 29th, 2011 at 6:44 am
My Phalaenopsis has just flowered for the second time since I was given it. It sits on my kitchen windowsill, not in direct sunlight, and I water it about once a week, with plantfood added to the water. It has long silver “roots” attached to the lower part of it which extend from the pot and are not in the compost. Should these “roots” be inside the pot? Also, I have another orchid which at present has no flowers but seems to have a”baby” plant attached at the top of one of the stems, complete with these silver rootlike growths. Should I break this off and put it in another pot? Just how big should the pot be? I look forward to your reply.
August 30th, 2011 at 8:57 am
It’s normal for Phal roots to grow out of the pot, and this is fine as long as you have good humidity. Your baby plant is a keiki. Check this post to learn more about it. Orchids prefer small pots, since large pots filled with extra potting material can impede necessary air and water flow.
September 5th, 2011 at 7:34 am
Can you help me save my orchid? My mom gave me a miniature pink phalaenopsis about three weeks ago. The information that came with the plant said to water it with only three ice cubes once a week. The plant looked healthy when I got it and I gave it three ice cubes that day. After about five days the flowers started to look wilty. I watered it with three ice cubes on the seventh day and I started misting the plant in the morning. The first flower fell off the plant by the end of the week. I read online that the roots would look mushy if I was overwatering, my roots weren’t mushy, so I decided it was underwatered. I saw a video online that said that you should give the roots a really good drink once a week and then wait until they are dry to give it another soak. I gave the roots a good drink and stopped the misting, and the flowers continued to fall off. Now I only have four flowers left! The tips of the flower stalks are turning brown and shriveling up. I had the plant in a well lit room, but not in front of a window. I noticed that the leaves are a dark green, so I moved them into an east facing window this morning. I took the plant out of its pot to feel medium and it is still moist. The roots in the middle and bottom of the plant are a nice green color, but the roots on top are shriveled and dry. Is there anything I can do to save my orchid?
September 7th, 2011 at 10:00 am
Check basic care info for Phals. There are several potential problems with ice cubes that may be causing the flowers to drop. Cold water may shock Phals, and 3 ice cubes per week is too little water. When you water your orchid, it should be enough for water to drain from the holes in the bottom of the pot. Soaking the plant will also accomplish this. Orchids always need high humidity, so you should resume misting. Dry air may cause flowers to drop.
September 9th, 2011 at 7:55 am
My 90 year old mother has an orchid sitting in a kitchen window. The flowers have dried but still look beautiful and the plant is sprouting roots above the pot (about 8-9 of them). Should she cut the roots? Should she cut the stems? Help!
September 10th, 2011 at 10:27 am
Check basic care info for Phals. They like to have their roots outside the pot as long as they have good humidity. You can cut the flower stem to try to force another bloom, or cut it back completely to allow the plant to enter a new cycle of root and leaf growth. Use a sterile blade cleaned with hot water & soap, bleach solution, or rubbing alcohol.
September 14th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
14:09:2011 Dear Marc, I have 5 Phals, some I have had 2years, one is a lant that I bought from a garden center which was reduced, and they are growing well. I water them once a week, making sure they are not standing in water after. I have had loads of flowers on them and they have started to produce again. What is cusing me some concern is the size of the leaves. They seem enormous.They are 9inches on average, healthly looking with no brown or yellowing. I am not sure if this is normal or am I feeding them too often?
September 16th, 2011 at 8:49 am
If your Phals are blooming well, it doesn’t sound like you have a problem. Oversized leaves may indicate low light, but orchids receiving insufficient light usually don’t bloom. Overfertilizing causes different problems, like brown tips on leaves or yellowing leaves. Enjoy your flowers and lush growth!
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:50 am
I was given a Phalaenopsis in January. It’s in a 15cm clear pot in bark. At the time it had one branch of flowers. Today it has five branches and looks wonderful. However, it’s now very top heavy and has just toppled over. No damage, except to my cream carpet. I’ve propped it up but I need to now if I can repot it without damaging it. If the answer is yes what size pot can I go up to?
October 4th, 2011 at 8:01 am
The flowers may have survived the fall, but there’s no guarantee they’ll survive the repotting process. Unless you feel you have to repot now, I would wait. In the meantime, keeping it propped up should work. You can also try a few rocks to weight it down, or place the pot inside a larger container to stabilize it (remember not to block the drainage holes!) When you do repot, don’t automatically assume you need a larger pot. Phals prefer small pots which can just fit their roots. It may not need a larger pot, just a heavier one. You can repot with a few rocks at the bottom of the pot (once again, not blocking drainage) to help stabilize it.
October 4th, 2011 at 8:17 am
Hallo, my Phalaenopsis has stopped flowering~~it is now autumn in Portugal. The flowerstem is still green but has a liitle hole in it which is going black around it. Should it be cut off? How do I know if the pot (original small 5inch diameter, 4inch deep) is too small? Roots seem very tightly packed at the bottom, some roots climbing out and drying. Has 3 layers of leaves~seems healthy. Is this now the resting (dormant) period and how long does it last?
October 4th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
Olá Benita. I recommend you cut off the flower stem with a clean, sterile blade. Check this post about how to know when to repot. Most Phals like cramped pots; you only need to repot when the potting material has broken down. Phals don’t go dormant, but growth will probably slow with the season’s lower light and cooler temps. Some Phal hybrids can bloom more than once a year if they’re happy.
October 24th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
Hello, I am a first-time Bletilla Striata owner in need of advice… When I got the plant in July it had a healthy flower spike, yet it has never bloomed. The spike does not appear to have dried out nor suffered any damage. Should I leave the spike in place or cut it? The plant seems otherwise healthy and is presently in a well-draining resin container on a south facing patio that receives about 3 hours of morning sunlight/dappled shade. I live in New England, zone 6, so am planning to bring Bletilla in to an unheated garage in a few weeks to overwinter with some shelter. Any advice is much appreciated–wasn’t sure if terrestrial orchid questions were OK on this site?
October 24th, 2011 at 7:00 pm
Yes, terrestrial orchid questions are OK! If the flower spike hasn’t bloomed yet, it may have been shocked by a change in its growing conditions when you bought it. I’d guess that the spike won’t survive the winter. Bletillas want frequent waterings and regular fertilizer during summer. It sounds like you’re giving it good light, so maybe you’ll have flowers next year. Bletillas must have a winter dormancy with reduced water, when leaves will die back. Water sparingly until new spring leaves are a few inches tall.
October 24th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
I was reading about making your own potting media. I see it says you can use moss. Could you use only oak moss? Are there red bugs in the moss which could hurt the root and plant?
October 26th, 2011 at 11:30 am
In the wild, orchids can grow in many kinds of moss as air plants. However, under cultivation, usually sphagnum moss is used. Bought at plant stores or garden centers, it’s been cleaned of any pests and harmful microorganisms. It’s purpose is to hold water and also allow air movement around roots. It’s possible the oak moss will work for some orchid varieties, but it’s definitely risking pests or disease. If you want to use the oak moss, consider it an experiment that may mean sacrificing the orchid.
November 6th, 2011 at 10:51 am
hi, my moth orchid is in a clear plantpot ,would it ok to put this pot inside a decorative pot so the clesr pot would be hidden,? or do the roots need have light?ive no central heating ( gas fires) would my orchid stand a chance of surviving?would it be a good idea to keep it in the cellophane wrapper it came in in the winter &take it off when warmer(has been kept in cellophane wrapper since purchased 3wks ago.thank you.
November 7th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
It’s fine to place the clear pot in a decorative pot as long as you remember that orchids need good drainage. If the decorative pot doesn’t have drainage holes, you’ll need to dump out the excess water after you’ve watered. If the pot sits in water for an extended time, it will kill the plant. The same applies to the cellophane wrapper — if it blocks water drainage, you’ll need to remove it, or be extra cautious and drain after each watering. Phals usually want minimum nighttime temps of 65°F (18°C,) but many modern hybrids can tolerate a little chill. If Phals can’t survive your winters, there are cool growing varieties like Cymbidiums, Masdevallias, Odonts, and many more.
November 21st, 2011 at 1:01 pm
I had two Vandas with very long roots. I watered them from the top of the plant down to the bottom of the roots. Both plants died at that base of the plants. Should I water only the roots?
Also, I have a very healthy Eidendrum – plant is hugh but has never bloomed in 18 mos.
November 23rd, 2011 at 11:53 am
Check basic care info for Vandas and Epidendrums. Most Vandas need warmth, sun, high humidity, regular water and fertilizer. Long roots hanging out of the pot are usually a sign of a healthy plant. Possible causes of plants dying from the base include cool temps, inadequate light, or allowing the pot to sit in water.
There are many possible causes why your healthy Epidendrum isn’t blooming, but the most common culprit is inadequate light. Increase light levels slowly over 2 weeks. If it’s heading into winter where you live, look into adding artificial light to supplement the weaker sun.
November 30th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
Can you tell me what type of orchid this is? I looked at the identify and buy section and I can’t figure it out.
Thanks
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71170509@N06/6434382571/
December 1st, 2011 at 3:16 pm
There are far too many varieties for me to figure out an exact ID, but I can tell you it’s a Phal, or Moth Orchid. You can find basic care info for Phals here.
December 1st, 2011 at 6:58 pm
i have a orchid not sure of the name it was a gift sent to me at my mothers funeral, the flowers have fallen off and i cut it down as directed by a flower shop about a month ago the stem is now brown and has no sign of any flower growth what should i do ?
this is my first orchid so im not real sure what im doing, but the leaves are still nice and green its just not growing. i also looked at the roots and noticed that they are brown any suggestions on how to help my plant is appreciated. i would love to keep it alive because of the centimental value it has with my mother
December 3rd, 2011 at 11:30 am
It will help to ID your orchid so you can learn its basic care needs. Phals are the most common, so that’s a good place to start. Don’t worry about the old flower stem turning brown. When your orchid is ready to bloom again it will grow a new flower stem.
December 10th, 2011 at 11:37 am
I just got an orchid a few weeks ago for my birthday. Its a Phalaenopsis I’m sure. I heard that when it finishes blooming, I can force it to rebloom. How do I do that? Thank you.
December 11th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
You can find info on forcing a Phal to rebloom here.
December 14th, 2011 at 8:01 am
HELP!!! My phali orchid had been doing well, dropped its flowers which I understand is normal. I am very concerned because it has now dropped all its leaves. They turned yellow and fell off. I may have overwatered it. Is it still alive? Can it be saved? What can I do?
December 15th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Sometimes a Phal can survive with no leaves, but usually the plant is lost. If it has any leaves left, allow it to dry well before watering again.
December 26th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
I bought an orchid from a woman who spoke little English and could not tell me what kind of orchid it was. I bought it in the fall and it was done blooming, so I do not know what the flowers look like, other than that she described them as looking like a butterfly. The orchid has about three bulbs that are all close together (they even look attached to one another). There is a thick, firm, dark green, leaf growing from each one. The largest bulb is the only one that has a stem (spike?) growing from it. The stem looks a lot like bamboo and is almost three feet long. Just over half way up the stem, it splits in two at one of the nodes. At the very end of each of the two stems, there was one “butterfly” flower. Does anyone have ideas as to what kind of orchid this is? I would like to know how to better care for it. I am wondering if I should split the bulbs or leave them together. The woman said it needed to be repotted, but I am not sure if I did it correctly. The flowers are not going to bloom again for a while and I am wondering where to cut them so new flowers can grow. Right now there is just brown, crusty remnants of the flowers, and I’m too afraid of damaging it to remove them. The woman said the two flowers bloomed about five times over the summer. I appreciate any help I can get.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Growing an unidentified orchid is challenging because different orchids have widely varying care needs. However, with careful observation of your plant, you may be able to figure out how to grow it. Many orchid flowers are described as looking like a butterfly, so that won’t help you narrow it down much. However, the bulbs you’re seeing are pseudobulbs, and they rule out the Phal and Paph families, since these don’t have pseudobulbs. The pseudobulbs also tell you that this orchid needs some form of winter dormancy. Don’t split the bulbs now. You can remove the old, dried flowers. Most orchids don’t rebloom on old flower spikes, but if you’re not sure, it’s ok to leave them. The plant will grow new flower spikes when it’s ready. Good luck!
December 27th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
What could be causing my phals and catts to develop black tips on some leaves? I water with weak fertilizer solution weekly. Lots of indirect sun. Run a humidifier about 1/2 of the time. None have bloomed for more than 1 year. Any suggestions?
December 28th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
Check basic care for Phals and Catts. It sound likes both need more light. They have different care needs: Catts need much more light and less water than Phals. Gradually move your Catts into full morning sun. You may want to add supplemental light for both in winter. It sounds like you’re fertilizing well. Other possible causes of black leaf tips include low humidity, cold temps, or pests.
December 30th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
I just got a cymbidium orchid from someone who didn’t take very good care of it, and now it is trying to come back. A lot of the bulbs are dried it seems and the other half looks like it’s getting new shoots, what should I do with all the dried out ones? It is pretty large, should it be re-planted, most of the leaves were all dried out also.
January 1st, 2012 at 11:53 am
New shoots are a good sign that your Cymbidium is trying to recover. Since Cymbidiums don’t like repotting, and don’t mind being in small pots, do not repot now or you may damage its recovery process. You can remove dead leaves and dead pseudobulbs if it doesn’t damage the healthy parts of the plant. Good luck, and be patient: it may take a few years for the plant to bloom again.
January 2nd, 2012 at 1:51 am
I have several Phalaenopsis orchichids the majority bought in June/ July these have been watered weekly and fed by an orchid drip feed (bought from the local garden centre.) and hve bloomed beautifully, continuosly since then. These are located in different rooms around the house all well lit but non in direct sunlight. Over the last month the flowers on each have slowly wihtered and died the stem they were attatched to has then turned a yellow/cream colour,and died, which I have subsequently cut off. The orchid has then produced new shoots covered in buds unfortunately the buds themselves die without opening. Any advice, please.
Thank you I look forward to your reply.
January 2nd, 2012 at 11:46 am
Hello. I have a Phalaenopsis which I’ve had for about 3 years now. The plant itself has been growing beautifully, and it even produced 3 new leaves in the past year. The 2 stalks also grow very nice. The problem is that every time the stalks bud, the buds will look nice & healthy but then one by one, they turn brown & fall off. What can I do?
Thanks,
Susan
January 3rd, 2012 at 10:33 pm
To Lesley:
There are several potential problems to investigate as a cause for Phal flower buds dying. Cool temps, over or underwatering, low humidity, low light, or pests are the most common culprits. If it’s winter where you live, it’s possible that higher light levels over summer allowed the plant to bloom, but lower winter light levels don’t give it enough energy. Consider increasing light levels.
To Susan:
Check the list above for potential problems for Phals. Since you’re growing new flower stalks, your light levels are probably ok. Instead, cool temps or low humidity may be causing the problems.
January 14th, 2012 at 8:02 am
I have 2 orchids and all of the flowers have fallen off the stem does this meann it is done blooming I have had themn for about 3 months now and also what do I do now that it no longer has flowers to ensure they coninue to bloom next time it is ready?
January 15th, 2012 at 11:19 pm
Yes, your orchids are done blooming. It will help to identify what kind you have to best learn to how to care for them. If you can’t ID them, follow this basic orchid care info.
January 19th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
My Phal has started to rebloom. However the buds turn yellow and drop off. They are in a nice light window. I thought I had kept them watered evenly. I have however neglected to fertilize them routinely. Otherwise they appear happy and healthy. Why are the buds falling off before they bloom?
January 19th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
If your Phal has enough energy to try to bloom, it’s probably not a fertilizer problem. Likely culprits include cold temps, pests, or dry air.
January 19th, 2012 at 5:34 pm
I have two questions for you. First I have a phal that I purchased about 8 months ago while it was in bloom. After the flowers died I cut back the flower spike and I’ve tried to keep its environment as stable as possible. There is a little shriveling on the leaves and I haven’t seen any growth of new leaves or anything yet. I’m afraid it’s slowly dying. The roots seem healthy but it isnt firm in the pot. Maybe i didn’t pack the media tightly enough when i repotted it? Any advice for what I need to do to keep it healthy and hopefully bloom again?
Second question. I just bought a new cym. It is in bloom right now. From what I have read it needs bright light. Our house doesn’t get very direct light so we got a plant light and I have been turning that on for about an hour every afternoon. The leaves and flowers look firm and healthy but I noticed tonight that the tips of the leaves are turning black. From what I’ve read it sounds like this is from salt buildup? I’ve only had it for three days so I can’t believe my water would be that bad to affect it so quickly. Any suggestions? I’m trying desperately to keep these alive and propering but starting to get worried for both of them.
January 20th, 2012 at 11:37 pm
Check basic care info for Phals and Cymbidiums. Like many orchids, Phals may not appear to be growing for several months at a time. If it’s been less than a year, it may only require some more patience. If you believe the orchid is in declining health, common causes include overwatering, underwatering, or low light.
Cymbidiums do need bright light, and one hour of good light per day may not be enough. Increase hours of light so that leaves are light green, not dark green. Black leaf tips may also be caused by low humidity or poor air movement.
January 22nd, 2012 at 12:06 pm
My phal developed a small mushy spot on one leaf. All the others appear healthy. I cut off the soft spot. What caused this and what do I do about it.
thanks for your help.
Judi
January 23rd, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Removing the soft spot was a good idea in case it was a bacterial or fungal infection. Other possible causes to examine include pests, overwatering, underwatering, cold water on leaves, or allowing water to sit on leaves overnight. As long as it doesn’t continue to happen, the orchid should be fine.
January 31st, 2012 at 7:30 am
I do not know the name of my orchid.
It has just finished blooming.
How long does an orchid take to bloom again
February 3rd, 2012 at 11:02 am
Many orchids can bloom annually if given proper care. It will help to ID your orchid to know its care needs. If you can’t identify it, check this basic orchid care info.