Hello, Another 'Needy Newbi' requests help

[blackthumbk]

Hi All! Please don't let my user id fool you, I do like to grow all manners of plants and they usually live!lol!!! I purchased an orchid about a month ago, beautiful plant with yellow flowers, but the flowers have fallen off and the stem has begun to harden on the end. I don't have a clue as to what to do for the plant, I water it, spray with water and it is near a humidifier, has healthy green leafs and what I think are three 'baby' orchid plants coming up. I am going to get some orchid plant food as I think it needs it because it was fairly well root bound when I got it, replanted it in a round glass bowl and 'She' (this is the name I bestowed upon her! ) seems happy there listening to my classic rock music. So, here are my questions, hope I get some great answers from you lovely folk!
#1. Do I remove the stem or leave it alone?
#2. What is a good orchid plant food?
#3. I have bamboo growing in my bathroom, really well...should I consider moving the orchid there also?
I will have many, many more questions in the future, hope you don't get tired of me!lol!!! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mayres]

Hello and Welcome "Blackie". We need to figure out first of all what kind of orchid you have as cultural needs vary dramatically depending upon what you have. Does the plant have a tag in the pot with a name? I almost always guess incorrectly, but did the flowers look anything like the following link flower? http://www.easyorchids.co.uk/shop/fi...er/t_16434.jpg What you describe as baby orchid "plants" coming up is most likely not additional individual plants, but new growths of the same plant. The next set of flowers will come from the new growths each time. Occasionally you will get a 2nd flower spike from the same growth, but the opposite side, soon after the first spike if both spikes don't come at the same time. If you can either confirm I guessed correctly or tell us what you have we can give you more detailed cultural suggestions. You plant will most likely need more light than most bathrooms provide - but that will depend upon what windows your room has and what type of orchid it is. There are lots of commerical orchid fertilizers out there which have good directions written on the containers. I have been using Gubler's Orchid Fertilizer (available at Lowes and other places) and it seems to work well. If you water 1/4-1/2 strength most every time you won't have to remember when you did it last - just do the same every time, except for every few months run lots and lots of plain water through to flush out any buildup of excess minerals. Many non-orchid specified fertilizers will work as well, but depending upon which one you choose it may take more effort to get the concentration correct. More info from me or more likely lots of others once we know what you have. Enjoy! Mike

[mayres]

Well, I proved that I once again jumped to the wrong conclusion - not an oncidium at all, but a dendrobium. Here is a picture of the orchid being discussed - maybe someone here will please share some good information with "blackie".

[Ellen]

Well, if it were my dendrobium I'd get it out of that glass fishbowl, which presumably has no drainage. What medium is it potted in? It's hard to tell from the photo. To answer your questions:
1. Leave the stems alone. They're important for storing food and water and for photosynthesis. It's possible that they might bloom again next year.
2. Just about any balanced plant food will work, just don't overdo it. Dendrobiums don't need a lot of fertilizer.
3. The bathroom is probably not a good place for your orchid unless it has a window that gets plenty of natural light.
Good luck with your orchid, and welcome to the forum!

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Whooah, that glass bowl was a very bad idea. You need drainage. Fertilizer and mineral salts from your water will build up in the mix and kill all the roots if you can't flush the mix out once in a while. Also, what did you use for a potting mix? House plant mix is also bad news, if that is what it is. Orchids need a wet dry cycle, with air getting to the roots during the drier end of this cycle. Dendrobiums, when they are not growing or blooming like to get very dry at the roots before watering, and maybe even left dry 4 to 8 days before being watered, If new growth is present, you can water them before they are completely dry, but don't do it while they are still wet, but only while a little dampish, as in being cool to the touch below the surface. Get some medium orchid bark, a little perlite or charcoal in the mix won't hurt if that is what it comes with, and repot that into about a 5" pot, give or take a little, but you want the pot to be on the small side.

You can cut off the old bloom spike as they don't rebloom on spikes like Phals do, but the old canes often rebloom.

[blackthumbk]

Hi all! I have been busy lately, but going to delve into this formum more now. I am going to repot her today, got to get the mix and a suitable pot..the mix is what she came with..I water her about every five days with half a cup of warm water..she gets flourescent (sp?) light for about 8 hours each night, and then during the day she gets some indirect light from the windows..I did decide the bathroom was not a good idea also, she would be in competition with my bamboo..4 foot tall and growing more and more each day!! Thank you all for the help, and trust me, I will be asking more and more questions, probably to the point that you will kick me off the site altogether! And above all else, SEND ME SUGGESTIONS, I DO APPRECIATE THEM!!!!! Thanxs, "blacky":-)