Hello!

[Roseprincess251]

Hi,
I came to this site looking for information about an orchid I received for my birthday last February. It is a Beldan's Kalidedscope "Golden Treasures" according to the tab in the pot. It bloomed for at least 4 months and did nothing for about 4 months. Now I have noticed a new leaf emerging and what appears to be a spike next to where I cut off one of the old ones after it finished blooming! The new leaf is green with maroon edges and the other 7 leaves are a dark green and healthy looking except for the very bottom one which is smaller, a little wrinkled and slightly yellow looking. I water it every week or 10 days with warm water. It sits in my east facing kitchen window.

I have always killed orchids in the past so I am very excited and hopeful for this one. I am glad to have found your site which seems to have a lot of good information from people who know what they are doing.

I look forward to visiting and learning more.

Connie from Georgia

[orchid_girl]

Welcome!!! Any answer you need I am sure someone will know

[BillC]

Hi Connie, you are very welcome to the forum. You will find lots of nice people here and much information on orchid care. Always ask questions if you are not sure of something.

Bill

[pikevi]

Welcome to the forum, Roseprincess251

That is a nice nick

10-day intervals between waterings seem a bit too long but if it works for you it will be fine, I guess.

Good luck with your new spike.

[11Orchid126]

If I would recommend a first orchid to someone it would be the P. Balden's Kaleidoscope! This plant is a vigourous grower and has lovely scented flowers that bloom easily. You really started out on the right foot. Remember to fertilize it occasionally, don't get any water in the crown (if you do, mop it out with a tissue) and you'll do just fine.

[WIB]

Welcome. To be a little picky, the spelling is "Baldan's" with two a's. The parent plant won an American Orchid Society prize in 1992, and it is delightful. In all Phalaenopsis the bottom leaves will start to look like crepe paper and then turn yellow and fall off of their own accord as new roots emerge just above them. Whether your new structure is a spike or a root may not be clear immediately. Healthy aerial new roots will develop a purplish tip and then a reflective, whitish covering over the rest of them. The surest signs of overall health for the plant are smooth, almost glossy leaves and roots that look a bit like mother-of-pearl ropes with a little purplish nose at the end. Bloom spikes form after a period of day-night temperature difference of 15 to 20 degrees, typically, so if your kitchen stays warm at night the new growth is more likely to be a root than a spike. - Bill

[fred]

welcome to the forum Roseprincess251
I hope that you enjoy your stay here with us.
Please have a look at the link to the AOS Culture Sheets
http://www.aos.org/aos/orchids/page01.aspx

Also it would help us greatly if you could Update your Profile with your Location as we are members from all over the world with different growing conditions your location will help us with giving you advice
your profile is found in your User Settings on the top left hand side of the page.