First posting by a total Newbie

[Lynn Hudson]

I have admired Orchids always but never had the courage to buy one until last April. It is a Moth Orchid and had about three flowers. Since then It has looked wonderful and developed another 5 blooms. Somebody told me the lother day that I should have it in a clear pot, it was already, but I had it inside a pottery pot. I have since taken the clear pot out of my pottery one and stood it into a totally clear fruit bowl. It has been like that for three days and I notice one of the flowers is dying. It is the very first bloom on the branch and is three months old to my knowledge. Is it dying because I have changed the pot or is it because that is the period of it's life.? If it is the3 natural cycle do I do anything when the blooms die?

[atcrosby]

Welcome to the forum ..

There is a ton of information on here and Jerry M. and Cynthia are the wise sages of Orchid knowledge. I have learned so much from there so far.

On the clear pot, you can leave it inside the claypot since clear pots can build up algae growth which although not harmful can mess up the ability to inspect the roots. I have several clear pots inside terra cotta with no harm done to the orchids. In fact when I soak them, I soak them inside the clay pot so that the moisture is slowly released into the pot as the clay drys out. Just make sure the pot with the Orchid does not sit in standing water at the bottom of the clay one.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Actually, my experience is that if the algae gets thick enough on the roots, it can cause damage. I'm thinking maybe it cuts off the air to the roots. Anyway, the algae seems to stay wet. Cynthia

For a newbie to keep a flower in bloom for three months is excellent. The flower is doing what comes naturally.

[Lynn Hudson]

Thank you ALL for replying so quickly. I have three flowers which are looking decidedly sick. Do I just let them fall off or is there a correct procedure? I have put the clear pot back into the the pottery one. The trouble seemed to start once I had removed it.

[greg_s]

sounds like a coincidence to me. I'd be different if it was 3 days, but 3 months is a pretty good run.

Some people cut their spikes when they are done blooming but I am not a huge fan of it. As I am finding out sometimes phals send up a secondary spike and rebloom. Personally, I would just let the plant do its own thing.

[Lynn Hudson]

Originally Posted by greg_s

sounds like a coincidence to me. I'd be different if it was 3 days, but 3 months is a pretty good run.

Some people cut their spikes when they are done blooming but I am not a huge fan of it. As I am finding out sometimes phals send up a secondary spike and rebloom. Personally, I would just let the plant do its own thing.

Thank you for that. I shall let it "do it's own thing" as you suggested.