Brand New Owner who needs help!

[aurora328]

Hi,
My husband was going out of town for two weeks for work. Before he left he surprised me with a beautiful orchid. I was worried because I thought Orchids were challenging to care for, he said the lady at the store he bought it at told him all I had to do was water it with warm water once a week. I thought ok easy enough. Well its been a week and I watered it once with warm water and all the blooms are falling off. I feel so bad I don't want him to come back next week and think I killed it. Its such a beautiful plant, but I obviously have no idea what I am doing so I here I am asking for help. My house is warm and I have it on a shelf in the kitchen. There are lots of windows in my house so its pretty bright. It has lost about 6 flowers since I got it, with 2 more ready to drop. Now only three healthy looking flowers on it. The leaves look healthy to me. Has two buds on it, one is shriveled one looks healthy. Thanks to any one who takes the time to help!

[Tarad]

Welcome to the forum! First you will need to know that you must post 5 times in order to be able to post a picture, which we all love to see What kind of an orchid is it? When we know that we can better help you. I live in Wisconsin so our weather is similar. What window do you have your orchid in? The water should be room temp for the best case scenario. Tara

[janet_a]

also, it's quite possible that the plant had been in bloom for 6 weeks before you got it, and it's just done. sometimes they lose flowers in a change of conditions, and there's just no help for it. if the rest of the plant is fat and green, no worries.

[CharliesAngel51]

There is never a set time to water an orchid. It depends on the environment and conditions of it's new home. It may need to be watered more frequently or go even longer between watering. To be able to give you better advice about your orchid we need to know what kind of orchid you have and what kind of media it is planted in. Some orchids need to be kept evenly moist and some like to dry out between watering. They all need to have good drainage.

I agree with Janet. Sometimes orchids lose their blooms from change in environment. I had a Phal that was loaded with blooms. I moved it from one room to another and within 2 days my blooms were falling off. Lost all but one even tho I put it back where it wanted to be.

When you have made 5 posts you can post pictures of your orchid. This will help us to help you better.

[mehitabel]

As others pointed out, sometimes the plant has been in bloom a while and the blooms are ready to go anyway. However, depending on the type of orchid, a lot of flowers going at one time is usually a sign of a problem. More typically, the flowers go gradually, one at a time.

Orchids are not difficult, but you do need to find out what kind of orchid you have and get some idea about basic culture. The "water once a week" advice is sort of good and sort of nots so good advice. You have to water orchids when they need it, not by the calendar. Once a week could be too often, or not often enough.

Go to the American Orchid Society website, where they offer culture sheets for various kinds of orchids. At the top of each sheet is a silhouette drawing of the orchid. To find out what kind of orchid you have, look for the silhouette that looks like your orchid. Then download and print the culture sheets for it.

If your orchid is a phalaenopsis, there are a couple of other "help" posts here today where I posted other websites that offer good culture hints for phals. Check those out as well. The more you read, the smarter you'll get about keeping your orchid thriving.

[aurora328]

First of all Thanks for the help! After some research my Orchid is a Phal. Baldan's Kaledoscope. It is in the green plastic pot that it came with, and planted in a moss substance. I am sorry that I sound so confused. On a side note everyone on here will appreciate I feel very attached to this little plant already, and hope that it will thrive. I will try and meet my 5 post min. So that I can take some pics of my poor baby.

[mehitabel]

Baldan's Kaleidoscope is a very vigorous plant, Aurora. I call it Baldan's Godzilla because it's practically unkillable. I'm sure it's been done, but this one really wants to live. It's too bad it dropped its flowers, but Baldan's Godzilla also re-spikes easily.

Learn all you can about phalaenopsis, and your beautiful orchid will grow well and probably re-spike this fall and winter.

In addition to the AOS website, check out the Canadian Orchid Congress culture notes, and culture notes at Big Leaf, and Bedford Orchids. A few minutes downloading and printing these culture sheets will repay you handsomely in a thriving orchid and many blooms that last a long, long time.

[orchidlover55]

If it is planted in a moss it maybe dry. When you water moss it takes alot of water. Make sure the moss is almost dry when you water, you can take it out and look at it to see. It won't hurt your plant. If it is dry put it in the sink and soak it down good, make sure it is completely wet. Then wait three days and look at it again. It may or may not need watering again. Just look at it every day after three days and when it is almost dry water again. You may have to repot it soon, usually when you purchase a phal , it needs repotting. Let us know when you do and we will be glad to help you. Tarad, Charlies Angel51,mehitabel, janet a, has given you some great advice, we all love orchids and we are always willing to help. The green leaves is a good sign Congrats on your orchid and welcome to the forum. Be careful though orchids are very addictive
Good Luck

[PhalPal]

Hello and Welcome to the forum Aurora!!

It is almost impossible to kill a Phalaenopsis in two weeks!! Most come from perfect greenhouse conditions into our homes and it is not uncommon for flowers to drop prematurely. Until you get the basic culture practices down it will behave differently as well, but you probably won't kill it.

I think of the 'water once a week' advice as 'water once a week whether it needs it or not.' Overwatering is the easiest way to kill an orchid; if in doubt wait another day to water. It will matter greatly on what you have your orchid potted in, your home environment, what growth cycle it is in. Sometimes this will mean every three weeks, sometimes twice a week, even with the same plant in the same place. Make sure your pot has lots of unblocked drainage holes.

This is a great trick to help you know when to water: http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/new...f-orchids.html

That will get you started!!!! Welcome to the wonderful world of orchids AND the wonderful people they attract!!