help with some identification plz

[God.Jr]

ok well these are two new orchids i bought the other day i've looked around and i'm still finding it hard to find the characteristics of different type of orchids....i'm sorry if the photo's are of bad kwality but it's the only one i have ....

[jerrymeola]

Your first orchid is an Intergeneric Hybrid. It is probably a variation on Colm Wildcat. There are dozens of color variations on wildcat since it is a larger than average flower for this class and very easy to grow.



All Oncidium alliance hybrids take basically the same care. They like more light than a Phalaenopsis and less than a Cattleya at about 2000-2500 foot candles of light. July noon sun is about 10,000 foot candles.

The thin leaves can burn if left in the heat of noon sun but early morning sun is OK and the rest of the day mostly shade.

They like to be moist and leaf tips can brown if allowed to dry too much (also from too much heat.) Leaves usually live only one to two seasons and are replaced with by a fairly robust growth pattern. Leaves often develop small black spots (like measles) and are basically harmless to the plant.

Overall a very good plant for a hobbyist. One step up from the beginner level.

The second plant is a Dendrobium, a Den-Phal type. Den-Phal are usually larger flowers than other Dendrobiums and most bloom once a year usually in the spring. They can grow quite tall. They are the most common type of Dendrobium seen. They are easy to grow and a good beginner plant.

They can take a lot of abuse. They like a little more light than the intergeneric about 3000-3500 foot candles. They can be kept moist or let dry, they are very forgiving in their care. It is not uncommon for these to lose a lot of leaves. The life span of a Den leaf is about 2 years or less. New growth is by canes from the base of the plant and 1-3 new canes a year can be expected.

[God.Jr]

wow thanx that was just even more help than i expected to get ....thank you.

this is really gonna help me,you where one step ahead of me there, well i'm gonna be brave and leave my orchids on my balcony for now on and see how they like it,they will receive a bit more light as the they have a short light time wen i keep them inside, my phal leaves are really dark olive so i'm sure i can give then a few more hour light a day, they where living on under 11 hours light a day.

my balcony faces east and receives the morning sun as it rises over the sea, i'm just worried about direct sun light, the sun will shine directly hitting the flower of them round 6 or 7 and shines on my balcony till 10:15.
*that is pure direct sun lite, (stuff ppl get sun burn from, well maybe not that early in the morning)

i am going to put my phals up against the wall so they won't receive any direct lite and i'll put the Dend's and my variation on Colm Wildcat where they will

well if anything sounds like it could harm them i hope you would give me a shout, tomorrow i will monitor them with the sun and see how they handling

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I am going to guess that the Dendrobium was imported from north of the equator (and possibly the Oncidium complex too) as this is the time for the Dendrobiums to be in bloom in the northern hemisphere. So, don't expect the Den to bloom at this time next year, as the plant may skip a half season to get back in sinc. I have the same problem with orchids from South America. They have a very hard time with the season change, and having been bareroot too long in the prep and passage to North America.

[God.Jr]

thanx for the heads up cynthia, if she fails to bloom this time text season then we will know why.

i'll also make sure to ask the guy i get my orchids from if they are imported, cause that would be good to know. the guy i buy my orchids from ,i think he is Japanese, he seem like he is a solely an orchid grower as these are the only plants he sells, so i am assuming he is a cultivator and maybe importing them too...... it's hard to talk to him cause his english is not very good and my jap is worse.....

wat else i would like to know is, i notice that there seems to be a white residue left behind after the water has dried up, it kinda looks like salt.like wen sea water dries up and leaves the salt behind * this is from something use in the spray that my orchid dealer uses *

wat is this? fertilizer, insecticide of some kinda? is this good or bad for my plants should i try to simulate the conditions and substances that my dealer uses. i'm feelin this is the right thing to do, just looking for some clarification on the matter, should i try get this solution in the spray.

[prisana]

GodJr..it's most likely hard water residue and if it has bluish or greenish tint to it , it's fertilizer residue. My orchids look the same way when I first acquire them from the stores. I have used a cloth or clean sponge, dip in mild or lemon juice to clean the leaves. It works very well and takes out most of the residue off the leave, it also takes care of any bugs that maybe hiding under leaves..just be sure to be very gentle when you wipe the leaves. Support the opposite side of the leave you are cleaning with your other hand. Good luck!! :-)

[prisana]

GodJr- Correction..dip the cloth or sponge in MILK--rather than "mild"... my fingers aren't moving they way I want them to on the keyboard

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

This residue is NOT something you want. It is a sign that the plant probably needs to have its mix flushed out to get rid of built up residue in the pot that will eventually kill the roots, and cause leaf tip burn. Anyone using hard water needs to flush their pots every so often.

[God.Jr]

what do you mean by flushing their pots?

i'll definitely wipe them down then, it's a white residue so will just do it to be on the safe side.....thanx prisana

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I mean that if there is a lot of calcium build up on the leaves, then the plant has been watered with hard water and there is a possibility of deposits also in the pot. Flushing the pot means running a lot of water thru the pot. This is good practice in general, and especially for those using hard water.

[prisana]

GodJr..Cynthia brought up a critical point where you should also flush out the pot. I would worry about that having the effect on roots a tad more than the effect on leaves . The way I flush mine is to sit the plant down and run the water through it for 2-3 mins for each plant . I do this once every month ,without fertilizing afterwards. I don't have hard water but I do it to flush out the salt residue from fertilizer which will also burn the roots it there's a build-up .
Looks like you are getting hooked faster than I could say "orchids" It took me 2 years to own my soon to be a collection of 35 orchids. Hey, we all love the challenge in orchid growing..right ?

[God.Jr]

yeah you guy are really keeping me ampt and it's kinda shwet that my other plant is givin me a bit of trouble cause it's keeping me into even more........ i'm getting keen to try this flushing thing, as i have bought all my plant from the same guy it would probley be a good idea........i would just be scared of over watering them cause i have just watered one two of them and their medium is still wet so i don't want to over water............... and i lot a bud this morning off my new Dendrobium made me very sad this morning..... it looked liek it may have seen to much light.....to now i have moved it to a shady place near my other orchids........ look at my Dendrobium they don't seem to happy about seeing the sun in the morning so i think i'll keep them in the shade for now and see how they do.........i guess i'm am still trying to find all my orchids shweet spots.........

yeah i really am getting into this orchid growing i am loving it and cause i get som much help from all you guys here i find it easier to stay intrested....i even went to the library to get a book on orchids......and now i have some really nice ideas for them (display wise but i would like to get their health fixed first) will definitely post some pix wen i get that sorted....i have to go buy some light if i wish to keep them inside cause i kinda live in the dark and they don't get enough light inside..........

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Full sun requires cool weather, that is why we say morning sun. But in your summer climate, the morning may be too hot already.

[God.Jr]

i've been thinking the same thing, that the sun is just to hot for these guys even in the morning......so i have moved them back inside where there is a lot more shade.........

we'll just have to see how they react......