Orchid newbie...please help me save my little orchy friend

[ShiwaJewels]

I love orchids they are so beautiful, iv had my orchid for over a year now, my husband bought it for me on Valentines day. A few months later the flowers dropped, and then since then there have been numerous problems arisen.

1st being the flowers that dropped i got told by a garden centre near me that if i leave it well alone it should reflower...pah! hasnt done that.

2nd after this one of its stalks died i thought maybe if i cut it it would grow back, now its just an old piece of stalk.

3rdly it grows new leaves, but some of the leaves turn yellow and shrivel up so i remove them after they look dead to.

Now 4th thing is the last remaining stalk on the orchid has stayed a beautiful shade of green but today when i went to mist it, it has turned yellow and the place where it would flower has pinkish stubs.
Will this flower or does this mean that its dying to....

I'm compltley confused and hence reason for joining orchidgeeks and hoping that i could save my orchid, i have some orchid compost at the ready if i need to repot.

Oh also it used to be sat on a window near a heater, iv since moved it onto the dining table away from any heat or drafts yet it can get sunlight but not directly.

Iv got piccies but cant upload says no security token...ps the orchid i think was from tesco.



Thanks to those in the know...Shiwa x

[fred]

welcome to the forum Shiwa

you will fine geeks a great caring bunch of folks who are ready and willing to help you gain orchid knowledge.

you can upload attachments from your pc with the 'no security token' you can do a refresh that should fix that up to ad URLs you will need to get 5 posts before you can use them.

now what we also need to know is what type of orchid do you have ?
once we know that we can direct you to the right culture sheet information for your orchid.

[ShiwaJewels]

Hi Fred,

Thank you for the input.

Iv just uploaded an album of my poor little orchid to my user profile. Its a Purple phalaenopsis orchid & iv attached a picture of what it looked like when it did flower. Iv made it public so hopefully other orchidgeeks can help me out.


Hopefully i will gain orchid knowledge. And once i get the knack im sure my house will be filled with them as they are so beautiful.

[fred]

here is a culture sheet for you AOS | Phalaenopsis

as for the old flower spike you can cut that on off close to the base
I think you need to take that out of the pot and look at the roots if soft, brown and mushy you need to cut them off as well just be gentle and keep the firm roots
I think you will need new potting medium as well
the marks on the leaf looks like heat damage
but just wait until we get more input from other geeks

very nice flower

thanks for the photos

[Celcat]

ShiwaJewels,

We are almost neighbour!!

I had a look at your orchid which is a phal. They like light, but it doesnt have to be direct sunlight. I would say that she needs to be re-repotted.
The old spike should be removed and the old roots if soggy, mushy and soft. When re-potting I always put at the bottom of the pot some piece of polysterene. It avoids to get the medium to soggy.
You have a new leaf and some green roots so she is doing alright. You will find plenty advice if you browse the forum

Good luck

[maiseymoo]

Welcome!!

I agree with Celecat it looks like needs repotting, there is a great sticky on newbie questions for repotting a phal. Just remember if you are going to repot into bark to soak it for 24 hours before you use it. I use normal bark soak it and if the pieces are too big I smash them up to make them smaller.

[ShiwaJewels]

awww thank you fellow orchid lovers, i have taken your advice to hand, my hubbys going to soak the bark tonight as the orchid is mushy and soggy. And we shall cut and repot tomorrow. I shall read the repotting a phal link this evening.

And thank you for the welcome Fred, Celcat and Maiseymoo, good to meet you all.

[rcb]

Welcome and good luck!

[mytwogirls]

I agree, repotting may be what it needs. It still has a chance. Don't give up yet! Good luck and welcome aboard! Great to meet you.

[berniep]

G'Day ShiwaJewels

Welcome to the forum, keep us posted on how the orchid goes.

Cheers
Bernie

[Ladyofthelakes]

Hi ShiwaJewels,

I have been on here about 2 weeks and already learned so much advice from the Vets above!

Vivienne

[PhalNewbie89]

WELCOME!! I don't think I can really add to the good info you got except that, I know you will learn everything you need here..and beware there are many enablers here. :P

[cowgirl]

Hello and You will get all the advice you need to get your Phal to rebloom and flourish

[ShiwaJewels]

I repotted Phally Friend this morning, followed all instructions and shes looking good, so here goes, grow phal grow!

[maiseymoo]

grow phal grow!! LOL I think we have all willed an orchid to grow and chanting at it may help Good job on the repot (and getting hubby to go out and get the bark!)

[11Orchid126]

How far away from the window is the dining room table? The plant needs light. True, phals don't need as much light as other orchids, but you can't set them in the dark. Light to the human eye may seem bright, but not to the plant. A couple of feet from a south window would be good, closer for an east or west window.