I think I'm killing it :(

[sarahannmarks]

Hi everyone

I'm new to orchids, and I think I'm killing my first. I bought it a couple of months ago, just before the Canberra (Australia) winter. It gets pretty cold here with minuses over night, but not quite that cold in the house, obviously. It's kept on the dining room table, with water in the dish (that the plant doesn't sit in), and would get some warm air from the heater (but not direct, and not too hot).

It was flowering when I bought it, and a couple of white flowers came out after a few weeks. About 2 weeks ago, all of the flowers wilted and fell off, and the flower stem has started to fade to a paler yellowy/brown colour.

I only water it every 5 or 6 days, by either squirting in some water from a bottle, or running it under the tap and then letting it drain. It does get some light, but not direct.

Yesterday when I went to water it I found a leaf had fallen off (it had gone brown after it fell off), and then today (after I watered it last night) I found another had fallen off. It was still green and firm, and looked as if it had been snapped off the stem (a clean, straight break), although nothing had touched it.

It's still in the clear pot I bought it in, and I think there are a few roots that have rotted a little, that I was going to clear when I repot it when the weather gets a bit warmer.

I'm sorry for my convoluted story, but I really don't want to kill my first orchid, I love them and plan to have many. If anyone has any advice, or reassurance that some of these things are normal, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks!

[kmarch]

What kind of orchid is it?

[Phalcycle]

With many genera of orchids, its hard to help you if we don't know what kind of orchid it is, as they all require different needs.
Post a picture if you don't know what it is.

[sarahannmarks]

Sorry, it appears I forgot the most important bit of info. It's a phalaenopsis. When it had flowers they were white, with a reddy/yellow inside bit (very technical, I know).

[Ron]

Hi, welcome to the Geeks Forum.
Sorry to hear of your fist orchids problem, being an ex Canberra I know how cruel and cold the Canberra winters can get.
Even in side your home.
Basically Phalaenopsis are a tropical plant and once they get below 15-16 deg. C, unless kept nearly bone dry, they suffer badly.
Looking at whet you say about the leaves dropping off, seems that's what has happened. Unfortunately it is usually the end of the plant, you may get it to survive but if you do manage to get it to survive it will take several year to get it back to flowering condition.
Unfortunately I would dump it into a bin as the best way.
Sorry
cheerio
Ron