My orchids in full sun, south facing window

[wizzard]

I have read the advice about how best to look after phalenopsis but I seem to have the best results with my orchids on my kitchen window sill which is south facing.
I have grown several varieties of phalenopsis here with good flowering results, they seem to love the warmth and grow well.
The only thing I do suffer with is loss of bottom leaves due to yellowing. Every so often one of the lower leaves will turn yellow and die. Is this caused by the sun or bad watering?

I have one orchid which was a small purple flowing type that has produced two plantlets. One at the base of the plant which seems to have grown up out of the compost and another which has grown out under a leaf from the main stem. From what I've read these plantlets usually grow from a flower stem. Mine definately haven't.
How should I separate them for repotting? I'm worried about removing the one growing from the stem as I don't want to kill the main plant.

Thanks.

[sunshine]

Originally Posted by wizzard

I have read the advice about how best to look after phalenopsis but I seem to have the best results with my orchids on my kitchen window sill which is south facing.
I have grown several varieties of phalenopsis here with good flowering results, they seem to love the warmth and grow well.
The only thing I do suffer with is loss of bottom leaves due to yellowing. Every so often one of the lower leaves will turn yellow and die. Is this caused by the sun or bad watering?

I have one orchid which was a small purple flowing type that has produced two plantlets. One at the base of the plant which seems to have grown up out of the compost and another which has grown out under a leaf from the main stem. From what I've read these plantlets usually grow from a flower stem. Mine definately haven't.
How should I separate them for repotting? I'm worried about removing the one growing from the stem as I don't want to kill the main plant.

Thanks.

The yellowing and dying off of the bottom leaf on a phal is part is normal. As for the lighting it has to do with the area where you live. If your phal is happy there leave it be. Some plants sulk when moved around too much

Sounds like you have a den
Can you post pics of your other orchid What do you mean by compost What you have is new growth coming up from the bottom of the plant is normal. Do Not cut it off. The little plant coming out from underneath the leaf is a keiki. If it has little or no roots leave it be and let it grow.

[11Orchid126]

Ditto what sunshine says. If it's a den and it's basal growth, more than likely it will be a new cane.

[amersault]

welcome to Geeks! as the other mentioned, yellowing of the lower leaves on a Phal is normal. as the plant matures, it will lose older leaves and put out new ones from the apex. unless the decline is sudden and absolute, i'd say your plant is fine. a care guide for Phals can be found here: AOS | Phalaenopsis

for your other plant, i think a photo might be best so we knew the orchid type and would be able to better suggest the right division advice for it.

[Stitz]

Originally Posted by wizzard

The only thing I do suffer with is loss of bottom leaves due to yellowing. Every so often one of the lower leaves will turn yellow and die. Is this caused by the sun or bad watering?

Thanks.

wizzard, lower leaves turn yellow and also die from old age.

You're from London, Ontario or the other one ?

Welcome aboard!!

[orchids4me]

Hi wizzard and welcome!
Pics will help us see what you are trying to explain
After you make a number of post 5 or 6 I think it is then you can attach pics.
Emmaye

[wizzard]

Hi, thanks for the replies i'm from London in the UK, 11orchid126, what do you mean by a new cane? why can't I cut it off?
My plants are potted in bark at the moment, these were how they were purchased. Does anyone in the UK make a decent orchid compost. I have tried to pot a couple of plants up in JA Bowers orchid compost and they have died, rotted off, this compost seems to have too much fine water retentive material in it and it's caused them to rot off.
Thanks.

[sunshine]

Originally Posted by wizzard

Hi, thanks for the replies i'm from London in the UK, 11orchid126, what do you mean by a new cane? why can't I cut it off?
My plants are potted in bark at the moment, these were how they were purchased. Does anyone in the UK make a decent orchid compost. I have tried to pot a couple of plants up in JA Bowers orchid compost and they have died, rotted off, this compost seems to have too much fine water retentive material in it and it's caused them to rot off.
Thanks.

The cane is another term for a new stem or growth and after it matures will produce a flower spike There's a bunch of geeks on here from the UK. They can help you find a store or a link to buy supplies. You can also make your own bark mixes. My favorite is coco chop bark and perlite (sponge rock).

[wizzard]

Thanks, but is there a reason why I can't cut it off to make a new plant and pot it up?

I thought new plantlets, Keiki, i think they're called, come from flower stems?

[patticake]

A new growth from the base is generally a basal growth. You can cut it off eventually, but the plant becomes stronger with more growths. A keiki is formed on the inflorescence, or on the stalks (as with a nobile den.) Many people call the basal growth a keiki. I think that it's ok. The police have never gone after those that do. (well, the actual police, that is! :laugh)

I live in the northeast USA. I have some Phals in southern windows as well. They're back a little, but our light here isn't as intense as the light in, say, Florida! I just experiment, and let the plant "tell" me what it wants.

[wizzard]

Thanks, I'll leave the basal growth attached for the time being however the second plantlet is starting to distort the growth of the plant as it's sprouted out under a leaf near the growing tip. Any idea how best to remove this for re-potting, I'll see if i can add a picture but I may not have that ability yet being a newbie?

[Brooke]

Patti described what you have growing at the base of your Phal. Basal growths are VERY hard to remove and usually result in their demise. Don't worry about the distortion because that leaf will eventually yellow, die and get out of the way.

Phals with a dose of Doritis in them are known to produce the basal growths. Each basal growth will also produce spikes and you end up with a beautiful display.

Brooke

[wizzard]

Sorry I think you misunderstand, there are two plantlets on my plant, one basal growth and the other from under a leaf higher up the plant near the growing tip. I've left it to grow but now it's so large it's causing the growing tip to be pushed off to one side.

Thanks.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by wizzard

I have one orchid which was a small purple flowing type that has produced two plantlets. One at the base of the plant which seems to have grown up out of the compost and another which has grown out under a leaf from the main stem. From what I've read these plantlets usually grow from a flower stem. Mine definately haven't.
How should I separate them for repotting? I'm worried about removing the one growing from the stem as I don't want to kill the main plant.

If they're growing from the base of the plant they're normal growths not keikies and they shouldn't be removed.

[wizzard]

OK I've got a picture or two to show what my phal looks like, there's a new cane from the root i'm happy to leave this as it is but what can I do with the second plantlet growing out half way up? How can I remove and replant this one? Is that possible/safe to do?

Thanks.

IMG_2039.jpg

IMG_2038.jpg

[Ochin@]

WOW Look at this root action!!

[wizzard]

Yep loads of aerial roots. This plant is about 2 years old now maybe 3, it stopped producing flowers about 8-10 months ago and started growing these plantlets.

[Fishmom]

That's a beautiful, happy, healthy plant! I wouldn't cut a thing off it. The secondary growth will just help it give you a better display.

[Sarah_Racheal]

Hi I've just caught up with this thread Your plant looks amazing!!!
You can get decent potting mix from Dobbies garden centre or order it from them online.
Being in Newcastle I'm constantly fighting with lighting, my Phals like the brightest window in the house, unfortunately I'm now getting close to 25 of them and one window just isn't cutting it any more!

[Brooke]

No I understood what you were saying. This is not unusual. Trying to remove the highest stem growth will probably do damage to both the original stem and the new growth. The newest growth will orient itself for survival as will the original plant.

If it were mine, I would repot the Phal to get the aerial roots into the media.

Brooke

[wizzard]

OK i'll do that and leave well alone, thanks for your help.

[11Orchid126]

Your plant is a phalaenopsis, and not a dendrobium, therefore it is not growing a new cane, which the individual bulbs of dendrobiums are called. Phals have "crowns" and grow from a central stem. You do have a double crowned phalaenopsis. Most phals have a single crown, while yours appears to have at least two, if not three crowns. You have the option of leaving them all in the same pot in order to have a huge specimen plant or dividing them into three separate plants. From the looks of the crowns, these would be nice size plants on their own.

[wizzard]

Hm OK so how do i safetly separate the crowns to make new plants?

[VEEKTOR]

Originally Posted by wizzard

Hm OK so how do i safetly separate the crowns to make new plants?

WOW!
IMHO Don't Do It!
Usually to get a triple crown you have to own a race horse!

[boodlersrunner]

It beautiful!

[orchids4me]

Hi,
That's a beautiful Phal. You got there. I wouldn't divide it if it was mine you can damage the mother plant or its baby's. I have one that has 6 crowns and is doing great your like mine will put out a beautiful display of blooms in its next blooming cycle. When re potting it just remember its the size of the root ball you go by for its pot not the leaves.
Emmaye