typical newbie . .

[aham]

Hi all, generally speaking I've got a pretty green thumb, but I've always wanted to get into orchids. I've recently moved to St. Croix VI and I figured now would be the perfect time. So I started with a "Mtssa. Kauai's Choice 'Tropical Fragrance' AM/AOS" (not that I know what all that means) and I've been struggling ever since. For fear of over watering I might have under watered i tried partial sun, first western then eastern and now she is inside, which I think is probably going to be best (it is extremely windy here). As you can see, she is obviously stressed out. I put her into a new larger pot when I got her and she quickly bloomed (the stalk was already there), but the blooms seemed to shrivel and drop off in shortly over a week (so sad). So now there is only the top one. Any help or suggestions on where to go from here would be GREATLY appreciated. As I said, I really do want to get the hand of this!

Thanks so much, Alex

[kmarch]

Have you looked up any culture sheets or orchid books on ondicium intergeneric cultural requirements?

[heatherm]

Welcome Aham,

I am sure you'll be glad you joined the orchid geeks. Unfortunately I am not an expert and sick orchids still challenge me although I have been collecting for quite a number of years. I usually read as much as I can find out about the particular orchid, likes and dislikes. Try remedies recommended for fungus and bacteria. Ask other for help' as you have. Oh and keep this one away from any other orchids you may get, just in case..

I have not had much good luck with ondiciums myself. I find they tend to dampen off quickly.

It is a lovely bloom, so I hope it will survive. Don't let this experience turn you off.

[mayres]

Ouch - looks sunburned and badly dehydrated. I hate to be a harbinger of bad news, but this plant MAY be difficult/challenging to bring back to a healthy condition. I would suggest you do as Kevin suggested (if you have not already) - read about oncidium or intergeneric culture - and then start asking questions before or as soon as you see any negative plant characteristics. Check this link for at least one starter - AOS | Oncidium.
Why not get another and make another attempt - taking what you have learned thus far and applying it to a nice healthy plant? Good luck!
Oh.....and WELCOME!

[dounoharm]

looks like a combo of sunburn and too much water.....it drowned and got sunburn doing it...i suggest you read the aos cultural sheets as suggested above.....

[orchids4me]

Hello and welcome to the forum !
Good luck with the Onc. You may be able to save it and get new growth next spring/summer. When you re potted it how did the roots look? What media did you use to re pot it in? The culture sheet link posted for you will help a lot and may save this one.
Good luck
Emmaye

[Onleme]

Originally Posted by heatherm

I have not had much good luck with ondiciums myself. I find they tend to dampen off quickly.

Welcome Aham and good luck with it

Heatherm, what do you mean by dampen off

Steve

[aham]

Thank you all for the feedback. Despite the wealth of information (or perhaps because of it) I was having a hard time even figuring out what culture sheets to look for and at! I think my baby was water deprived. When I originally took it out of the small plastic container the roots were plump, white, and super solid. I then put her into an orchid pot with ventilation and drainage with rather large bark bits. I alternatively sprayed it and poured a bit of water over the roots, but I never drenched it and, with the wind and heat here I'm sure what water I gave it was gone in no time. So I've moved it inside and will try to save it with better conditions and more moisture. Hopefully I wont care for it to death. Am I correct in my impression that it is really hard to bring orchids back around?

Thanks again, Alex

[heatherm]

Hi Steve:

Oops! I guessed that someone going to pick me up on that term. Looking at a chapter on common orchid plant diseases crown rot most closely fits the description.

I imported some onc seedlings a few yrs ago, and also bought a plant earlier this year. They both took on this damp look around the base of the plant(s) which proceeded up the entire plant(s), which then quickly collapsed and died. Nothing I did seemed to help.

On the brighter side, I still have two other such plants, one only a baby but looking healthy and the other quite large, but would not bloom. I am currently trying a new location.

[Onleme]

Ahh OK
Yeah we had one we bought from a local orchid supplier that within a week one of the bulbs damped off . and started to rot at the crown etc. I quickly pulled it out of the pot and cut away any rotting parts, repotted it and it is doing fine although still not up to speed with the others in regards to growth.. Is it over watering that does it of just being damp around the crown in colder weather

Steve

[heatherm]

Steve.

The islands where both Aham and I live we experience more warm weather than anything else. Right Aham? We do not have winter at all, the temperature hardly drops below 22 degs C with a high of perhaps 32 degs. Celsius.

So it is more likely to do with to0 much or too little water or the change in environment that the plant has difficulty adjusting too.

My plant originally lived in a tree and here I am changing it to pot culture. The ones that died were imported.

Aham, again I wish you luck, but be careful with the water, maybe now that it is indoors drench it once a week only allowing the water to run right thru the pot and out, and see what happens. Only a suggestion, as I said I am not an expert. Culture notes are notes giving information on the conditions in which the particular type of orchid would grow in it's natural habitat. Knowing this you will be able to
try to find an area/conditions as near as possible to grow your plant(s).

Mayers earlier suggested you look at American Orchid Society's website under Oncidium.
I also have a couple of books. Eg. Mircle Gro Complete Guide to Orchids is very simple and easy to follow.
I find that dendrobiums, vandas, and some people say cattleyas do very well in our climate. I am still working on establishing my confidence with cattleyas.
Heather