Look what Glitter found!!! :)

[Glitter]

I've been stalking (LOL) the orchids at the grocery store where I bought those others in bloom a while back and posted pics of those others.....and today I just happened to walk up right as they were marking the Phal's down. Got each one for $4.00



I'll be posting some more pics as I need help in determining where to cut these back. Never have cut an orchid back....so need my hand held. Cutting makes me nervous!

[Glitter]

Ok....need help ....where do I cut these back to?

I've photoshopped each node with yellow and numbered them from one to 5 from the bottom. the very bottom node is flaky....so not sure if that's a node. The top arrow is where there use to be a bud on it.

Please tell me where to cut back to.

Thanks for your help!

[Aniko]

Wow, they look good and healthy, just finished blooming...
I would cut off the old stems from the base, as short as possible without hurting the leaves (1/2 inch) (using a sterile tool), in order to let them rest, acclimatize and than start fresh spikes.
You can force them to bloom on the old spikes if you want, cutting off the top of each, or waiting until the final little buds develop.
But those will be smaller, weaker flowers.
Good luck!

[jerrymeola]

The choices are if you cut above 5 there is a possibility of a few more smaller flowers or a keiki.

If you cut at the bottom under 1 you remove this possibility from the plant and the plant will put all its energy into strengthening the plant.

I would cut it all off at least the first time in your home.

[snowballsarebad]

Nice purchase! That one lonely bloom looks like Baldan's Kaleidescope, one of the phals that I really want! I see it all the time in stores, for $20+, too much! But for $4...you are lucky!

[chefatplay]

Those are beautiful, Glitter. So nice and green. The leaves are so healthy looking.

Aniko, you said to use a sterile tool. Does alcohol then rinsed in clean water do the trick? Is there a special tool that is needed?

[brookn]

Hey Glitter,

What luck you have. The hillbillies here would say you stepped into a pile of poo and came out smellin' like a rose teehee. I say you came out smellin' like an orchid! Once again I am jealous.
Been looking for a new one myself, but there is not a lot around here. I have found a phal. violacea borneo x self, and a phal. violacea var. coeurulea x self, trying to decide which one I want cause I am not gonna be able to get them for $4, I have to order them online.
I gotta say you know how to get a good deal and I am thinking about moving 'giggle'. Good luck removing those spikes, and I agree that you should take the whole thing, it is good for the plants to do it, and think of the blooms you will have next time.

[kmarch]

I'm with Jerry on this one. A change in environment (from the nusery to the grocery to your home) can stress a plant and it needs time to adjust. Trying to force a second bloom just adds to what the plant has to deal with.

On a different note, this might be a good time to repot. Sometimes these grocery store plants come potted in strange things, florist's foam, bathroom sponges, etc., etc. It looks like many of your new plants have great roots (very good sign) but I notice it looks like a few of them have lots of roots outside the pot which always makes me wonder if there's somethignin the pot they dont' like. Maybe check out the roots and see if the ones inside the pot are in good shape.

[pikevi]

What a great buy, Glitter. Well done.

I go hunting for bargains as well, but have not been that successful in 'quality' of the plants. Most are usually damaged.

Best wishes.

[Vivienne]

WOW Glitter - pay dirt!!

[Glitter]

Ok...thanks for the replys to answer my questions. I will be cutting them all back at the bottom and then patiently wait to see what the rest of the orchids look like. Some have no markers and obviously one is a kalidascope. Others just say "Phal Hybrid". So it will be better than Christmas when they do bloom.

As far as using a sterile cutting tool....good quesiton. Does alcohol then rinseing with water before cutting and between cutting each plant good enough for being sterile?

Snowball...yes, that's the kind I've been wanting too....so I was so glad to get it. They weren't going to mark it down at first cause it still had a bloom on it....and I threatened to pull it off if they didn't mark it down. LOL

Kmarch...yes, I already repotted one. And will probably repot them all to get a good look at the roots. I think they were over watered in the store and that caused the flowers to fall off. As the other's I orginally bought are still going stong.

Brookn....where do you live?

[Aniko]

Alcohol is not good - I learn that from Cynthia - Only if is almost pure, about 96% or so, which is not available in USA.
Soak the tool in bleach for 10 minutes or, heat it to burn microbes. I usually burn it in the flame at the stove .

[pikevi]

Aniko: would methyl alcohol('rubbing alcohol')work?

It is cheaper and can buy it without prescription at any localthe drug store.

[Julie_M]

Rubbing alcohol is only 70% alcohol. Better to go for bleach, or Physan if you can get it. (FYI, Bedford Orchid carries it and I believe he may have sold a box to Ravenvision...)

Julie

[Aniko]

As Julie says: NO, it isn't good. The heat is the most handy but bleach is also cheap (is available in small bottles, too), or there is an other chemical what Cynthia uses, but I forgot its name.

[DDS2007]

i second Aniko's opinion .

very very great bargain ! i envy you !!

[888diva]

Glitter your orchids are beautiful. I am a beginner and I just walked into a bargain about a month ago at my supermarket. 2 Phals and 1 Dendrob. for $1.50 each.

They aren't as mature as yours but they are doing well. The Phals have new buds sprouting.

The Dendrob. seems to be at a standstill.

If anyone has any suggestions on caring for the Dendrob. I am all ears.

[fred]

888diva

welcome to the forum.

I hope that you enjoy your stay here at the orchidgeek.com

i think that you may find this link useful

Dendrobium Culture notes

[888diva]

Fred,

Thanks so much for your help! I read the link as well as what the others posted.

Much appreciated!

[tom499]

$4 per plant :O thats like £2.50 over here, for a big healthy plant like that is soo good.

I do find though that non specialist sellers of orchids pretty much through away good orchids as soon as they go out of flower on the stalls, such a shame.