My first orchid - Phalaenopsis - Happy Stripes

[TheAir WeBreathe]

Hello,
My husband and youngest son bought me a Phalaenopsis - Happy Stripes, for Mother's Day.

I have read here and there of people growing orchids here in Arkansas - and since I love to try to grow something 'new and different', I actually suggested an orchid plant to my husband for Mother's Day.

I also used to live in Hawaii - and saw a lot of orchids - but never actually on a plant! I heard they are hard/difficult to care for - and reproduce, etc.

Well, in looking at the little plastic label/tag that has the name on it, it also says "Asexual Reproduction Prohibited". Ok...the majority of my other plants either drop seeds, put out runners, or send out suckers, or are propigated by rooting. (Some also send out new growth from the roots. Such as my Iris and Banana Tree!)

So, how do I do non-asexual reproduction with this plant?

Mind you - I did take some Botany while I was in College/University - but we never directly discussed orchids!

So far, other than the plants it was near at the store, it has only been near a Vinca (annual) that I received at Church yesterday. For now, my beautiful - and colorful orchid plant is hiding out in our bedroom - in very dim light conditions - since I want to also protect it from our cats - who like to graze on anything green, that is growing in the house proper. I do have a nice, large sun room - but am currently trying to get rid of a 'white fly' invasion - which seems to occur each spring! In my sun room, I have Banana trees, a Desert Rose, a tree of unknown species (belongs to a friend who thought it was 'mostly dead'), as well as many other plants (including starts for our garden) of various species, and light preferences. (I also have a computerized plant water 'reader' - which I will wipe down with a bleach solution and rubbing alcohol, to see if I can get a pretty good starting 'reading' on the water needs of my orchid. I also have some bamboo skewers (new) and will add one after my initial reading/watering.

So - I do have a lot of questions!

Such as - if I move my 'Wandering Jew' from my bathroom window, and transplant it in the sun room - will my orchid be happier/happiest in the bathroom? It is a north-ish facing window, but gets some nice indirect light, but also gets 'watered approximately twice a day' due to hubby and I showering. But, also higher humidity levels as well. I'm not too sure if the shower water would be too hot for an orchid or not. The 'Wandering Jew' has been thriving however.

Also - am I following the best course, in trying to keep my orchid at least somewhat 'quarantined' shall we say from the other plants, until after I have any other pest problems taken care of?

And, when is the best time to consider re-potting? I have to admit, I have not yet had time to check to see how much sph. moss is around the base of the plant - as the leaves are quite large and full, and the rest of the pot is buried under a big, fluffly white bow.

I do look forward to getting to know more about orchids - and becoming active in this forum!

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by TheAir WeBreathe

Hello, My husband and youngest son bought me a Phalaenopsis - Happy Stripes, for Mother's Day.

I also used to live in Hawaii - and saw a lot of orchids - but never actually on a plant! I heard they are hard/difficult to care for - and reproduce, etc.

Orchids are just like any other plant, an Oak tree, a rose bush, or grass in that if they receive the conditions they like they will thrive. If they do not receive the conditons they like, they will not thrive. The vast majority of orchids commonly found in stores these days are very easy to grow because the conditions they like are the conditions most of us have in our homes. Phals are one of these, easy to grow and bloom at home.

Originally Posted by TheAir WeBreathe

So, how do I do non-asexual reproduction with this plant?

For Phals, non-sexual reproduction can be done in 2 ways: 1) through cloning, and 2) through keikis. You need a labroratory and equipment for cloning plants, so unless yu're really keen you probably won't be doing that yourself.

Having lived in Hawai'i you probably know the word "keiki," Hawaiian for "baby." Phals will sometimes grow a baby at the base of the plant or from the flower stem. You can also buy chemicals that induce keikis ot grow.

These days hybrid plants can be patented. It sounds like your cross is. If so it would technically be illegal for you to have your plant cloned or to induce it ti grow keikis. If the plant keikid on its own I don't see how that would be illegal. It seems silly to forbid asexual reproduction of a plant that naturally reproduces asexually (albeit not usually). I believe what they want to discourage is mass production.

Originally Posted by TheAir WeBreathe

- if I move my 'Wandering Jew' from my bathroom window, and transplant it in the sun room - will my orchid be happier/happiest in the bathroom? It is a north-ish facing window, but gets some nice indirect light, but also gets 'watered approximately twice a day' due to hubby and I showering. But, also higher humidity levels as well. I'm not too sure if the shower water would be too hot for an orchid or not.

I would not recommend a twice-a-day watering with hot shower water. It sounds like a race towards disaster. Get a good Phalaenopsis culture sheet like the one on this forum or on the American Orchid Society website www.aos.org

Phals like bright indirect light. For you a north window will probably be ok, or an east window would be good too. Phals like humidity, 30-50% or more is good. The bathroom humidity is good. Kitchen humidity is good too.

Phals like to be kept evenly and gently moist. How often you water depends on what kind of mix it is in, and how humid it is.

Originally Posted by TheAir WeBreathe

Also - am I following the best course, in trying to keep my orchid at least somewhat 'quarantined' shall we say from the other plants, until after I have any other pest problems taken care of?

I think yes. Most orchid growers I know quarrentine incoming plants to make sure they are "clean" before introducing them into the general population. I believe it is always easier to prevent insect infestation.

Originally Posted by TheAir WeBreathe

And, when is the best time to consider re-potting?

After flowering has finished is the best time to repot.

Enjoy your new orchid! Get one of those culture sheets and read up on how to care for your Phal and then let us know if you have additional questions.

[Glitter]

Hi The air we breath! It's gorgeous!!!

So, how do I do non-asexual reproduction with this plant? It seems silly to forbid asexual reproduction of a plant that naturally reproduces asexually

I say.....if it wants to have sex with itself, you should let it! I mean how are you suppose to prevent it from doing that. You can't watch it 24/7. Ya know?

[kmarch]

Air's tag forbade non-sexual (asexual) propigation of the plant which would mean you can't clone the plant or induce it to keiki. "Having sex with itself" i.e. pollinating would not be prohibited according to Air's tag. Air could very well polinate her plant with itself or cross it with another plant.

[DDS2007]

hi there and welcome to the forum .

i think twice/day watering is too much. you should water about once weekly to get good results.

orchids aren't hard to grow. i started with my first Phalaenopsis two months ago and learned everything about caring for it , now it has put six new flower buds to show its gratitude . please enjoy your plant and stick with us in this forum and u shall learn a lot !

take care

[kmarch]

Dear DDS,

The frequency of watering depends heavily on 1) the moisture retentiveness of the medium, 2) the temperature, and 3) humidity levels. Watering may occur anywhere form daily to weekly depending on these perrameters. For example a Phal planted in a dry mix living on a porch in Arizona in summer will probably need ot be watered about every other day, while a second Phal in a humid greenhouse in the mid-west in winter will probably only need to be watered once a week. For this reason I shy away from saying things like "water once a week" until I have good knowledge of the conditions the plant is being grown in.

[DDS2007]

you're right , Kevin!

thanks

[TheAir WeBreathe]

Thank you everyone!

I am considering the kitchen window - since the shower may be too much water - as well as 'too warm'.

So far, I have moved it from the bedroom (almost complete darkness) to the hall - where we have a skylight - and so far, the cats have also left it alone.

In reading many of the other posts, I figured that if it put up keiki's on it's own, I couldn't be blamed for its sexual habits. But...now the pollination thing - if I got a second plant, and cross pollinated them using a little paint brush...it definately would not be 'asexual reproduction' now, would it? 8D

Although I don't have a lab set up - it is something I have wanted - and have the 'know how' to do. So - who knows...I might eventually get one set up.

I was at Home Depot the other day, and looked over their offerings on the Phals...kind of sad actually - many had roots that were striving to escape their pots in every and any direction. But - on the other hand - could possibly be ready to go into keiki production with the right conditions? (And love, care, feeding, and nurturing.)

I did see a jar of 'orchid food' - don't remember the name of it at the moment however. I'll do a little more research, before I invest in that specific brand. (I have been reading about the worm tea...)

I will certainly be checking in from time to time!

[PhalPal]

Hi Air -
Welcome to the forum and congrats on your first orchid! Search for Cynthia's 'skewer method' to determine when to water your phal. The fastest way to kill a phal is overwatering, and I am amazed at just how little water mine require. The skewer method has helped me tremendously! Good luck.

[chefatplay]

Welcome! I just received my first order of Worm Tea. I look forward to finding out about it, too. I'll keep you informed as I go along. I got tea and some castings as I have an indoor palm that has been, well, ummm, okay, I'll just come out and say it, IGNORED!

[Vivienne]

chefatplay - I'd like to hear how the castings do on the palm. I have 4 majesty palms in my atrium that just get watered (no fertilizer). Saving up for my worm tea order so may have to add on the castings too.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by TheAir WeBreathe

In reading many of the other posts, I figured that if it put up keiki's on it's own, I couldn't be blamed for its sexual habits. But...now the pollination thing - if I got a second plant, and cross pollinated them using a little paint brush...it definately would not be 'asexual reproduction' now, would it? 8D

Correct. Pollination is sexual reproduction.

[TheAir WeBreathe]

Well, I guess the kitchen window has been a good spot!

My little plant is getting taller and taller - and a few kiekis are working their way out of the original pot.

It has, of course, dropped a few blooms - but has also seemed to keep producing a few new ones. So far, no bare stem!

I have put a bamboo skewer in the pot, next to the initial post that it has been climbing. The skewer is a very nice tip, by the way!!! However, I generally just water it on Saturdays, allow the water to run out of the bottom of the pot (over the sink) and then set pot and all in a small, shallow saucer that is on the window sill. So - unless it gets too cold by the window, I will probably leave it there and continue to check up on posts here, about the care, feeding and breeding habits of orchids!

My cat did attack the windowsill the other day - knocking my Passion Plant into the sink. - But, luckily for her - my Happy Stripes was undisturbed!

So....just how tall do these types of orchids grow to be???? Mine is almost as tall as the window now....

Thanks again for the warm welcome, and generous tips!

[PhalPal]

Good to hear an update!!