Many Questions

[missmegan]

First off, I live in a condo in Fl with windows only facing west and no porch, so all my orchids are inside. I have 4 Dendrobiums, 2 Phal. and 1 Bc What is the best lighting option for me? I have put them on the window sill before and their leaves got burned. One of my Phal. doesn't even have leaves anymore, but the roots still look alive, is it dead? My othe Phal. along with 1 of my Dend. and my Bc. aren't producing spikes or flowering, what could I be doing wrong? They have plenty of leaves, but I haven't gotten a spike or flower from any of them in almost a year.

[articuno75]

Well, the leafless Phal- as long as the roots look viable and nothing is turning black, I'd say it's alive and treat it as such. There is a thread somewhere on the boards about a leafless Phal and finally it came to, grew new leafs and went on the road to recovery. When you say that you put them on the window sill, was it shaded? Orchids need indirect light/shaded light. Even a couple feet from the window sill would be appropriate. I too am hitting the panic button on lack of spikes for my Phal. Usually they bloom once, maybe twice a year. I bought mine while it was in bloom, and that was around Apr/May. I figured it would spike and bloom again here in the fall. By what I've been told this will not happen until perhaps mid to late winter. So I don't really panic anymore. I am getting a lot of new healthy roots and a new leaf has come up. It just takes time.

[mayres]

To start with, your phals are significantly different than your other orchids in terms of light requirements - it is a low light level plant - direct sunlight will in general cook the leaves - except very early morning and very late afternoon - safest as articuno noted to give it only indirect light. On the other hand - the dends and catt type orchids want lots of sun - and will require it in order to set blooms. You might want to check out the culture pages on the american orchid society page at this link and then come back with followup questions - it should give you a jump start on each of these three genera - phalaenopsis, dendrobiums and cattleya - you will find both a beginner and intermediate culture guide here - American Orchid Society - Orchids

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Most orchids bloom once a year, and often they miss their first normal time when adapting to a new environment. Patience is what most orchid growers learn, that, or they go back to Roses and Geraniums. Gee, maybe that is why orchids have such a bad reputation of being hard to grow. Most people have no patience.

[missmegan]

Thank you for all your help. It looks like I should just read up on my different kind of orchids and have some patience.

[missmegan]

Here are some pics of my orchids I was telling you about.

This is the one that obviously has no leaves. Do you think it is able to be saved?
This is the other phal. Do you think it will come back too?
Does this one look ok?

[mayres]

I don't mean to be negative, but I would recommend you purchase a couple NEW phals and start over. If you continue on the forum and walk through the process of taking care of them with us we can help you keep them in good shape. Once they get into the condition those two are in the effort to bring them back from the brink of death is rarely worth it. Orchid #3 might be OK? It looks kind of wet - maybe you just finished soaking it? Good luck - mike

[missmegan]

Mike, thanks for the info. I figured they were beyond the brink of saving, but wanted to confirm before I threw them away. And I had just finished soaking the Bc.

[missmegan]

Here are some pics of the new dendrobiums I bought.

Is it normal for the flowers and flower buds to wither and die when you first get it?

[mayres]

Wow! Those are some healthy looking dendrobiums. Some types of orchid flowers have problems adapting to their new homes - it doesn't necessarily have anything at all to do with anything you might have done. My mom bought me a dend once that was in bloom with many buds as well. It was a cool rainy afternoon and she carried it home - a walk that probably took 15-20 minutes (sometimes much shorter periods than this can have the same effect). This little cold "blast" made ALL the flowers and buds drop in a few days. The next bloom cycle, where it was on the seasonal blooming cycle for my geographical area, it did fantastic and stayed in bloom for three months. Most orchids will do MUCH better keeping their blooms when they develop and bloom in the places where you are going to show them. I have found that giving them good air circulation goes a long way in helping the blooms stay. Keep out of cold drafts. Good luck and enjoy your plants! Very nice.

[missmegan]

We just had a "cold front" come in, should I keep them away from open windows? What about ceiling fans?

[MSPProductions]

miss megan, most orchids love air circulation, so ceiling fans and open windows are fine. I don't really know how cool it gets in Tama... or is that a typo...regardless, you might not have to worry much about drafty windows.

[kmarch]

It's impossible to tell if you should keep your orchids away form the window because we do not know what your growing conditions are like or how cold it will get when the cold front moves through.

As long as the temps stay within the ranges perscribed by your culture sheet they'll be fine. If you don't yet have cultural info on how to grow your orchids, go to the AOS website (American Orchid Society) and get a Dendrobium culture sheet.

[pikevi]

If you are adventurous and have room for an additional small pot , I'd remove the leaf on the second Phal. and pot the two 'ailing' Phals. (together) in a fine mix ( to facilitate more contact) and set it aside.

It may be wishful thinking but the roots seems to be turgid and somewaht healthy. There is a chance that they may survive.

I am not second-guessing the experts' advice but rather than throwing them away an attempt like that may give you a surprise reward

I have had three successes like that but the wait has been too long! And I am almost sure a fourth success is imminent.

Good luck.

[missmegan]

Thanks pikevi. Yeah I think I will try potting them together, what does it hurt anyways.
What size and kind of pot (i.e. clay or plastic) should I put them in? And what do you mean by fine mix??

mspproductions: Sorry it's Tampa. The high temp for today is 66 degrees and they are sitting on a west facing window sill.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I'm thinking you might want to look for mites on that single leaf of the second Phal. I think there is a sticky in the disease section on mites.

[PhalPal]

MissMegan I second Mike's opinion but we do tend to think alike. There are many members who will try to save both of your doomed orchids. I think your money will be better spent on new plants.

Living in So Cal our 'cold fronts' are our night temps in winter, which can vary up to 50 degrees. I leave the windows open to provide a chill for my phals and they handle it fine.