Help

[love2cee]

I am very new to orchids. They are very beautiful, but I am finding them a very challenging flower. I bought common orchid ( I am still learning their names), I think its a Cymbidium or Phalaenopsis and I think that I have over-watered it. The leaves have black dots about the size of a dime, some whole leaves are dead. My flowers are healthy looking and in the bark I see molding. I removed the bark that looked infected and put the flower outside to dry (Im in No. California) is there anything else I can do to save my Orchid.

Thank you
Pam

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Phalaenopsis have short wide leaves and no bulb or stem (cane), and Cymbidiums have very long (2'+) narrow leaves and a bulb like a medium potatoe. Dendrobiums have tall canes, 1' to 2' tall, with short narrow leaves coming off 2 sides along most of the length of the cane. Lets see, Oncidiums (and Miltonias, Brassias, Odontoglossums, and hybrids between all of these) are like Cymbidiums, but with shorter leaves and the bulbs a quite flattened.

Mold sounds like too wet and maybe too much fertilizer. Drying it out is a start, but Oncidium, Phalaenopsis, Cymbidiums and Miltonias, especially Cymbidiums and Miltonias, shouldn't dry out completely. Buy some bamboo barbeque skewers at the grocery store and, without handling the business end, stab a clean skewer into the pot to the bottom. After it has been in for a while, pull it out to check on wetness. You want that skewer dry before watering for most, and nearly dry for the abover mentioned plants. We are concern at this point if your roots are still alive. But we need to know the type of orchid to help you with root inspection. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[jerrymeola]

There is quite a difference beteween phals and cymbidiums.

Phals like low light (1500 foot candles) and if some leaves are dead it may be too far gone already.

Cymbidiums like very high light (6-8000 foot candles) and are ground orchids. you can probably grow them all year round outside in Northern California. Black spots and dead leaves on cymbidiums are common and may not indicate anything is wrong with the plant.

You need to determine wha tyou have first.

[love2cee]

I have a Cymbidium, and thank you so much for your advise. I will try the bamboo today. It spent the night outside and so far so good, yesterday was +/- 70 degrees so not to hot for the plant but plenty of sun and warmth to help dry out. Am I so far on the right path?? Again thank you for all your help.
Pam

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Cymbidiums can take a lot of water if they have good drainage. During warm weather, I water mine every day. So, I think the skewer technique is not really necessary for this orchid. The exception would be if the mix has deteriorated and it is holding an excessive amount of water. You can sometimes tell this by the weight of the pot, or by putting your finger on the top of the mix and pressing down. If your finger goes into the mix, it is time to repot. If the mix is firm and presses back on your finger, then is is just a question if the mix allows the water to drain relatively fast. If so, you are OK to water often. When the temperature turns cold, you can cut back on watering, but don't ever let these dry out regularly, or they will not grow or bloom well. This from experience. Cynthia

[jerrymeola]

I second Cynthia's watering recommendations. They can not be grown in Florida as it is too hot.