Newbie with a few questions

[nite138]

Hello all,

I am glad I came across this forum. I have been interested in Orchids for many years and have had very little luck with them. In my most recent attempt, I have had much better luck (they didn't die after a few months). My first three orchids were Phalaenopsis (4 months old) and my most recent purchase was a Miltoniopsis.

My oldest Paph (it has yellow/white flowers) has had flowers for the four months. Last week I noticed the leaves started to wilt a bit. I have found various posts about the causes of this and wonder if my plant is in any danger. I have attached a picture of the leaves. I have increased my watering once every five days (the weather here in CA has been a little random) and have started spritzing the leaves in the morning. I do keep my orchids on humidity trays. Any suggestions to get the plan back in tip top shape?

One of my other Phalaenopsis (has pink/white) flowers had a bud blast quite quickly after I repotted the plant. I have read that you should cut the stem just below the node where the first flower bloomed. I decided to let the stem be and a new stem poked out of the node. I attached a picture of the new stem. If I cut below the node, I do not think a new stem would have popped out of the node. Is this true?

I attached a picture of a flower off of one of my Phals. The flowers that are on the plant all look like this and not like any of my other Phals. Any ideas what is the matter?

My last question is about my Miltoniopsis. I purchased this plant a little over a month ago (from Trader Joes) and the wife was very happy with flowers/fragrance. Unfortunately, the flowers all seem to be dying. I did a little reading up on this plant, and I *think* I'm giving the proper light/water/humidity (south facing windowsill, watering every 5 days and keep it on a humidity tray). Could the cause of the flowers dying be that I repotted the plant? I think I read this was a bad thing (of course after I repotted).

Any help/suggestions are much appreciated

Josh

[fred]

Hi Josh
welcome to the forum
First of all you can download the Culture sheets from the AOS with this link
AOS | Culture Sheets

the culture for your Miltoniopsis is the same as Miltonia also in the link provided.
Re-potting the plant in flower is not a very easy thing to do my advice re-pot when the flowering is finished.
with the right culture you should be able to get the plant to bloom again.

also it would help us to understand your growing conditions if you can go into your UserCP at the top left of the page and Update your Profile with your Location.
That will also help us to give you the right advice as we have members from all over the world with different growing conditions.

If you have any more questions please feel free to ask as we are all here to help you.

[patticake]

Some plants don't like to be re-potted while in bloom. The rest of the plant looks o.k.- maybe that's all it is.

[jerrymeola]

Your Miltonia (pansey orchid) flowers are just reaching the end of their life cycle. The normally last 6-8 weeks and were probably open for several weeks before you bought it,

Miltonia do not like high temperatures and should be kept under 85 degrees. This is what we mean when we say to list your location. Miltonia are difficult in Florida. They need more light than the Phalaenopsis to flower and will not flower next year if kept indoors (without supplemental lighting). Put it outside in the spring.

[nite138]

Thank you for the replies. I had looked up the AOS culture sheet some time ago, long before I posted the thread. I felt the questions I had were not answered by the sheet.

I am in CA (Southern California), I did take the advise and update my profile so that the pro's could help give me more specific advise. The hotest that it gets in my home, including in the summer is ~80. If it gets hotter than that, I just turn on the air.

Did you guys think the red Phal's flower looked ok? I thought it looked deformed as it doesn't look like my other Phal's flowers.

I am still confused on where to cut the stem after the flowers have died to encourage a new stem. Can anyone shed more light on this?

Thanks,

Josh

[articuno75]

The Phal is a Harlequin and it looks like the one called 'Black Butterfly'. The flowers themselves look cupped, but this could be from several things. Has this Phal just bloomed? It might need time to open up more. It could just be the breeding.

Cut just above a node. (where a bloom had been) This can encourage new sub spikes, or just leave the spike alone and see if it will subspike on it's own. (they sometimes do.)

[PhalPal]

Welcome to the forum nite138! I live in Placentia; where are you???

I have one Miltonia and can't grow it well for the life of me. I think we are too hot and dry for them. I have tried it outside, inside, natural light and artificial. After almost two years, I'm ready to give up if someone would like to adopt her!

Is this the first time your Phal has bloomed?? Sometimes blooms will be a little deformed with the first bloom, but more likely the cup shape is genetic. If you want to try for a re-bloom, cut just above the node as Jenny stated above. When the stalk dies off cut it as close to the bottom as you can.

I would check the roots on your Paph. Droopy leaves can be because of dehydration or overwatering; this is true for any orchid. If overwatered, roots will rot and no matter how much water you give it the leaves will remain droopy because there are no roots to absorb the water. Take it out of the pot and see what shape your roots are in.

I hope we have answered most of your questions! If not, keep asking away! This is a great forum and we learn a lot from one another.

[nite138]

Thanks for the help!

I live out in Corona; as some of you know that live in So. Cal, it is hot/dry out here. Unfortunately, I do not know if this was the first bloom of the Phal with the cupped flowers. The flowers have been opened for about three months and now are starting to close up. I will take your advise PhalPal and check the roots of the phal that has the wilted leaves and see if they are rotted. Thanks Jenny for the info on where to cut the stems!

Josh