Help

[Rod L]

Hi All

Due to the hot weather we have had in Melbourne Australia and also the water restrictions (can only water twice a week in the early morning)currently in place my Cymbidium's are not very healthy at the moment mainly wilting.

They are kept in the entertaining area and where doing very well but since the hot weather don't look really well at all.

So far I have lost about 50 babies <12 months old and about 20 just over 12 months old..

Any ideas on how to help them recover

Rod

[kmarch]

I'm keeping all my Cymbids (and a lot of my other orchids too) sitting in trays of water in the most shaded places I can find in my yard. And I water then heavily on the watering days we are allowed. I also fill up all my outdoor watering cans on those days just in case something needs watering in between allowed times. Almost every orchid I have outside has suffered some degree of sunburn, in spite of heavy shade cloth and hiding things in shady corners. Even my Laelia crispa, a very high light orchid, got burned. I have lost many new growths off my dendrobiums. I am trying to aid in all my plants' recovery by keeping them moist and as completely out of the sun as possible.

Good Luck!!!

[Ron]

Hi Rod

So far I have lost about 50 babies <12 months old and about 20 just over 12 months old..

Even up NSW coastal town I struggle with the heat.
I have heaps of 1 year old seedling in 4 inch pots (straight 5 to 10mm bark only) these needed to be watered every 2nd to 3rd day in the days we had hight 38-44C
I only water in the morning, this in my mind avoids cooking the roots if watered in the mid or late afternoon on hot days.
My 3 month old seedling have a bit of leaf burn, so far have not lost any plants ( These are in mini nuggets in 48 Sq. tubes).
These are watered every morning and they seem to be getting through Ok.
all under 30% shade.
Lucky we have only 10am to 5pm not allowed to water.
Maybe place in a more shadier position for the time being, plus store excess watering time water in buckets so as to keep the baby's alive.
Big problem and only getting bigger as populations grow and no dam policy's
I have installed 2 rainwater tanks to overcome the problems when we are on full restrictions.
Not much help but hang in there.
Ron

[Rod L]

Thanks for the suggestions,
Now have a tank just waiting for some rain to fill it

Rod

[PhalPal]

You may already be doing these conservations things, but what about saving bath or dishwater and using it on your orchids?? If I were really desperate I would take a bath instead of a shower (or plug up the shower drain) and use biodegradeable soap, making it useable on my plants.

You guys sound like you are really in dire straits, maybe this little idea will help some of you.

[LouisW]

That does sound bad. I was going to suggest shower water too.

You can also try preventative measures to prevent your plants drying so quickly. Maybe partially covering the top of the pot to cut down on evaporation. I mulch my larger house plants and that helps a lot. Maybe that would help your cyms?

[PhalPal]

Good idea Louis with the mulch idea. Maybe even plastic wrap over the media will help, with caution of course.

[Anton]

I do the same as Kevin with the pots of water, but add a touch of Seasol to help them along and reduce the stress.

You'll find that they'll slurp it up fairly quickly on hot days, and not as much once things cool down a bit. Once you find that the saucers are still full at the end of the day, then go back to your normal watering regime.

[solay]

It's odd to hear about watering days since I can't remember the last time we had water restrictions where I live. Right now I'm having the opposite problem with too much rain ruining my cymbidium blooms. I'll wish the rains to you from here. Hope it works.