I just can't hang on any longer...

[englandfx]

Well this could possibly be the end for me. I'm not sure.
But I am highly considering about leaving this whole world of orchids.

This morning I woke up to see my phal bud had opened pre-maturely bcuz last night was sooo hot even with the fan on.

Phals are sooo not the easiest orchids to grow.
They are so easy to get root rot, their rots are so easy to dry out, and their buds are so easy to blast. Seems like phals are very high maintenance.

Phals are too picky, and that is the only orchid I like. And if I can't do anything to not let buds die then what is the point of me even growing them anymore.... I feel hopeless and sad.

[janet_a]

there *must* be some warm growing phals out there....

[englandfx]

No idea Janet, but this is the last straw for me.

[Tarad]

Awww that is so too bad. I live in Wisconsin and have the opposite probs really cold here in the winter, perhaps we can come up with some warm weather phals if they are out there folks here will know, hang on for a bit. Tara

[oncidiumlover]

Don't give up, you'll find something somewhere! Where there is a will there is a way!

[mayres]

Once you get the hang of it and find what works for you phals are actually among the EASIEST of the orchids to care for - LOW MAINTENANCE. Trust me, I have about 60 of them and I couldn't do it if they were high maintenance! Remember that buds and flowers will do much better if they developed IN YOUR CARE versus being brought into your environment from somewhere else. Sudden changes in conditions is what they have a problem with - for example a humid greenhouse environment to a dry office environement and so on.....

[vcuchick]

what about a dendrobium...???
Mine seems fairly stress-free.

[-k-]

Oh man that sucks! I'd say keep on keepn on... There must be something that can be done!

[epiphyte]

The irony is that the common Phalaenopsis should be able to grow fine outdoors year around in your area with very little attention.

Let's take Phalaenopsis amabilis for example and compare Belize City, Belize to Cooktown, Northern Australia.

Water

Belize City: 86 inches of rain per year
Cooktown, Australia: 70 inches of rain per year

Temperature

17.5S | 16 ft | Belize City, Belize --- 15.5S | 24 ft | Cooktown, Australia

Sources: Orchid Culture, Weather Reports,Temperature Charts

Here are some photos of Phalaenopsis on trees...

Imagen 108 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
orchids on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Orchids attached to tree on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Orchid Tree on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
orchids on trees at turtle bay 4.2007 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Orchid on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
East Coast of Taiwan on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
honeymoon - 057.jpg on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
phalaenopsis on palm tree (again) on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Filtered from orchids on trees.

[Tarad]

I totally agree with Mike A I have tried other orchids and Phals are by far the easiest. How long have you had your phals? Tara

[LouisW]

I agree with Mayres, it is not unusual to have an orchid that you have bought in bud suffer a little stress and drop some buds. The real satisfaction in growing orchids is to make them REbloom all yourself. When you do this the plants do not suffer from the change in conditions and will not usualy drop their buds.

Just give your self and your plant a chance to get it right. You will be glad you did when you finally get those elusive flowers to come out and play.

[hulaorchid]

Try try again!! We all have had problems with different growing condition. Don't throw in the towel too soon! Like everyone said it is very rewarding to make things re-bloom on your own! I feel your pain! But please keep trying!!

[englandfx]

Those are nice links to orchids.

I have had my phal for 1 week now.

[LouisW]

1 week is not long enough to find out if you can grow orchids if they will grow ok for you.
I have been growing orchids for about two years and I am still working out a lot of kinks. I am doing well growing the plants but I am still figuring out how to get them to bloom (I have yet had very few rebloom for me)

Orchid growing require very much patience and perseverance. Plants will die, buds will drop, roots will rot, but when you get a flower to open its all worth it.

[myorchid]

I agree with the others! Keep trying and you will find the right place, water, temp to get that orchid to grow for you.

It is wonderful when you get it to rebloom! I also have been growing for 2 yrs and have killed my share of plants! It all seems worth it when you can show a picture and say I did that MYSELF!!

I hope you keep trying!

[Stelios]

Originally Posted by englandfx

Those are nice links to orchids.

I have had my phal for 1 week now.

sorry but buying a phal in bud most usually result in bud blast and buying in bloom also results to prematurely withered flowers. As with any living organism it is stressfull to change enviroment, especially when gorwers provide almost excellent conditions, so anything less than ideal put stress on the poor things.
I am not saying that it is your fault not that you can not be a good grower. All i say is that you need to give your plants time to adjust to your conditions and judge how you deal with them when they will bloom the following season.
I would say that you should keep the effort in caring for your plants and untill you will feel more confident on your skills try buying plants that are a season to bloom. They are cheaper and more likely to taughen up until in bloom so you will avoid frustration.

[trinigirl]

I agree with the others, keep trying. Especially since you love them so much!!

Your 1 week old phal is still trying to adjust to your conditions, and buds will blast in changes in conditions.

In your conditions, they should be easy to grow. I have about 50, and they surprise me at how tolerant they are. You can do it!

[englandfx]

I know buying that orchid that buds were going to blast.

But what frustrates me the most is that the bud opened pre-maturely bcuz of the 90 degree F nights and days I am having.

The weather is waaay to warm for proper bud development and I can't do anything to change the weather....

So it really isn't my fault that the buds aren't doing good. I blame it all on the weather for being sooo hot.

And knowing there isn't anything I can do to change the weather is what frustrates me.

[Tarad]

Ahhh I see. I have been growing and dealing with phals for over two years now. Yep I am guilty of killing some, seen lots of bud blasting, crown rotting, leaf dropping, and just plain disappointment sometimes. However, I have managed to get these guys blooming again. Ok so you lose a bloom or two. You bounce back, keep looking after the phal and try to get it to bloom again. This has all happened to all of us at one point or another. Believe me it gets better with experience and the jam packed knowledge you have access to on this site. If you really want to grow phals hang in there you won't be sorry. Tara

[Celcat]

Sometimes I feel exactly the same way with dendrobiums but that doesn't stop me to keep me going. I just take up the challenge. Yes, it does me feel me very frustrated seeing them growing but never in bloom. But I cannot imagine the feeling it will be when one day they will flower for me again!

My flat, some summers (definitively not last year) reaches the 90 degree F and I do get my phals in bloom even with that weather. Maybe just give time to your phals to adapt to their new environment and when I say time, one week is definitively not enough, one year will be more appropriate for some. One thing that I have learned with orchids: Patience is a virtue

[janet_a]

also, it can take a plant up to two years to acclimate to a new environment. give it some time.

[dorothea]

maybe I'm wrong, but you could try misting it the whole time (or whenever you get a chance) since it is so hot. I think phals need more water when the temperatures are higher, or at least some air circulation. or maybe it just reacted to the change of environment (you bringing it home)

[Tarad]

Tell me about patience I have had a phal in spike forEVER! I am thinkin it may not bud out as it went in spike when we were about -50 freezin cold. Uh I think the spike is petrified. But for one petrified one I have 4 bloomers so that is the key you need to buy more not give up Tara

[Ron]

But what frustrates me the most is that the bud opened pre-maturely bcuz of the 90 degree F nights and days I am having.

The weather is waaay to warm for proper bud development and I can't do anything to change the weather....

So it really isn't my fault that the buds aren't doing good. I blame it all on the weather for being sooo hot.

And knowing there isn't anything I can do to change the weather is what frustrates me.

Half the problem is caused by the conditions that they have been kept in the shop were you bought them from.
They are usually shoved anywhere.
They allow them to dry out, get cold etc.
As for the heat causing them to bud blast. More likely the nursery/shop/ your house changed conditions.
My orchid house and a lot of others in Australia got up to 120F, but on average day in Feb. 110f were common.
I have lots in bud and flower and no damage to any of them.
As quoted above, they are very easy to grow and flower "ONCE" you get the conditions wright.
They are warm tropical growers and need to be treated as such.
A drop of temp to below 60F can cause more damage that the heat in summer or winter.
Best of luck as Phallies are such a beautiful plant in flower.
Cheerio
Ron

[dorothea]

Originally Posted by Tarad

that is the key you need to buy more not give up Tara

that is so true... that's how I ended up with 27 phals I lost only 5 (most of them came that way :/)

[Pilot]

Hang in there! I'm brand new to this illness called Orchids and they deserve our patience!! It'll be ok... just keep trying-- it WILL work out.

[jay]

Before you give up on other types of orchids, keep in mind there are over 35,000 species of orchids with over 150,000 registered hybrids. Maybe you just haven't seen another type of orchid that you like yet.

We all lose plants. Even the best growers on this site. I have gone through many plants trying to figure things out. But when you do, it becomes a lot easier. The trick is to learn from each lost plant so that it can save one in the future.

[Tarad]

So true Jay...uh Jay your a little light on Phals better grab some more of those Tara

[englandfx]

*sighs*

Well after the blooms fade from my orchid, I will repot it. At this point, I don't care if I lose the second developing spike.

Can a phal be planted in 100% canadian peat moss?

[jay]

Not in the peat moss. I think it would be too acidic and too wet without enough drainage and air flow. Phals grow naturally on the sides of trees and I believe some rocks. Peat moss is more for terrestrial plants and carnivorous plants.

[englandfx]

oh ok.

[solay]

It's all about figuring things out by trial and error. I had so many orchids die on me but I can't give up. One of these days it'll all come together for you. Just don't give up.

[PhalPal]

Whenever i have problems with growing an orchid it has just made me more determined to figure it out and get it right.

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by englandfx

Well this could possibly be the end for me. I'm not sure.
But I am highly considering about leaving this whole world of orchids.

welcome to my world. Phalaenopsis is prone to crown rot. while Dendrobium is quite rare. So you have problem growing it, dry other plant. Unfortunately , Dendrobium is a high light plant. It might be out of your reach. Keep trying.
I use to post this,
I killed 30+++ Phalaenopsis
??!!+++ Dendrobium
???!!+++ Vanda
??!!++ Aranda
??!!++ Renanthera
??++ Cattleya
??!!++ Mini Cattleya
??!!++ Arudina
??!!+++ mini Dendrobium
??!!++ Polyrrhiza lindenii
I still growing..

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by englandfx

*sighs*

Well after the blooms fade from my orchid, I will repot it. At this point, I don't care if I lose the second developing spike.

Can a phal be planted in 100% canadian peat moss?

If a second spike is developing there is a good chance that one will grow and bloom just fine as by then the plant is more acclimated to the new environment, no?

[Tarad]

I repot while spiking and have gotten blooms after the repot more times than not. Tara

[englandfx]

well i will repot as soon as I see that the 1st spike is spent and as soon as I see the second spike isn't developing properly.

[lmartiny]

Don't give up FX. You will have your trials and tribulations.

[kid a]

Maybe you could try a phal type dendrobium the flowers resemble the shape of phalaenopsis flowers Don't give up just yet you'll have i'm-ing you for weeks about it lol! Browse around online and search for warm growing orchids There are so many of them your bound to find one you like I'm sure there are probably even some native to belize they would probably be a cinch to grow ! Just don't give up it took me two years of killing four phals and severely neglecting a ludiscia discolor to even realize that something wasn't right lol. Bud blast is just something that happens but you paid good money for that plant and I would hate to see you think of it as wasted money. You just have to figure out what works for your area! Maybe try to find some other people in your are and ask them how they grow them or call the greenhouse you bought it at and ask for advice, they seem to be able to grow them very well considering the crazy roots on that things lol. I'm sure they would be happy to help you figure it out. Some of them will even help you repot or things like that Just hang in there

[violetta]

Originally Posted by englandfx

I know buying that orchid that buds were going to blast.

But what frustrates me the most is that the bud opened pre-maturely bcuz of the 90 degree F nights and days I am having.

The weather is waaay to warm for proper bud development and I can't do anything to change the weather....

So it really isn't my fault that the buds aren't doing good. I blame it all on the weather for being sooo hot.

And knowing there isn't anything I can do to change the weather is what frustrates me.

You should give your Phal some time to adjust to the warm weather and it should be fine. Here in Cyprus it gets very hot in the summer (up to 113 degrees F), but all my Phals are doing very well. I just mist them and protect them from direct sun.

[fred]

I don't think there would be a "geek" amongst us that has not felt sad about buds dieing or even a plant dieing, you don't just give up you book it down to experience and try ones best to get the plant to re bloom or try another plant

this is going to sound hard but its not meant that way one has to understand the culture of an orchid and provide the right conditions all year round

growing orchids is a very rewarding hobby

[klaraau01]

"Well this could possibly be the end for me. I'm not sure.
But I am highly considering about leaving this whole world of orchids."

Ahhh.. how can one give up on orchids just because one phal not doing well? There is so much to learn from these beautiful plants and one of the lessons happening now for you.
Good luck and many happy future blooms for you from this phal !

[LouisW]

Buds that develop in ninety degree weather will develop and bloom just fine. if you move a bud from a cooler place to a warmer place it may die.

[englandfx]

hmm I thought buds would not do good unless it is like 75-77 degress F for phals.

[lmartiny]

Fx. I live in FL and it gets hotter than he.... here. They are outside, with exception of infrequent freezes. I've got a rebloom and I also have some on the rebound after root rot from commercial spag potting. They are showing some new roots. I've left healthy spikes and the spike on a mini looks to be budding again. DON'T GIVE UP YET.
Maybe get yourself a couple of succulents to also enjoy and they can keep your orchids company. Branch out a little bit. That way you are not so focused on one thing.
Hang in there.

[PhalPal]

Originally Posted by englandfx

hmm I thought buds would not do good unless it is like 75-77 degress F for phals.

Phals are not anywhere near this fussy. Mine have seen temps between 60 -90 F and do just fine, however they have been grown in the same room for a year and adjust on their own.
I know we are all trying to encourage you to keep growing orchids and not give up so easily, but it's okay if you find this is not the hobby for you. I would just concentrate on the two you have (or look for a more suitable match for you) and try to keep them happy so they will bloom for you next year. That first rebloom....that's when it starts getting fun!!!

[zuri]

Have heart, EnglandFX! Your phal is not going to die on you as long as you provide it with enough water. These are tough, tough plants. I have two stories for you that might make you feel better:

1. This November I picked up a cute phal from Trader Joes (a "Jet Green Mantenfon" with deep fuchsia blooms) and brought it home with me. A couple days later all the blooms had blasted save the two at the end that were already open. I felt sad and ashamed, like I had killed the flowers, until I went back to Trader Joes and noticed that ALL of their plants had blasted blooms. I told myself that it could have been me, but it was probably them. The truth is that blooms just don't like to be moved, and that's not our fault. But the best part of the story is that these two blooms held on for me while the spike issued a new set of buds--and it's been in bloom ever since. Six months.

2. My first ever orchid was a phalaenopsis, and I had no idea how to take care of it. That, in fact, is how I ended up joining the Orchid Geeks. (Thank you for your great advice and tender words as I was stumbling to find my way!) I didn't realize that the pot it was planted in didn't have any holes in the bottom, and wondered why it was taking so long to dry out. So I watered it about once ever three weeks, and still it almost died of root rot (enter the geeks to save the day). But that's not all. I was in college and very poor and couldn't afford heat. My house regularly dropped into the low forties and even thirties... and my phal? Still alive. It's bounced back.

In other words, you're doing great! There's a giant learning curve with orchids, and they will be there with you as you're making your way around the bends. YOU CAN DO IT!

[englandfx]

Interesting.
Well I have decided not to leave the world of orchids anymore...

Although I don't know how much longer I will be with them bcuz I plan to go away to get my BA and then MA.

But until then, I will continue to buy more phals!
In fact, when easter vacation is over,....I'm going to the nursery again.

My mom will probably be like .... 'oh gosh, more orchids for you to kill again, more money wasted' xD

[dorothea]

I think another phal might help you learn about them. you'll become more confident and learn how they react to specific conditions.

also, you can show your mom how to take care of them when you are away.

[11Orchid126]

I discovered by trial and error that there were different types of phals among the many hybrids. Some did well under my conditions and some did not. After the buds blasted on a phal for three consecutive years, the phal went out the door, and I bought another one. I eventually had a few phals that did well under my conditions.

[mdomingz]

hey FX... you live in belize, there are literally tons of gorgeous native orchids which you can try to see if they are suited for you and your experience. Try to go around and check some of the rural markets on weekends. I know there will be something to catch your eyes, nose and your sense of adventure.

I'm pretty sure everyone in this forum have had to see how some of our orchids just fade and die or rot. Seeing this mess on a positive note, it gives you a reason to get more!! Once you get into this orchid thing, i'm pretty sure there will always be an excuse to get a new one.

Another suggestion, try to see if you know someone that has had a phal for quite a while, that would be willing to sell or trade or something. That gives you a better chance that the plant would be perfectly adapted to all stages of belize weather.

hope it helps
manuel
panama

[OOCece]

Digitalgate. Thanks for posting how many orchids you've killed off! I don't feel so bad now!

[PhalPal]

Originally Posted by englandfx

My mom will probably be like .... 'oh gosh, more orchids for you to kill again, more money wasted' xD

Don't Ya just LOVE how encouraging Mothers can be???!!! Gotta love 'um!

I am glad to hear you are not giving up on orchids just yet. The challenge is what makes them so intriguing! I have grown Phals for, maybe five years?? now and have a system that works pretty well in my conditions. I can honestly say I RARELY lose a bud. Almost NEVER. I can repot or move them in spike/bud and it has never been a problem.

With that said.....I have a pretty little two-spike phal with 11 buds on one spike and 10 on the other. It has taken forever to open and I have anxiously waited for the first bud to pop. For no apparent reason it has decided to blast about every other bud on only one of the spikes. It hasn't been moved, repotted, or ignored - Go Figure. Nothing has changed and I have gotten over the idea of trying to figure out what I did or didn't do, because I am sure I did not do anything 'wrong.' I can't drive myself nuts by trying to get into their little orchid brains. (well I could.....but I try not to do that anymore for sanitys sake!)
Such is the life of an orchid grower, and this is precisely why I never say never!!

[englandfx]

lol PhalPal

Your phal may be rebelling like a teen... hence blasting.

[englandfx]

Originally Posted by mdomingz

hey FX... you live in belize, there are literally tons of gorgeous native orchids which you can try to see if they are suited for you and your experience.

Another suggestion, try to see if you know someone that has had a phal for quite a while, that would be willing to sell or trade or something.

Yes I do see some very nice orchids, but phals are the only orchids that have my interest.

I don't have any friends or family members who grow any orchids, don't know anyone who does.

[PhalPal]

Originally Posted by englandfx

lol PhalPal

Your phal may be rebelling like a teen... hence blasting.

Great.......I have a teenage orchid!!!!!

[Celcat]

Originally Posted by englandfx

Yes I do see some very nice orchids, but phals are the only orchids that have my interest.

I don't have any friends or family members who grow any orchids, don't know anyone who does.

Do like me! I knew no one who used to grow orchid. So I have talked about my passion with my friends and colleagues and now 3 of them are orchids addicts. It is quite contagious