Change in orchids'environment, please advise.

[loreley]

I moved recently to a new apartment which has light coming from the east/southeast, whereas in the old one I had west exposure. Plus, in this apartment I have no way of regulating the temperature; it is set at around 72 degrees and the only change I can make is to set it even higher. As a result, the humidity is extremely low, around 20-22% all the time. Short of opening the windows -not a good choice in NYC at this time - what can I do? Buy a humidifier? The orchids look okay but absolutely no sign of spikes. Also, I've noticed that the aerial roots of a couple of them have shriveled; they're still green but not plump anymore. Is it because of the low humidity? Should I keep up the weekly fertilizing schedule?

I appeal to your vast knowledge and your usual kindness to help me with this.

[sunshine]

Originally Posted by loreley

I moved recently to a new apartment which has light coming from the east/southeast, whereas in the old one I had west exposure. Plus, in this apartment I have no way of regulating the temperature; it is set at around 72 degrees and the only change I can make is to set it even higher. As a result, the humidity is extremely low, around 20-22% all the time. Short of opening the windows -not a good choice in NYC at this time - what can I do? Buy a humidifier? The orchids look okay but absolutely no sign of spikes. Also, I've noticed that the aerial roots of a couple of them have shriveled; they're still green but not plump anymore. Is it because of the low humidity? Should I keep up the weekly fertilizing schedule?

I appeal to your vast knowledge and your usual kindness to help me with this.

I'm quite a bit further north of you but my home stays between 68-72 and my humidity hasn't been that great. Yes, I have a humidifier and it works wonders. I got one at Walmart for about $25. I have east windows and I have no problems blooming my catts, phals,paphs and masdies.

What do you have for orchids and how often are you watering? I fertilize weakly weekly. You can also mist those aerial roots to help keep the plump.

[loreley]

Originally Posted by sunshine

I'm quite a bit further north of you but my home stays between 68-72 and my humidity hasn't been that great. Yes, I have a humidifier and it works wonders. I got one at Walmart for about $25. I have east windows and I have no problems blooming my catts, phals,paphs and masdies.

What do you have for orchids and how often are you watering? I fertilize weakly weekly. You can also mist those aerial roots to help keep the plump.

Thank you very much, sunshine, for your reply. My orchids are mostly phals (5 of them) and I also have one paph that bloomed about 4 years ago and never again. I am not an orchid grower by any stretch of the imagination, I just love plants in general and have quite a number of them, dracaenas, sansevierias, aglaonemas (2 gorgeous Silver Queens), all of which seem quite content with the new environment and are thriving. Four of my phals were given to me by an employee of a flower shop - they were going to be discarded after they had finished blooming and nobody had bought them, can you imagine? They have beautiful, shiny, strong leaves and tons of roots. I repotted them in bark and water them once a week. I understand that for them to bloom, there has to be a difference in temperature of at least ten degrees from day to night, which is impossible for me to achieve in the circumstances. When you say you fertilize weakly what exactly do you mean? I have been using 1/4 spoon per gallon of a 30-10-10 mix every week. Is that too much? I will definitely buy a humidifier, then. Thanks for your advice!

[koshki]

I don't know about that temp difference for the phals. I grow mine indoors, and they bloom. Not really sure what I do for them that makes it happen, but it does!

[loreley]

Well, koshki, that gives me some hope then because, as I explained above, there is nothing I can do about the temperature in my apartment. I have repeatedly read about the difference in temperature being important for the orchids to bloom. Maybe you're just one lucky gal

[kmarch]

IMHO the fertilizer you're using is too high in nitrogen. I'd switch to a lower nitro fert. I think the one I've been trying out this year is something like 8-9.5-4 or something like that.

[loreley]

Okay, I'll switch to one with a lower nitrogen content then. I have two here, one is 20-10-20 and claims to be urea free, and the other (Shultz) is 19-31-17 (very high in phosphate though). Still not acceptable? Could I maybe use half the recommended dose? BTW in what way does a high nitrogen content affect the plants? Many thanks for tour input.

[Filb]

Having a fertilizer that's higher in nitrogen will more likely stimulate the plant to grow vegetatively (leaves and roots). A boost in phosphorus and lowered nitrogen may help the plant to bloom, but there are a lot of other factors that contribute too.

[katrina]

Yep...the 30-10-10 is more of an active growth (summer) type of fert. Some like to play w/nutrient factors depending on the season.

Personally, I prefer to use a balance fert year round and I adjust the strength (1/8-1/2) to the plant and the season.


When people talk about the strength of the fert...it's based on the normal dose listed on the label. For instance, if the label says to use 1Tbsp per gallon of water...and you wanted to do a weekly, weakly regimen...then you would use 1/4 that strength (1/4Tbsp) and you'd do it every week. Or, 1/2 strength (1/2Tbsp per gallon of water) and do it every other week.

I don't believe there is any one "best" way to fertilize. You'll find people who use full strength and do it once a month...you'll find people who do the weekly, weakly regimen...and I'm sure you'll find all sort of things in between.

The one thing you want to be careful about is using too much fert on a plant that is potted in a medium like sphag or a peat/coir mix. Those mixes will hold more of the product and you can end up w/a high salt build up...possibly causing some root burn...if your dose is too high over an extended period of time.

Hope that helps!

[loreley]

So maybe I should use the Shultz fertilizer (high in phosphorus) at a diluted strength to encourage blooming at this stage? I would especially like for it to work on the 4 plants that were given to me at the flower shop. I know they are phals, but I would like to see their faces

[11Orchid126]

The drop in temperature for two weeks that some phals require in order to set buds is usually done in the fall. What is suggested is a fifteen degree drop in temperature, and that occurs naturally at that time. Often it can be 80 during the day and 65 at night, or even 75 and 60, so nothing else is required other than leaving the plants outside until the temps get too low for phals.

A small fan might also make a difference, although a working humidifier will also keep the air circulating.

[loreley]

Well, is it too late now for putting the phals outside, since our mean night temps these days have been hovering in the teens, but I will certainly try it next fall! In the meantime I have ordered a humidifier because the humidity has been really low, around 22%. I'm hoping that will help and, as you say, will keep the air circulating. Many thanks for the input.

[orchids4me]

I've had a hard time finding a fertilizer with a low 1st # which is the N in the NPK levels. I just stop fertilizing now for blooming until I can find something with a low nitrogen level going to research MSU fert and see how that one is next.
Good luck !
Emmaye

[loreley]

If you find something, Emmaye, please let me know, I so want to get those guys to bloom

[sunshine]

loreley and orchids4me have you tried Shultz 10-15-10. I think Lowes has this or probably check your local garden center. This is all I use and all my plants do very well with it. For my orchids I use it weakly weekly.

loreley, I have found orchids to be no different than any other blooming plant. They bloom when there darn well ready I know it is frustrating but you just moved and give your orchids time to adapt and in the mean time give them the best culture possible.

[loreley]

No, as I mentioned in another post, I have Shultz 19-31-17. I'll try to get the one you suggest and apply it"weekly weakly". BTW I bought a humidifier, and boy has it made a difference. The shriveled aerial roots I mentioned have plumped up!! I also decided to water a little more often because I repotted all the orchids in bark (before they had been in moss), so I think they were a bit thirsty. I read also that the switch from moss to bark is stressful for the plants. Okay, sunshine, I'll be patient and give them all the love and care they deserve

[loreley]

Sunshine, I looked at the Schultz fert I use for my other plants and it's 10-15-10! I use it weekly at full strength for the aglaonemas, dracaenas, etc.and they have been growing at an alarming pace. It's 7 drops per quart of water. So, maybe cut it down to 3 drops per quart for the orchids? Is that OK?

[sunshine]

Originally Posted by loreley

Sunshine, I looked at the Schultz fert I use for my other plants and it's 10-15-10! I use it weekly at full strength for the aglaonemas, dracaenas, etc.and they have been growing at an alarming pace. It's 7 drops per quart of water. So, maybe cut it down to 3 drops per quart for the orchids? Is that OK?

I have the large bottle of Shultz and use a dropper full to a gallon of water. When I water I use this not only on my orchids but my other houseplants as well. Bark does dry out faster than sphag. I have some in bark and lift the pot to see if it needs water. I presoak all my medium and will let the plant soak for a while while I'm getting the new pot ready and they just seem to love it and I have found it cuts down on the stress. I have also found by keeping the plant moist, not soggy or sopping wet after repotting seems to help relieve the stress.

Do keep us posted and pictures would be great if you have them, Btw, it's snowing here in Maine this morning,again

[loreley]

Well, here's a couple of pictures of the orchids. The one with the hanging aerial roots in the first picture is the one pictured as my avatar; it bloomed last year but not this year. All the others are the ones given to me after they had finished blooming so I have no idea what the flowers look like.
You say you use a dropperful of fertilizer for your plants; I went and counted the number of drops in a dropperful and came up with 43. I know I'm splitting hairs here, but 43 drops per gallon is more that 7 per quart, so I think what I'll do is stick to the usual 7 drops per quart and just fertilize the orchids every 2 weeks. I hope it works

We're expecting snow in NY tomorrow again. I'm growing pretty tired of it.

[sunshine]

Originally Posted by loreley

Well, here's a couple of pictures of the orchids. The one with the hanging aerial roots in the first picture is the one pictured as my avatar; it bloomed last year but not this year. All the others are the ones given to me after they had finished blooming so I have no idea what the flowers look like.
You say you use a dropperful of fertilizer for your plants; I went and counted the number of drops in a dropperful and came up with 43. I know I'm splitting hairs here, but 43 drops per gallon is more that 7 per quart, so I think what I'll do is stick to the usual 7 drops per quart and just fertilize the orchids every 2 weeks. I hope it works

We're expecting snow in NY tomorrow again. I'm growing pretty tired of it.

I never counted the drops If 7 drops is working for you and your getting excellent results stick with it I was doing the dropperful to a gal as I was pressed for time when I was home. Your phals look great The may just need a tad more light to spike.

Farmington,Me is in the foot hills. Coastal storms I get just enough snow so I have to shovel and the traveling crappy. But when it comes out of the west like this one. I get buried. Last snowstorm in 2009 I got 2 feet of snow in one storm. I had to shovel a path for my little dog to use the bathroom. I have photos somewhere. I am ready for spring

[loreley]

I'm afraid that's all the light they'll get, short of putting them out in the terrace which is not an option for now. I truly think light is not the problem. But anyway, I'll just stay put and see what happens. Thanks for lending an era to my ramblings. I'll keep you posted.

[11Orchid126]

An east/southeast window will be good for your phals. Just keep them a foot or more back from the window. Feel the leaves. If they're warm, it's too much light. Move them back an inch or so (the light drops dramatically for every inch away from the window). If they're not warm, you may try moving them a bit closer to the light. Keep trying until you get it just right.

For a fertilizer low in nitrogen but loaded with lots of macro-and micro-nutrients, try Dyna-Gro. It was originally made for hydroponic growing. One of the best on the market.