phalaenopsis blooming and blasting

[Susie11]

Hi My new phalaenopsis is as you can see in bud and also blasting the old buds. I am wondering if this is a mistake in care. The roots are very healthy and are constantly growing in the pot and it is producing another leaf but I am not sure why it is blasting the old flowers. Can anyone advice me as to why this is happening and if I need to do something different.

[koshki]

Hi Susie, and welcome to Orchid Geeks!

I don't know if this is related to your bud blasting issue, but it doesn't appear from your photo that you have many air holes in your pot. Roots do look good, though!

From the photo it looks like the buds opened fully and are now dying. Is this correct? How long have they been open?

[orchids4me]

Bud blasting is common, can be caused by temp changes and humidity changes. These come from a nice humid green house in bud get transfered to stores in trucks (temp changes here) then to a store again temp humidity changes then to homes again temp/ humidy/ and often light changes. It happens. Some actually keep on to the buds and bloom. Depends on the plant and how much it can take or how drastic the changes where in all this transport and sit activity.
I've had it happen when I purchased them. And I've recently had it happen on opnes budding at home (heat wave hit ) but all and all it looks healthy so maybe next time round when it blooms they will stick around
Good luck!
Emmaye

[Susie11]

Thanks Emmaye. At least I can look forward to the new buds - of which there are currently 8 forming!

[zaeem]

Susie11 Hi!
Bud blasting caused by too sudden changes in temp,humidity.Emmaye has described these factors in good details.Your plant is otherwise healthy/Cheers

[Susie11]

Originally Posted by koshki

Hi Susie, and welcome to Orchid Geeks!

I don't know if this is related to your bud blasting issue, but it doesn't appear from your photo that you have many air holes in your pot. Roots do look good, though!

From the photo it looks like the buds opened fully and are now dying. Is this correct? How long have they been open?

Sorry it's taken so long to reply to your question Koshi, I didn't read it properly. Well I have lots of air holes in the bottom of the pot. It's a standard pot that came with the phal. The buds did open fully whilst situated in my house and they have been open for approx. 6/7 weeks. The roots are very healthy apart from an area of black mold forming in the bottom of the pot so I am going to bathe them in a weak bleach solution and cut of the affected parts and hope that it is o.k. I now have nine new buds forming from the old spike and a branch that formed from an eye So all in all I am happy.

[Brooke]

Your old blooms aren't blasting they are just done blooming. Six to seven weeks is typical for this type of Phal. Some Phals open a few blooms, lose them and then the new buds will bloom.

Your roots look great and I doubt the black you see in the bottom of the pot is anything to worry about. If you are worried about the black pour peroxide through the pot instead of the bleach solution.

Brooke

[Susie11]

Originally Posted by Brooke

Your old blooms aren't blasting they are just done blooming. Six to seven weeks is typical for this type of Phal. Some Phals open a few blooms, lose them and then the new buds will bloom.

Your roots look great and I doubt the black you see in the bottom of the pot is anything to worry about. If you are worried about the black pour peroxide through the pot instead of the bleach solution.

Brooke

Now I'm a bit confused. I was recommended to pour bleach through the pot but now you're saying not to but to pour proxide in it instead. Firstly I don't know how likely it is that I'll be able to buy that easily in the U.K and secondly what is wrong with plain old bleach?

[koshki]

Originally Posted by Susie11

Now I'm a bit confused. I was recommended to pour bleach through the pot but now you're saying not to but to pour proxide in it instead. Firstly I don't know how likely it is that I'll be able to buy that easily in the U.K and secondly what is wrong with plain old bleach?

Susie, I'm glad Brooke got to this post before I could. My first thought was "NOT BLEACH! " But to be honest, it's not that I know anything specific about using bleach on plants. I just wouldn't think it would be good for your orchid. It's ok to use it to clean pots once you take the plants out!

Brooke means to use hydrogen peroxide...I'm quite sure you can find it in any UK pharmacy in amongst the wound care products.

Oh, and your buds are dying off naturally, and you are one lucky phal owner to have the spike rebloom! A very good sign that you're taking good care of your phal.

[Brooke]

"an area of black mold forming in the bottom of the pot so I am going to bathe them in a weak bleach solution and cut of the affected parts"


I'm confused by the "mold" part and what you are seeing in the pot. Of all my orchids, including many Phals, I've never found mold in the pots. Live roots, dead roots, sometimes creepy crawlies but never mold. If you have dead roots, they either died because they are very old or they were killed by over watering. Dead things rot naturally, not from an invasive bacteria, Mother Nature is doing her job.

The weak bleach solution will work if there is something nasty to kill but peroxide is a much safer product and actually helps aerate the roots. The peroxide is the type available at your local pharmacy.

Brooke

[Stitz]

Originally Posted by Brooke

The weak bleach solution will work if there is something nasty to kill but peroxide is a much safer product and actually helps aerate the roots. The peroxide is the type available at your local pharmacy.

Brooke

I agree. Your local apothecary shoppe undoubtedly sells 3% Hydrogen Peroxide. It is not sold at a higher percentage since the peroxide becomes unstable. Used medicinally, it is commonly diluted at a 1:1 ratio with water as the diluent. I suggest that you add water to your peroxide immediately before you use it.

--Stitz--

[Susie11]

Originally Posted by Brooke

"an area of black mold forming in the bottom of the pot so I am going to bathe them in a weak bleach solution and cut of the affected parts"


I'm confused by the "mold" part and what you are seeing in the pot. Of all my orchids, including many Phals, I've never found mold in the pots. Live roots, dead roots, sometimes creepy crawlies but never mold. If you have dead roots, they either died because they are very old or they were killed by over watering. Dead things rot naturally, not from an invasive bacteria, Mother Nature is doing her job.

The weak bleach solution will work if there is something nasty to kill but peroxide is a much safer product and actually helps aerate the roots. The peroxide is the type available at your local pharmacy.

Brooke

Oh no, now that you've said that I am beginning to wonder myself. I just assumed that it was mold because of the decay and them turning black and soggy but now I'm thinking that it could be just plain old age.

I will not do anything just yet because I think that you are right. They aren't moldy and furry it's just empty and soft looking- (not full)- blackish roots that look to be expiring. Now I am embarrassed I think that I have been over watering. I am so sorry guys to have wasted your time but t least I now know for when and if it happens again. But, do I need to do anything with the dead roots or just leave them where they are because some of them are right down in the bottom ot the pot?
Thanks in advance.

[Brooke]

When you repot cut off any mushy parts and leave anything firm.

It wasn't a waste of time - you learned it wasn't bud blast but your blooms were just finished and roots rot when they die.

Concentrate on not over watering and the roots will live for a very long time.

Brooke

[Susie11]

Originally Posted by Brooke

When you repot cut off any mushy parts and leave anything firm.

It wasn't a waste of time - you learned it wasn't bud blast but your blooms were just finished and roots rot when they die.

Concentrate on not over watering and the roots will live for a very long time.

Brooke

Hi Brooke
thanks for the advice. I am making a real effort not to over water them from now on. I won't make that mistake again. But I was just wondering, is it necessary to repot? What will happen if I just leave them as they are and don't keep them too wet? The reason I ask is that if I do re pot I might lose some flowers and I really don't want to lose any flowers So, if I just wait until flowering is over will that damage the plant or put it in any jeopardy at all? I recently bought another mini phal in a pale yellow or green colour but the camera didn't quite capture the colour but never mind. The photos always lose their quality once I've resized them for some reason maybe I'm doing something wrong I don't know

[Susie11]

Thanks to everyone who has advised me on this matter. I am happy to say that not only is the spike rebudding but, I have just checked on it again this morning and I now have a new eye branching too Happy? - just a little bit.

[Brooke]

Since you can see the roots and the condensation on the pot you can repot when you wish.

Continued success!

Brooke

[Mulan]

Hi Susie11, your phals look gorgeous with so many spikes within 1 plant. This thread is awesome as i learnt a great deal here (big thanks to everyone else who have shared their advices). i currently have 1 phal with 1 spike & its blooms are few & almost spent now. bout 6 weeks. there is no sign of any new spike and the bottom most leaf is turning yellow; roots are healthy though. may i know how do i get my phal to produce several spikes at the same time?

Thanks in advance & looking forward for more advice.

[Susie11]

Originally Posted by Mulan

Hi Susie11, your phals look gorgeous with so many spikes within 1 plant. This thread is awesome as i learnt a great deal here (big thanks to everyone else who have shared their advices). i currently have 1 phal with 1 spike & its blooms are few & almost spent now. bout 6 weeks. there is no sign of any new spike and the bottom most leaf is turning yellow; roots are healthy though. may i know how do i get my phal to produce several spikes at the same time?

Thanks in advance & looking forward for more advice.

Hi Mulan,
I don't know what you're seeing but there is only one spike on my Phal. I think that maybe the stake is confusing you perhaps? To get lots of spikes you have to have the right conditions for growth and follow the growth cycle accordingly. A yellow leaf is fine as they do die when they get old. As long as it is the bottom leaf it is pefectly normal and not a worry. As long as the roots are healthy then you are doing fine. Get some culture sheets from here or online and that should help you out. Good luck Mulan.