Some Advice Needed

[lmartiny]

I am now encouraged to share some of my awfuls. Without running outside in the dark to check names, I've a pbulb something with terribly shrivled bulbs and more water has not changed that. Also a reed stem (?) epi that was terribly damaged by a catepillar. I moved it to better light and it seems to be doing better. some leaves have turned purple but they are healthy?.. It's putting out growths and roots all up the stem. Normal? Keikis?

[fred]

please done be shy about sharing some of your "awfuls" we are all here to help we don't Judge anyone or pick on anyone because of the state of the orchid in question.
we all at one time have lost an orchid or have had or have one or two in poor condition

I have moved this post into its own thread so other "Geeks" can help you and your "chid"

[Anton]

This is the only way to learn. We ALL have failures, no matter how long you have been growing them.

also your failure will help others who may encounter a similar problem.

Bring it on !

[kmarch]

"Awfuls" are common. Let's see...shall I share a couple of mine?

1) How about the time I accidentally tore the entire crown out of one of my favorite orchids in an attempt to remove a dead leaf.

2) Or there's the time I knocked a flowering paph off the highest shelf onto the floor?

3) Or how about the time a whole shipment of Paphs got run over by a courrier truck (3 survived) - but that one wasn't my fault.

The list goes on.....

You sound like a perfectly typical orchid grower to me.

[fred]

I think with your question about the leaves that have turned purple
I would say your "chid" is getting to much light
also with your epi that is normal for growths and roots to grow like that.
I will just jump outside and take a pic to show you that its normal

hang on one second I will ad the attachment to this post

[kip]

not sure what's up with the shrivelled bulbs, maybe somebody else can help with that.
reed stemmed epis normally have purple leaves (and stems) if they're in high light levels. this is not damage, it's carotenoids which help the plant absorb more light for rapid growth. high light levels will destroy chlorophyll unless there are carotenoids to assist with the absorption. the new growths and aerial roots are also typical for epis, it sounds like a very healthy plant.

all growers have some "awfuls", but it sounds like you have a "not so good" and a "really great".
i had a large masdavallia drop all but 2 of its leaves a couple weeks after i got it. it's still hanging on, but just barely.

[brookn]

Hmmmm awfuls. I had a Masd. Celtic Frost that slowly lost all it's leaves until it had two left, which soon fell off, gave it a nice Celtic funeral. Then there are the root rotted Phals I rescued in sphag, put them in bark and underwatered, then moved back to sphag, they are just recovering after 1 and 1/2 years but still look quite sad with the stunted leaves they produced for me... I could go on and on. We all do it, if you don't kill, maim, or disfigure a few you won't learn lol. So bring on the awfuls, I am sure someone has advice to help make them pretty again hee hee.

[patticake]

The purple on your epi sounds fine! I have some Catts with a tinge of purple and that shows me they're happy! One of them even bloomed for me. On your other one, Is the whole plant shriveled, or just the one pb? Sometimes the pb's are too far gone to re-inflate so to speak. The other possibility is that there's root damage or rot so the plant can't draw water up no matter how much you give it. Have you checked the root system on it?

Oh, and my ghost orchid that slowly turned to little black turds!!

[Celcat]

Originally Posted by fred

please done be shy about sharing some of your "awfuls" we are all here to help we done Judge anyone or pick on anyone because of the state of the orchid in question.
we all at one time have lost an orchid or have had or have one or two in poor condition

I have moved this post into its own thread so other "Geeks" can help you and your "chid"

Did you mean dont be shy and we dont judge?? or my english has gone very bad? Or maybe too much sherry

[risa59]

I was happy to see this posting this morning (gosh, not about your awfuls but about admitting that even experienced/VIP geeks have had problems and accidents in growing). I admit to being a bit discouraged about my growing abilities lately- death of a brand new Phal, some yellow leaves on my lovely 4 month- old Paph, limp leaves on another Phal, the list could go on and on. I never have had previous problems growing other house plants, but some days my orchids are giving me bad dreams (literally!) I'm getting better at this thanks to all your help, but I do admit to being discouraged at times at my attempts at my new hobby. Thanks for being so honest! As one member of our local orchid society told me "you aren't an expert until you lose 100."

[amersault]

Originally Posted by lmartiny

I am now encouraged to share some of my awfuls. Without running outside in the dark to check names, I've a pbulb something with terribly shrivled bulbs and more water has not changed that. Also a reed stem (?) epi that was terribly damaged by a catepillar. I moved it to better light and it seems to be doing better. some leaves have turned purple but they are healthy?.. It's putting out growths and roots all up the stem. Normal? Keikis?

don't worry - it's all part of the learning process. you won't be a better grower w/o a few of these, so share away!

regarding your shrivelled PSB, w/o a picture it's hard to say. some old/mature PSBs do shrivel as part of the aging process. no amount of H20 will bring that back. now if that also happens to new growth, i'd be worried.

if your Epi is putting out new growth and roots, i wouldn't worry about it. sounds like your moving it to more sun has made it a happier plant

[lmartiny]

Thanks everyone. I'll try to take a picture later. I was just taking a quick peek but have some chores to finish. This site has a way of distracting me from other things I should be doing.

[articuno75]

Originally Posted by brookn

Hmmmm awfuls. I had a Masd. Celtic Frost that slowly lost all it's leaves until it had two left, which soon fell off, gave it a nice Celtic funeral. Then there are the root rotted Phals I rescued in sphag, put them in bark and underwatered, then moved back to sphag, they are just recovering after 1 and 1/2 years but still look quite sad with the stunted leaves they produced for me... I could go on and on. We all do it, if you don't kill, maim, or disfigure a few you won't learn lol. So bring on the awfuls, I am sure someone has advice to help make them pretty again hee hee.

Hehehe. Don't forget all the Masdies that I blew through!
Oh and when Rachel gave the plants a window cleaning treatment.

Have a couple of plants that I thought I'd try S/H with. All they ended up with was fungus. Right now I have a couple of sick plants and the prognosis is not looking good. All the Physan in the world ain't gonna save the babies.

One of those live and learn deals I suppose.

[Orchidementia]

If my hands weren't especially bad tonight, I'd list some of my more awful moments, but even on a good day, my hands aren't well enough to type that much!

As for the purple leaves on your epi, when that happened to mine, it was from too much light + underwatering. Either increase water or decrease light. The leaves will eventually improve some, but correcting either water or light (if they get enough water, they can take full sun) will prevent future purpling (and possible crisping, which is what I did to mine).

[solay]

I killed more orchids than I care to count. I usually don't even mention them once they go down hill and die. It's better to learn from them and move on.

[katrina]

I too have killed more orchids than I care to count...or remember. I only remember the reason I killed them...I do my best not to let that "reason" happen again and I consciously forget the number that have passed onto orchid heaven.

My biggest bonehead move...this past spring...sunburning several catts. When I was moving everyone out to their summer homes...I didn't think about the very large apple tree my neighbor had removed the previous fall. How does this affect my orchids you might ask? Well, that tree was responsible for the majority of the afternoon shade for one of my catt spots. Just so happens that life got in the way the first few days after everyone was moved outside and I didn't check them for...I believe it was 3 days...when I finally made it out there...several were fried beyond saving and the others were sunburned pretty badly but I was able to salvage those. The survivors aren't the prettiest of my crew but they are making a recovery...looks like a couple of them might even bloom for me.

I've had my share of watering incidents too.

Bottom line...I don't think there's a person growing orchids who hasn't also killed or maimed a few in the process of learning how to grow these beauties.

[chefatplay]

Imartiny, you're doing a good job. Just think, at least you know something is different! Both pots of my reed stem epis have purple around the edges at least. I had the same situation as you did. I had them in a little shade and they weren't doing anything. I put them in virtual full sun and now they are going crazy and have purple on them. I have a total of 6 spikes in one pot with flower buds on it as we speak. My second pot is trying to decide if it wants to continue to flower or start to spike. Virtual sun with purple was the winning ticket for me.

[lmartiny]

Thanks to everyone. Kevin sorry but #1 made me laugh, but not funny I know. And #3 definatley not funny. (Fred, thanks for the epid picts. I guess I'll look forward to a big plant one day if mine does as yours)
I attach a couple of photos of the shriveled P bulbs on the ...cattelyea? The tag says " Wils. Red Pacific "Deep Shadow" " By the way...what does the date mean? (in this case 4-23-08)
I checked the roots. I'd repotted it from store bought into bark mix about three weeks ago. But have had the plant for several months. Roots don't look happy and are mushy. (Had cut some away)But they haven't had a chance to regroup. I'm going to leave it alone for now. It's trying to put out a new growth.

[amersault]

your PSB plant does not resemble a Catt variety, rather i think it could be an Ocda or Odontioda type plant. if that is the case, these are cool growing plants that like to be kept from drying out - constantly moist. i also grow my Ocda's or Oda's on indirect light levels on lower light (east facing/morning sun ideal). no direct light or else you literally fry the plant. these will not tolerate temps above 78 so try to keep them on the cool side.

your shrivelled PSBs may indicate a lack of water. you might try a finer bark mix or transfer to all-sphag (the latter works best for me).

from searching the web, Wils is short for Wilsonara, which is Cochlioda x Odontoglossum x Oncidium. perhaps the others can offer more advice.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by lmartiny

The tag says " Wils. Red Pacific "Deep Shadow" " By the way...what does the date mean? (in this case 4-23-08)

Originally Posted by amersault

from searching the web, Wils is short for Wilsonara, which is Cochlioda x Odontoglossum x Oncidium. perhaps the others can offer more advice.

Amersault's got it. It's a Wilsonara Red Pacific 'Deep Shadow' (not the last part is in single quotes not double). The date is probably some sort of breeder or grower info, possibly the date the plants were removed from flask.

It is a complex, intergeneric hybrid in the Oncidium Alliance so Oncidium care applies. You can get an Oncidium culture sheet at AOS | Home.

[lmartiny]

Thank you. I'll pull that culture sheet. To keep it cooler I'll bring it in to the back room and it can keep the project Masdie company.

[amersault]

just wondering, how much sun is this plant getting?

[Orchidementia]

I have a couple of wilsonaras; they all have really wrinkly pbulbs. I think that's just how this one is.

[lmartiny]

Amersault, I had it sitting outside in pretty much full shade/dappled light. I moved it into the patio with the repot, to keep an eye on it so it has now had some brighter light but protected from direct sun.
I bought a light meter recently but it was cheap and doesn't really seem to be very good. I guess you get what you pay for.

[amersault]

Originally Posted by lmartiny

Amersault, I had it sitting outside in pretty much full shade/dappled light. I moved it into the patio with the repot, to keep an eye on it so it has now had some brighter light but protected from direct sun.
I bought a light meter recently but it was cheap and doesn't really seem to be very good. I guess you get what you pay for.

hmmmm... it doesn't sound like you've done anything wrong so i have to move on to -

Originally Posted by Orchidementia

I have a couple of wilsonaras; they all have really wrinkly pbulbs. I think that's just how this one is.

the expert has spoken; perhaps your plant really is just naturally like this, then