Hi, I was given a phaelanopsis orchid in bloom as a gift 1.5 years ago. It is potted in moss in a green plastic pot and I've watered it as per instructions (on the label) once every 10-14 days. It sits at a south-facing window with the sheer curtains drawn down so that it gets filtered sunlight. It has since re-bloomed once last year. However, earlier this year, my roommate had opened the curtains and left the window opened, exposing the poor orchid to direct sunlight and quite cold air for at least a week while I was away! The plant has definitely sustained some sunburnt injury on the leaves. My issue is that now that its newest leaf has started drying up, and the older leaves are quite limp and I'm not sure if its because its over or under-watered?? I suspect my well-meaning friend might be secretly watering it (even tho I have asked her not to!!). Can someone look at the photos and tell me which is it? I have deliberately been watering less (no more than about a shot-glass full of water every 10 days) because I suspect my friend of watering it. BUT if she really has not been watering it, am I killing it with too little water? Or are all these symptoms an effect of the sunburn and cold air/breeze? How do I rescue it? Its condition is gradually getting worse, and I'm not sure how to make it better!
With that setup it's very difficult to avoid over-watering. You have a pot within what looks like a solid pot with no drainage. How can you tell if the lower part of the growing medium is moist or not? Sphagnum moss holds moisture really well; but the top part can dry out while there is still too much moisture in the lower part. And orchid roots need air; there will be very little air circulation to the lower roots with that arrangement. I would re-pot the orchid in a proper orchid pot. There is a lot of information on the Web about an appropriate growing medium and how to water it.
Thanks vitog! I took your advice and went to Rona to pick up a bag of Orchid Mix to repot the the plant, even though I'm not sure it isn't already a lost cause. The bag is a mix of wood bark, Pearlite & charcoal. I followed the instructions on the bag to soak the mix in water, then drain it before re-potting. I didn't find orchid pots (those with giant holes along the sides of the pot), but I bought a plastic pot with a drainage "grid" pattern (instead of holes, it has lots of slits, kinda like bathroom drain cover piece). I considered burning/cutting holes into the side of the pot, but figured I might break the pot instead, haha. :p When I pulled the plant out of the moss, the moss appeared to be still damp, so I'm going to assume my poor orchid was drowning. Unfortunately, looking at the pictures from other old archived orchid posts (there was one by a mr/ms neko), my orchid's inside roots were thin/flat-ish yellow/brown things that although were not quite the strings he/she showed, are probably not alive either. :( Is it likely that the green aerial roots that are sticking up above will be enough to save the orchid or is it already doomed? Since there doesn't appear to be living roots below, can I save it by misting the aerial roots repeatedly throughout the day? Like you, I like in Metro Vancouver, so the humidity is way lower than what websites say orchids prefer. I read on the forum that someone recommended wrapping the plant up in a plastic bag, but as I don't have zip-locks that big, I stuck the orchid in my bathroom, which steams up whenever someone takes a shower, but I don't think there is enough light in there. And I'm not sure if the change in temperature and humidity (only when the shower is on) is good for the plant? Do you have a recommendation? Thank you very much in advance for your advice!
Phals are probably the easiest orchids to grow indoors and don't really need the special care recommended for other orchids. I've had one blooming constantly for several years while located on a north window sill. A bathroom window sill is a good location for orchids; I have several different kinds doing well in such locations. Both bathrooms that I use face south and have fairly large windows for a bathroom. I've never tried Phals in these locations because they were doing well in less humid areas with less light, but they should be OK in your bathroom if you keep them on a window sill.
It's been a week since I re-potted it in orchid mix and not only is there no improvement, but it looks worse for wear :( I've kept it in the bathroom (west-facing window, but no direct sun since blocked by neighbour's home), carefully dripped water on the aerial roots using a squeeze bottle about 3-4 times a day (ie making sure there's just enough drops that they stay suspended by water tension on the aerial roots and don't drip into the bark where I'm afraid of causing further root rot). Yesterday (a week after re-potting), I did a "proper" watering of the potting media by soaking the pot for ~10mins in weak (1/4 strength) orchid fertilizer solution, letting it drain for another 10 mins then placing it back in the bathroom. As you can see below, it doesn't appear to be helping! Anybody have any suggestions on other emergency measures I can take?? Should I cut the yellow-ing leaf off or do I let it slowly dry out? I don't know if the orchid is "reclaiming" nutrients from the dying leaf (like autumn foliage does), or is leaving it there causing more stress?
The pot you are using does not appear to have any side drainage holes; and, if it has any drainage holes at all, they must be on the bottom, where they will be blocked most of the time. It's difficult to maintain the right moisture level with that pot. I would use a pot with slots or large holes on the side. I would also stay away from fertilizer until there is significant new leaf growth.
Well, it's too late for this week's watering but I will stay away from fertilizer for next week! Thanks! I'm not sure how to describe the pot I'm using so I drew a picture. It was the pot with the most drainage I could find so that's what I bought. There is a plastic grid "suspended" in the pot with a funnel like structure that reaches the bottom of the pot (A & B shown in pic). At the side of the pot there is a hole (shown in pic as D) which drains water when I tilt the pot sideways. I check for excess water after watering by sticking my finger through "D". I stuck 2 small pebbles into the funnel-like area (B) and then filled the rest of the pot (C) up with orchid mix. Is that not enough drainage? In any case, the only roots buried under the mix are IMO probably dead (flat squishy brown/yellow mush), so is misting the aerial roots any use? Also, should I trim that leaf off?
It isn't just a matter of drainage. Air needs to circulate around the roots. That pot doesn't allow for any air circulation at all. Take a look at orchid pots on Google Images.
I haven't bought another new pot because I didn't want to spend more money if it was going to die soon. BUT!! It's condition has stabilized! (kinda i think, lol...) The old yellowing leaf has since fallen off by itself, but the half dried-up one on top has remained as is (I marked the "dry- line" on the leaf last week and it hasn't progressed further!). For some weird reason, it looks like the plant is growing a baby leaf! I can see it starting to stick out the top. I sure hope it's ALSO growing new roots down the bottom because it's not very feasible to keep balancing drops on water carefully on the aerial roots 4 times a day! I guess it's time to really go hunt up an orchid pot. I came up empty at my local Rona & Superstore, but will try to hit an actual garden centre soon. :)
Orchids generally grow in the crotches of trees in the detritus that has gathered there. I grow mine in wire baskets lined with that shredded coconut fiber stuff (I believe it's called choir - or some such and orchid mix. Once a week I put them in a bucket of room temp rain water for a few hours, let them drain and hang them back up in a west facing kitchen window. Orchid roots seem to grow up into the air and need to be watered as if with rain. Others that I grew differently croaked. Just my experience - maybe it will help. barb
