Is this an Orchid? How do I care for it ?

<img src="http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n62/timmoore46/img_1055a.jpg">

<img src="http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n62/timmoore46/img_1053a.jpg">

<img src="http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n62/timmoore46/img_1056a.jpg">

It was given last year as a present and it survived the winter with very little water and now its got maybe 12 flower buds.

I know zilch as to how to care for it.

Any pointers very very welcome !

:)

Tim

 

Sorry your images don't come up.

 

New to this sorry....

clicking on the link does it I think...

:(

Tim

 

From the pics it looks like a Phalaenopsis to me. You might want to try to see how you can load up photos directly to here : )

Ed

 

have i succeded with the photo

 

From the amount of green algea growth on the roots and growing media it looks like it is sitting in water. This is not good; it will die soon.

Take all the water out of the pretty pink container and put the pot back in it. You could take the plant to the sink and run water through the container to clean it out somewhat. This is also how you should water it. Don't let it sit in water.

As well, it needs to be repotted as soon as possible. It is not recomended when the plant is in flower, but ...

Join a local orchid society for better advise in your area and the enjoyment of other people's plants.

Good luck.

 

Yucky,

Does it still breathe?

First image is nice

 

Many thanks for the tip ! Will do !

What do I re-pot in in?

tree bark ?

:)

Tim

 

Tim,

Yes, bark from evergreen trees such as pine is used quite often. But there are other potting mediums for orchids and you might find some prepared material at a garden centre. That would be the easiest since you are only dealing with one plant.

 

If it is still flowering, I would suggest to make sure that the pot is not standing in water, allow to dry out completely (you will know because the pot is going to get very light - in weight). Once it's dry, do not water immediately - wait for a few more days. When I water these plants, I soak them in water (preferably rain water), rinse 2-3 times, then allow to drip off excess water completely. For feeding, I apply dilute soluble orchid fertiliser after the final rinse.

I repot all my Phals once every two years, usually in August when they are done flowering. I use a medium grade orchid mix bought from the local nursery, and top it up with a layer of sphanum moss.

 

Brill ! ! !

Many thanks for the tips, I really needed them !

I have organised potting compost and fertilizer from an Orchid vendor.

: ))))

Tim

 

The horror...the horror. Get that poor hapless phalaenopsis OUT of that green goo NOW!Go to your friendly neighborhood nursery and get a NEW pot (size of yours looks OK) and a bag of orchid bark. Repot! Keep in mind that phals. are epiphytic---it is essential that air circulates around their roots. Water as you will: the key concept is DRAINAGE. I give mine a thorough daily misting (more often in summer, in my non-air-conditioned house) and a weekly spray-down in the sink. This latter is a good time to check for the dreaded insect parasites and plant's overall condition. Moderate light is OK---do not put this plant in direct sun!!! It's suffered enough! Testament to the toughness of orchids that yours has survived a near-drowning, and with all those buds too. I have a phal. (var.:"Wedding Promenade")that was rescued from a near-freezing in Feb., and in June it bloomed for me. Good luck, and as we NY Mets fans say: Ya Gotta Believe!

 

Many thanks ! Its drainned and flowers keep opening !

Whats the coldest in winter it can take and be Ok ?

:)

Tim

 

Well, at my house in winter the thermostat is set at 65 degrees (F). I know that some folks believe that phals. need real cold to set buds, but I can't say that I do. Generally speaking, if you're comfortable, then so will your plants be. Keep in mind that orchids have resting and growing cycles---if your plant looks as if it is just sitting there, be patient...keep misting and checking it over once in a while...and sooner or later you'll see a new root or leaf or flower stalk. This spring, after many years of messing about with orchids, I had 8 bloom for me within a month or so---including the first-ever bloom from a cattleya I've had for about 10 years! That's one of the things I like about orchids: they do it when they feel like it. ---Am glad to hear that your phal. has responded! Great news---made my day!

 

Thank you ! I really appreciate the support !

Now beginners luck has blessed me with 10 flowers currently open on the original Orchid as of yesterday ! Can't believe it !

I'll see if I can post a photo !

:)

Tim

 

Ten?! WOW! It must be gorgeous. Whatever you are doing...keep doing it!

 

Being half way up a Welsh Mountain with a facing NE Porch helps ! It's close to the edge of the world as you can get in the UK ! *LOL*

Clean everything ! The dirt hasn't arrived yet.

;)

Tim

 

Good grief! Do you mean to say that the poor phal. is STILL IN the green goo??? You must have the world's toughest orchid. A veritable Phal Of Steel. Well, remove the gooiest bits and wait for the dirt. If you're clinging to the side of a mountain I suppose you can't just hop on over to your local Wal-Mart to pick up a bag of orchid bark and some frozen pizza rolls. (Given this co.'s "cover-the-earth" philosophy, I would be unsurprised if you soon could!)---I got a question for you: if the phal went through the winter without much water, WHERE did the algae come from? A Botanical Mystery. ---Halfway up a mountain? Sounds wonderful. What sorts of wildflower action do you have up there?

 

It rains a lot in Wales especially on the Mountains. The deep valleys with cascading water often are tree lined and having hanging moss from their branches in a massive way.

Anything damp soon grows something as the air is full of spores ! Water Meadows are now very rare in the UK but my two horses have about 9 acres of untouched water meadow in the summer with a river running through it of clear mountain water. Its full of wild flowers but I'm too ignorant to know what they are.

I could take photos of them and post them here.

Rarest animal I've seen is a Water Shrew, Rarest bird Hen Harrier.

But then its is a National Park.

Now feel guilty I've not posted a pic of the 10 flowers on the Orchid.

Goods like Pine Bark all come mail order. I don't like cities and never go shopping in them.

Green Goo.... hopefully not as I ran water through it for a while and only water it twice a week. I'm colour bling so brown and green are the same colour and very similar to red. So I can't tell if its gone.

A bit off topic but you did ask ! *LOL*

:)

Tim

 

9 Flowers, there were 10 but one fell off :-

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n62/timmoore46/img_1092a.jpg

and the roots... are they too green ?

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n62/timmoore46/img_1089a.jpg

:)

Tim

 

Wow! Spectacular blooming! Hmm, maybe this green goo is a good thing. I have found that root color does vary somewhat---I have a phal. that currently has both the standard grayish roots with green tips and roots that are VERY green throughout. Roots can be brownish, too. What concerns me is the reddish tinge of the newest leaf and some of the roots. Possibly light-related (lack of) or I'm hoping not moisture-related (too much). This situation inhibits proper nutrients from circulating correctly throughout the plant. Perhaps one of our fellow orchid-fanciers could weigh in on this issue.---The goo does seem less than it did. ---Thanks for the description of your environment. Beautiful. In my many years of reading British mystery novels I have encountered the mention of "water meadows"...most cool to talk to someone who actually lives near one. Deep valleys with cascading water. Nice. Pictures of your wildflowers? Yes, please! I am certain that our local experts would have them all identified for you within the hour (minute, even) and, besides which, I'd like to see them.

 

"water meadows" are the flood plain of rivers here which are often underwater during part of the rainy season. In the summer they provide very lush grazing. Untouched except by grazing animals is very rare.

In this country they look to keep the rivers from flooding and build houses on them !

Not a good idea (seriously dumb) as once every 100 years or so it...eeerrr... really floods ! ! !

Now the wild plants that grow in them are unique to this sort of environment and.... there are not many of them left !

I'll take a camera there today and hope its not raining. Then post pictures here. Autumn is not as good as spring..

:)

Tim

PS Sorry to other members for this OT ramble.

 

Look forward to viewing the wildflowers. ---Yes, one wonders...still have not been able to figure out why folks build staggeringly palatial summer homes right on the beaches along the s. shore of Long Island, NY. Every couple of years along comes a nor'easter that removes large areas of beach and the houses with them. These people KNOW that this will happen...??? Go figure. ---2 questions: How did you acquire a home in a national park? and--- how's the orchid?

 

Hey, Tim! Are you OK? I have just read that there is serious flooding happening in Wales. Hope that you, the horses, and the orchid are well!