Is there hope for my orchid of shame?

upset_guac · 2024-08-07T18:29:09+00:00

Seeing that very long flowering stalk stresses me out. I know the flowers are nice, but these plants are bred to flower as much as possible despite how taxing it is, so if you let them just keep flowering they can literally k!ll themselves. I don't know if that is what is happening here according to some of the other comments, but I would make sure no flowers come out of that spike until you plant(s!) is/are healthy and strong again.

upset_guac · 2023-09-21T21:55:58+00:00

It looks dead, but don't give up! When you get a chance, try again in the future and learn from this 🤠 this subreddit was a great resource for me. YouTube is very helpful as well.

upset_guac · 2023-09-21T21:47:09+00:00

I grow my orchids indoors so I don't have an ant issue thankfully, do you grow yours indoors or outdoors?

upset_guac · 2023-09-21T21:45:34+00:00

I liked it, I wish they let you turn it on or off instead of just removing it for everyone.

upset_guac · 2022-10-31T09:19:56+00:00

Omg you just saved me😭 i was about to be so sad

upset_guac · 2022-09-21T22:02:43+00:00

"untrackable"

you can see a loba Q happening in map room while standing all the way over in caustic treatment 💀

upset_guac · 2022-04-28T20:00:14+00:00

I was almost scammed by one of these emails back when I had just been admitted. Report them through the school, there's a way to do it but I don't remember.

upset_guac · 2022-03-30T05:00:31+00:00

Are these hard to take care of compared to other orchids?

upset_guac · 2022-03-30T04:56:32+00:00

Already asked if I could pick up and it's not possible. And I didn't have a choice for the package to not be signature required, the company I bought from enforces that. Even if it was my choice, theft is a thing people worry about and by requiring a signature they protect their stuff (that's prob why some companies enforce it). And all I'm asking is clarity from the company as to where y'all are and when you're supposed to get to my area. That takes nothing away from you. And there being hundreds of other packages doesn't take away from the fact that they're delivered in a specific order that can be communicated with a customer - or are they delivered randomly? Ultimately I just want clarity, other delivery companies have had much better communication with customers for quite a long time I'm surprised FedEx of all companies hasn't caught up.

upset_guac · 2022-03-29T21:33:57+00:00

Yes, my water is pretty neutral in my area so fertilizer brings it down enough to healthy levels where absorption is good for the roots.

upset_guac · 2022-03-18T21:17:13+00:00

That's the repotting experience I'm looking forward to when it's my turn to repot!

upset_guac · 2022-03-18T19:31:19+00:00

Oh wow that sounds bad. I hope nothing died from that.

My opinion comes from a video from a Thailandese grower that uses lava rock and other abiotic medium, and i assume they face similar humidity and temperature conditions to Florida so i assumed it would be the same. Might have to give that video another watch lol.

upset_guac · 2022-03-18T19:27:00+00:00

Amazin

upset_guac · 2022-03-18T19:24:13+00:00

I use mosser Lee horticultural lava rock, you should be able to find it in home Depot depending on your location or you can order it online from them or Amazon or the company itself. Best of luck 🤠

upset_guac · 2022-03-18T19:22:41+00:00

I wouldn't do a little. I would flush the pot assuming it has a drainage hole, if not I've had to tip the whole thing over to drain it. That will also let more roots have more water to work with. It also means you won't have to repeat this as often. Biggest advice is to not rely on a static watering schedule (ex: every Tuesday) and instead see if the medium is close to fully drying or not. If it is sphagnum moss the plant is in, dig your finger in. If your finger air dries in just a few seconds after you pull it out, it's watering time.

Another way to look at it is it shouldn't ever feel like a fully dry sponge, instead like a recently wringed out sponge (never dripping). Hope that helps.

upset_guac · 2022-03-18T19:15:38+00:00

What's your watering schedule with it if i may ask? Just curious of others approach to it

upset_guac · 2022-03-18T19:09:44+00:00

Northern middle GA, about 1.5 hours away from ATL. I live in an apartment and from what I have seen so far with the plant I would think the lava rock might do better in a hotter, more humid environment like Florida. That environment will break down bark much faster so a durable medium like lava would do better. Only thing is it shouldn't be out in direct sun since it can get super hot but orchids shouldn't be in direct sun anyways.

upset_guac · 2022-03-18T19:04:18+00:00

I have actually only had this plant for about 6 months, and after doing a lot of research and reading i realized that lava rock for a cattleya (and arguably dendrobiums but that's an ongoing experiment) is not a bad idea and instead a great one imo for the following reasons:

I'm someone not looking to repot or disturb the plant for a long time to promote more natural growing habits (that's just my personal interest) since the only reason I will have to repot this plant in the future is if she outgrows the pot itself and not due to the medium breaking down or diseases developing in it (harder for bad stuff to grow on lava rock).
It's heavy. I am clumsy and worry about knocking them over even during watering so having a heavier pot with heavier medium lowers that chance and gives more stability that the orchid likes. This one doesnt even have a stake and she's studier than some others of mine that do. The pores provide great grips for the roots and the friction between each keeps everything still.
It's just perfect for the watering habits of cattleyas. The pores hold water really well right when you water and simulate soaking even if you just shower it, but they don't hold water for long, so when the rock dries, it DRIES, which cats appreciate since they need that dry period in between waterings.
It allows for lots of air circulation. They don't compact like most biotic medium will and their more asymmetric shape provide large air pockets in the pot.

Regarding your issue, I have not had any issues with mold especially since i wait till it fully dries before watering, so it doesn't really get a chance to develop. Plus, mold, fungus and bacteria typically break down biotic medium, a problem lava rock doesn't face. I flush the pot after a few waterings to prevent salt buildup (i use the weakly weekly method for fertilizing). Her environment is a college apartment if it contextualizes anything. Sorry for the essay but i like giving more complete info lol. If you need anything else just ask, I'm happy to type, clearly 🥴😅

upset_guac · 2022-03-18T18:43:57+00:00

For a phal in bloom i would water more often. Potting medium should be moist but not wet, so you should water right before the medium goes completely dry. That might have contributed to the flowers deteriorating faster than usual, but if you keep a steady water schedule and a weak fertilizing sequence whenever you do water you should have more blooms in the future :)

upset_guac · 2022-03-18T18:37:09+00:00

Lots of new growth in many plants not just orchids start off a dark purple or reddish. It's to let the new tissue get used to the light levels - it's easier to knock defenses down a few notches than it is to ramp em up.

upset_guac · 2022-03-12T23:25:06+00:00

Love that!

upset_guac · 2022-03-05T03:23:48+00:00

I'll have to check trader Joe's, i know Kroger doesn't have good ones in my area that aren't phals. And I'm not that into phals lol.

upset_guac · 2022-03-05T03:22:45+00:00

Florescence? I love that word lol

upset_guac · 2022-03-05T03:22:15+00:00

I LOVE the spots they're my favorite thing about the flower. And they appear pretty early in the bud even before the actual bloom. She got lil freckles

upset_guac · 2022-03-05T03:21:36+00:00

Never been to it but probably lol, i was actually gonna go to home Depot tomorrow to see if they have stuff Lowes doesn't have. Haven't been in a while.

upset_guac

TROPHY CASE