Orchids? Anybody?

[Echelontheory101]

Well. First of sll, forget about giving them ice cubes once a week. They are a tropical plant and guess what never occurs in the jungle? Yeah, ice! More in a bit.

I'm definitely guilty of ice cubing probably explains a lot haha

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I took one out of the wood chips it was bedded in and realized the root wad was not much bigger than a walnut. So then I started thinking, what would nature do? And so I have started watering it lightly occasionally, whenever I think it might be dry based on conditions in our house. We have a wood stove so it can get dry. And I usually don't drench them although I do occasionally, at random, if I feel they've gotten too dry. Just soak them good and then let them drain thoroughly. You don't want root rot or mildew. So use your best judgment. Orchids, I've learned, tend to do better with a little neglect, so don't fuss over them too much. Occasionally as I walk by I'll give one a little shake so it will feel like the jungle wind is blowing it, lol.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm definitely guilty of ice cubing probably explains a lot haha

Well that's the instructions they come with, isn't it! So silly. I think the sellers want them to die so you'll buy a new one.

 

[AinaWGSD]

I don't know anything about orchids. But these are my trash orchids, so called because I literally dug them out of the trash at work. The one on the left died, but the one on the right is still kicking. I soak their roots in fishtank water when I do a water change once every week or two.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

View attachment 4289709
I don't know anything about orchids. But these are my trash orchids, so called because I literally dug them out of the trash at work. The one on the left died, but the one on the right is still kicking. I soak their roots in fishtank water when I do a water change once every week or two.

Hope they bloom for you, Aina!

 

[Echelontheory101]

Well that's the instructions they come with, isn't it! So silly. I think the sellers want them to die so you'll buy a new one.

Youre probably right! Thats always what I've read to do, so weird!

 

[tripletfeb]

Orchids like to be in small pots, with tight root balls. BBH have you ever fed yours? They sell orchid feed that you just spray on the plant before you water. That is better for the plant than repotting

 

[tripletfeb]

Mine have several aborted flower spikes. They spring up with gladness and then stop, turn silvery grey and go dormant or die. Do you know what causes this? Should I cut them off at the base of the plant?

I'm wondering if these are flower spikes or the air roots?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Orchids like to be in small pots, with tight root balls. BBH have you ever fed yours? They sell orchid feed that you just spray on the plant before you water. That is better for the plant than repotting

Yes I have the spray. But you don't want to fertilize while blooming. I also have the liquid fertilizer that you dilute, that smells like sewage. You are supposed to stand them in that for ... 30 minutes, I think? I did that when they seemed really dormant. Once. It really is eye-watering stinky.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I guess I might use that about once a year when they are dormant.