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Feb 11, 2015 8:23 AM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Nothing wrong with Ursula's suggestion. I think the potting media is not "chunky" enough, and since you are using a bit larger pot than necessary, that additional fine/medium mix may be too water-retentive. I don't throw away orchids until they are truly kaput. If this were mine, I would keep it in a warm, bright spot and mist the leaves/roots every morning. I would not drench that media until I saw evidence of new growth (roots and/or leaves).
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Feb 11, 2015 8:33 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: tk
97478 (Zone 8b)

Tomato Heads Avid Green Pages Reviewer
Thank You!
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Feb 11, 2015 8:40 AM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
I probably am not much help here, but it just kills me to throw away a plant that still has some life in it. That's just me. Since I have so many orchids, keeping these "struggling" ones is not a big thing to me. I have everything from tiny seedlings (what I call my "baby" ones) to mature, blooming size ones, so I always have some that aren't doing well. For me, keeping those baby ones going is the real chore. Those tiny ones are a challenge and those are the ones that I know I will lose some of.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Feb 11, 2015 8:54 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: tk
97478 (Zone 8b)

Tomato Heads Avid Green Pages Reviewer
I tend to feel like you do about plants Ken, and i think its been overwatered. Will just mist as you say. I got this plant as a present, and would like to see a bloom. It's a challange.
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Feb 11, 2015 9:02 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Ursula
Fair Lawn NJ, zone 7a
Orchids Plumerias Cactus and Succulents Region: New Jersey Region: Pennsylvania Native Plants and Wildflowers
Greenhouse Ponds Keeper of Koi Forum moderator Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Adeniums
Ken, if this were my plant, and most important - under my conditions - I would take it out of its pot, see if it has any roots, even just healthy pieces of root. If yes, I would put it into a mesh pot titled forwards ( so that water doesn't collector in the crown), anchor it with just a bit of Coconut fiber and hang it into the lower tier/ a bit more shaded and not that far away from one of the warm air registers in my greenhouse. Since I simply water with rainwater daily, this plant would get thoroughly watered daily and from the top too!!! (And dry up pretty quickly in-between)
Btw, I have a Phal right now which fits this description and it is growing and in spike.....
Now if I were to see LOTS of good roots on this plant, I might mount it or simply plop it into a bare Clay pot with just a touch of Coconut fiber so it doesn't wobble and so the roots can adhere to the pot.
Again, I don't mist, I water thoroughly pretty much daily. I have to, since things dry up quickly.
But, I don't think I can advise the OP to follow my directions, since her conditions are surely a lot different from mine.
Here is my plant, it is not a beauty......

Thumb of 2015-02-11/Ursula/8456a1
Last edited by Ursula Feb 11, 2015 9:07 PM Icon for preview
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Feb 11, 2015 9:16 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: tk
97478 (Zone 8b)

Tomato Heads Avid Green Pages Reviewer
Orchids are way too complicated, i wouldn't have bought it myself.
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Feb 11, 2015 9:18 AM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Yes, you are right, Ursula, all three of us grow our orchids in vastly different conditions (well, you and I are probably pretty close, though I never use distilled or rainwater). I think the picture I saw of this particular Phal. had nice, healthy-looking roots on the surface of the media.
My misting suggestions was to wet the leaves/surface roots but not drench the media. IF water is the culprit here, that's what I am trying to solve.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Feb 11, 2015 9:21 AM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Oh, come on, tk. Orchids are no harder to grow than any other tropical plant. You just need to know the conditions necessary to grow them (not rocket science!) and supply those conditions to the best of your ability. If I can grow them, why not you? Shrug!
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Feb 11, 2015 9:38 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: tk
97478 (Zone 8b)

Tomato Heads Avid Green Pages Reviewer
I grow wildflowers outside. Just scatter the seeds is usually all the effort im willing to make. Dont grow tropical plants
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Feb 11, 2015 9:39 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Ursula
Fair Lawn NJ, zone 7a
Orchids Plumerias Cactus and Succulents Region: New Jersey Region: Pennsylvania Native Plants and Wildflowers
Greenhouse Ponds Keeper of Koi Forum moderator Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Adeniums
If I were to advise a total novice-Orchid fancier on what Orchid to buy for a start, I would say - buy yourself a really nice Cattleya in bloom. Preferably that would be in the Fall, since many Fall flowering Catts bloom a bit easier then Spring- flowering Catts, at least around here, unless you don't add artificial light.
Comes Spring with temps stabilizing to ca 60 degr. F at night, I would take that plant outside, hang it perhaps into a tree/place under it and water and fertilize it along with your garden. Comes Fall with temperatures cooling down, place it inside into a fairly bright spot, a sunny window. By now it should be used to higher light. Water, when needed/ touch the bark, if it feels dry, take it to the sink, flood the roots with room temp water, let it drip off and place it back into its spot.
By that time you should see new growths and sheaths developing, just in time for a nice Fall to early Winter bloom. Enjoy!
This works well here in NJ, I need to say! Smiling
Last edited by Ursula Feb 11, 2015 9:08 PM Icon for preview
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Feb 11, 2015 9:53 AM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
As I said, you and I grow our orchids similarly. All my plants go outside when our low temperatures stay at or above 55F, with the exception of some of the tiny, seedling ones. All my plants then come in in the fall, again, when the lows begin to dip into the 50's. Mine will all be under or in large oak/cedar trees. They get watered by nature and by my trusty garden hose, with a gentle "rain" sprinkler head attached.

You are right tk. Orchids are a lot more difficult than sowing seeds. Sighing!
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Feb 11, 2015 4:25 PM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
I would pull out that plant, examine further roots below, if there are additional dead ones, cut it off, then repot in a chunkier media and much smaller container preferably with side holes.

I have learned now to raise the plant's lower end higher and allow it to lean a bit, unless, it has no viable roots, then it needs to form those new roots to get access to moisture, so some would try to increase the humidity to encourage root formation.

So far from your photo, I see some good roots left. I will post here how my current Phals look in their containers. You will see how I have raised the lower end, and made the root zone really airy, short of mounting them..but I don't want to mount them, still in their container but at the same time keeping the root zone with good air circulation. Typically Phals that have just recently bloomed, will go on a rest mode, so be very patient, just water the media as needed; allow it to dry. Phal roots like that. I do not mist the leaves of my orchids, especially if indoors. Different approach to the other types I have during warmer weather and staying outdoors, those I can water freely whole plant. But indoors, I just don't do it. Invites more leaf problems.

I have been experimenting with media so, some containers will have bark mix, some have hygrolon baggies that I stuffed with styro peanuts and some clay rocks, some with chunks of lava rock..anything that can keep the root zone well aerated and not soggy. In your case start with bark mix, chunky ones, and adjust later on as you get the hang of it.


I just watered them thoroughly awhile ago, just the root zone, so most of the roots are in deep green color. Have run the ceiling fan too afterwards, to allow air circulation..my window is open too right now..weather here is nice at 74F Smiling
Thumb of 2015-02-11/tarev/aecdc8 Thumb of 2015-02-11/tarev/069cab Thumb of 2015-02-11/tarev/7b7929 Thumb of 2015-02-11/tarev/d69186 Thumb of 2015-02-11/tarev/65ed4a

Different orchid growers, different approaches depending on our micro climates and locations..but one thing for sure..those epiphyte roots needs very good air circulation next to proper timing of watering and eventually proper application of fertilizer once it has recovered from whatever stress it is undergoing right now.
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Feb 11, 2015 4:29 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
I agree Thumbs up
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Feb 11, 2015 5:24 PM CST
Name: Kate
Holmes Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Not all those who wander are lost.
Bromeliad Cactus and Succulents Region: Florida Foliage Fan Orchids Organic Gardener
Plant and/or Seed Trader Tropicals Xeriscape
Texas Kitty, I think orchids are VERY easy to grow for the most part, it's just understanding their nature is SO very different from the plants we are used to buying at the nursery. They gain their nutrients and water from the air around them, what could be simpler Smiling ? Yours just needs some air and circulation around those roots. Sometimes caring too much for them is what kills them. Too much water, too much handling, too much of everything. I would just leave it alone after misting like Ken says. You'd be surprised how much better my orchids do when I just stop fussing over them and leave them alone.
"A garden isn't meant to be useful. It's for joy." - Rumer Godden
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Feb 11, 2015 5:43 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: tk
97478 (Zone 8b)

Tomato Heads Avid Green Pages Reviewer
Will do
Thank You!
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Feb 11, 2015 7:32 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: tk
97478 (Zone 8b)

Tomato Heads Avid Green Pages Reviewer
I was prowling through the orchids on hour website, Ken. Wow! Very beautiful.
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Feb 11, 2015 7:38 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
One more thing, I noticed from your last picture the two small leaves that are left are looking sort of bumpy and 'blistered'. This is a sign of overwatering. Scroll up to the picture of the plant before. See how smooth the leaves are?

You also should be able to see the whole crown of the plant. In the picture, the two leaves are separated by a bunch of bark. I hope they are joined, under there, but you should pull back that medium, and/or as the others recommended, pull the whole plant out of the pot and check out the roots under the medium. It does have a few good looking roots out on top there.

When you put it back in the pot, just set it on top, don't bury the roots. If it won't stay put, tie it down so it will be stable. If it starts up growing again, it will send out more roots and they will attach to the pot so they will hold it.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Feb 11, 2015 7:50 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: tk
97478 (Zone 8b)

Tomato Heads Avid Green Pages Reviewer
The leaf away from the plant fell off the plant. Can it grow roots?
Last edited by texaskitty111 Feb 11, 2015 8:03 PM Icon for preview
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Feb 11, 2015 7:58 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Thank you for taking a look, tk. Please re-state that last post.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Feb 11, 2015 8:02 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: tk
97478 (Zone 8b)

Tomato Heads Avid Green Pages Reviewer
The leaf far from the plant stem has already fallen off the plant. it is not attached under the bark. I was wondering if it can grow roots, like a african violet does

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