Do you have questions regarding funky looking roots, floppy leaves, how to water, temperature, how much sun, not blooming, bug attacks - anything that doesn't fit into existing threads?
Please add it here.
Perhaps having all your questions answered in one neat thread will help not only you, but hopefully others as well.
and don't forget to have fun!

I need help with my Orchids. Unfortunately, many of it flowers have dropped and the rest are just about to. I only had this for more than a month, so I might have done something for this to happen, might be the heat wave, or maybe the placement in the room. I water it thoroughly 1-2x a week, I tried misting it once or twice, but it always sits on a pebble tray. The roots look green and I think in the middle of the photo is a new leaf that's growing so I don't think it is dead. 🤞

I also bought an Osmocote Boost+Feed liquif fertilizer today and if anyone could give me any advise about anything, it would really be appreciated ❤

Hi Eveth,

Your plant looks quite healthy to me. I suspect it is probably just the heat we've had over the past week or so here in Melbourne that will have contributed to the flowers finishing a bit early. If it was in full bloom when you got it, though, there's no way to tell how long the flowers have been open for.

Also, my understanding is that Phalaenopsis can rebloom if you don't cut the flower spikes. I don't grow them and so can't comment on that point, but there is a good thread on growing this genus of Orchids right here in the Orchid forum:

The thread "🗣 Starting out with Phals/Supermarket Orchids 🛎 ✍️" in Orchids forum

Australis said:Hi Eveth,

Your plant looks quite healthy to me. I suspect it is probably just the heat we've had over the past week or so here in Melbourne that will have contributed to the flowers finishing a bit early. If it was in full bloom when you got it, though, there's no way to tell how long the flowers have been open for.

Also, my understanding is that Phalaenopsis can rebloom if you don't cut the flower spikes. I don't grow them and so can't comment on that point, but there is a good thread on growing this genus of Orchids right here in the Orchid forum:

The thread "🗣 Starting out with Phals/Supermarket Orchids 🛎 ✍️" in Orchids forum

Thanks Australis! Yes, I bought in from Bunnings (whereelse ) in full bloom so no clue on how long they have been that way. But I wanted the flowers to last so bad!

I agree, the plant looks perfectly fine and healthy! If it doesn't bloom a bit more on the old spikes, it will surely spike again down the road.

Ursula said:I agree, the plant looks perfectly fine and healthy! If it doesn't bloom a bit more on the old spikes, it will surely spike again down the road.

So does it mean the flowers were just old? And I wouldnt need to cut down the stems?

Yes, I would think they were done blooming, especially if it was blooming for you for a month. I don't know if the conditions in your house may have hasten that process, as Joshua indicated, though. I would probably cut them down to the point where they are still green and hope for the best, at the latest you will see new spikes next season.

I was going to say the same thing. The purists that mean to show their phals might say cut the stem when its through blooming, but for the rest of us that just want pretty flowers, only cut back the brown part of the stem, as they may branch and bloom some more.

How long do orchid blooms last generally? I hope I get blooms before the start of winter 😭 i miss my flowerssss 🌸

How long do Orchid blooms last?
Depending on what kind of Orchid we are talking about, anything from 1 day ( that is rare) to 3 days ( not as rare) to a week or a month or several months. Some Phals bloom a few months, some Cattleyas up to several weeks, Stanhopea blooms rarely last beyond 3 days, and I grew once a Sobralia, the bloom lasted barely one day.

As Ursula says, they vary a lot. I think most of the Phals you see in the shops here should last 6-8 weeks, though often will last up to 3 months. Cymbidiums (the other common genus here in Melbourne) will typically last around 2 months, depending on the hybrid makeup (the shortest-lived flowers on a Cymbidium species that I know of only last 10 days).

It will also depend on temps. Cool weather tends to make the blooms last longer than they would in hot conditions.

Boy, we do have a lot of good orchid people here, they are so smart.
I wish I could offer my own opinion and shed some new light on the current topic, but I can't!
You have gotten some great advice Eveth, happy growing

As Ursula says that plant looks very healthy, the roots do as well. Remember if the media looks even a bit wet as in the picture of you holding the plant (in the morning especially) do not water until it's pretty dry.
Unless it's very hot or extremely dry and breezy where you have the plant I can't imagine it needing water more than once every week or two. Read the culture sheets here http://www.aos.org/orchids/cul...

Oh, with regard to fertilizer, most orchids are not heavy feeders.
Cymbidiums, Catasetinae and Vandas are some that like more fertilizer, but feeding them once a month on average should be enough.
Many researchers feel fertilizer may help with producing a few more flowers per spike but fertilizers in general do not cause many orchids to bloom. If the orchid is not getting the proper water, the correct light, you can fertilize until the proverbial cows come home and they won't bloom!

Everth we all have varying growing environments. but typically Phals in my area, it is just all leaves during the peak of summer. Actually I have to run our ceiling fan after watering to simulate more air around it. You are in heat wave conditions, so just try your best to keep it in comfortably cool location indoors, no direct sun. Your plant looks quite okay to me as well. It will wait for Fall's cool down to do flower spikes. When my Phals are in bloom it can last from 3 to 6 months. I may allow it to rebloom in its old spike if the spike is still fresh and green, but if it starts to dry off, I just let it do so. It also needs to rest.

Orchids go less is more when it comes to fertilizers. So do not overfertilize to avoid root burn. I am often lazy about it, but if I do remember I usually do it while it is not in bloom, and only if I see it starting to do new leaves or roots. I am more concerned to keep the roots healthy and let it grow newer leaves.

Right @tarev, grow good roots and you will have blooms.

I received this from a spring trade.



The bottom roots are shiveling and the root tips of several are shriveled. Need more watering?
What should I do to keep it happy?

Pot is too large.
Media pieces are too large. Water retention is much too little. The plant is salvageable but in a three inch pot and in a mix of smaller particle size like 1/8" -1/4".
This smaller pieces mix will hold more moisture longer allowing the plant to grow new roots and recover.
Plus cut off the bottom 2" or so ofbthe main stem and treat with cinnamon. Get those live roots on the stem branch into the smaller media.

I agree with BigBill, consider repotting, especially if you just got it from someone else. You need to make sure you get it in a proper mix and size pot that is suitable for the orchid. Plus repotting will give you a chance to cut off all the rotten growth that you don't need. Always watch out for over watering. Most orchids need water only once a week. If the roots look dark green and wet, they don't need it. Part of the reason I always prefer a clear pot so I can see the roots.