Sedirea japonica - trade/cry for help - Orchid Board

alschiavo · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 12:47 AM

This is less a "trade" and more my 'chid's desperate cry for help! I was given a Sedirea japonica about 6 months ago as a gift. I am relatively new to growing orchids and I've come to the conclusion that I don't have what it takes to keep this plant happy. It is blooming size, I got it in spike and was able to bloom it, but it has ceased growing and every day I watch the roots get a little more dry. It is by no means a desperate case (yet!) but I'm hoping to get it out to someone who knows more about what they are doing before it becomes a sphag and bag!

I've got a couple pictures if you are seriously interested I will e-mail them to you.

Plant is blooming size, has 2 very small black spots on one of the leaves that have been there forever. Found 1 mealy bug on it months ago and cleaned it up - has been clean since then. 2 of the roots are still green at the tips (though not as actively growing as they once were). I'm not really looking for a "trade" per se, just someone who can treat this plant the way it should be treated. If you can tell me how to pack it up and send it to you its yours, (if you'd like to send an easy growing plant back in return that is up to you!)

if you think you may be interested drop me a PM.

thanks
~audrey~

PS I've tried to attach the picture to this post - I'm not very photo savvy and I use a Mac which tends to make things like this a little tough

as I said I can e-mail you pictures if you'd like

Becca · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 08:30 AM

Hi Audrey! Could you tell us more about your growing conditions? Maybe we could help you make it happy and you wouldn't have to give up such a lovely orchid!
What lighting is it getting? Humidity? Temperatures? Watering schedule along with fertalizer? What kind of water (City, RO, etc...), and any other info you could give us!

alschiavo · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 08:45 AM

Becca,

I'm growing in a south facing window in my bathroom, and I think I just can't keep the humidity high enough. The way this plant is positioned it gets mostly morning "full" (shaded through the window and screen plus some tree cover) sun and then lots of light in the afternoon but the sun doesn't shine on it. I soak it every other day (all of my plants are miniatures and seem to need a pretty frequent watering schedule) and mist it every morning but it always looks so dry! I water all my plants w/ tap water (which they don't seem to mind) and fertilize every couple weeks w/ a weak dilution of orchid fertilizer (don't remember which brand off the top of my head). temps range from mid 70s in the day in the summer to mid 50s in the winter at night. I've got pretty limited growing space and I'm not even sure if I cold fit a humidifier/grow lights in the area I've got the plants as it is a very small bathroom (my way of increasing humidity right now is running the shower! not really conventional but it works.)

My concern is that for 6 months I've been watching it slide slowly downhill - I think it's trying hard to adapt to conditions that fundamentally just aren't right for it.

Thanks for your reply (and your willingness to help)
~audrey~

Becca · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 09:48 AM

Hi again! Well I am hoping others will see what info you have given us and hopefully someone else will be able to help out, as I am no expert. I grow in an orchidarium....which makes life wonderful! I just ordered one of these yesterday so I need to look up exactly what it needs for care, but since it was in the running for the Project 4 Plant, I am sure it's care requirements are withing my range. I'll do some searching on here and see what I can find. Like I said, perhaps someone else on here will chime in later today, or offer to take it off of your hands!

Becca · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 09:49 AM

Check out this link I just found, maybe it will help!
Sedirea japonica

Becca · #6 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alschiavo

I soak it every other day (all of my plants are miniatures and seem to need a pretty frequent watering schedule) and mist it every morning but it always looks so dry! I water all my plants w/ tap water (which they don't seem to mind) and fertilize every couple weeks w/ a weak dilution of orchid fertilizer ......

Audrey,
Okay this is the last time I will post again until others pitchin...lol

But I was re-reading your reply and noticed that you stated you soak every other day and then noticed you have your plant potted in sphagnum moss....someone correct me if I am wrong....but that is way to much watering with moss....it takes a while for the moss below the surface to dry out and it will rot the roots! I have phals planted in moss and I only water them once a week! And I know you may thing that your plants don't mind your tap water, but ever since I switched from city water to RO water, a few of my more pickier 'chids have perked up! Anyways...I really just wanted to point out the watering issue....this may be a big part of the problem!

alschiavo · #7 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 01:33 PM

Becca,

it's not in sphag it's in bark at the moment. I was just making a joke that I wanted to find it a home before it needed to be put in sphagnum and in a baggie!

thanks for your all your help!
~audrey~

quiltergal · #8 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 02:42 PM

Audrey, this little guy should be grown like a Phal., lower light levels, and don't allow the root zone to be soggy. I think if you are soaking it every other day that's too much. I'd let it dry out, and then switch to a light weekly water. It won't need nearly as much water in the winter as it's not actively growing. You might be able to water every other week. One way to be sure is to stick a bamboo skewer or pencil down into the media before you water. If it comes out damp wait a couple of days before you water. You can grow this guy.

alschiavo · #9 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 07:15 PM

anybody? Surely there must be someone who is willing to give my poor plant a chance. Thanks so much for your post Terri. I appreciate your vote of confidence but here is my dirty little secret (shh don't tell anyone) I can't keep Phals alive to save my life!

Now I'm even more worried!!

~audrey~

Ross · #10 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alschiavo

anybody? Surely there must be someone who is willing to give my poor plant a chance. Thanks so much for your post Terri. I appreciate your vote of confidence but here is my dirty little secret (shh don't tell anyone) I can't keep Phals alive to save my life!

Now I'm even more worried!!

~audrey~

If you want to, send me a PM and I'll take him! I am pretty confident I can grow this guy. Wish you could - 'cause I'd much rather see this guy in your collection.