Dtps Kenneth Schubert. . . help - Orchid Board

quietmorning · #1 08-22-2009, 12:01 AM

I purchased a Dtps Kenneth Schubert and a Equestris several weeks ago. The Equestris is doing fine - actually started blooming yesterday! Roots are good, leaves are good.

On the other hand, I think I'm going to lose my Kenneth Schubert. The leaves are wrinkled and dry looking. I pulled it out of the pot early this morning, the roots were brittle and dry. I've been watering this one almost every day because when I put my finger into the mix it's bone dry.

I water the Equestris and my other Noid Compact Phal every other day. They are both doing great. I test the soil each time I water to keep from over watering.

Do Kenneth Schuberts need more water than Phals? Should I be misting it?

The room stays at about 78 - 81 degrees F and about 55 to 61% humidity. The water under their trays disappears over night, I refill every morning. They are currently sitting at a three foot distance from a North Window. . .they were on a table by a West window with heavily filtered sun. They were thriving there - but my new Phal seemed a little sun sensitive there, so I moved them all.

Currently this is the only orchid I'm having trouble with. I'd really like to save it, but I think it might be too late, there wasn't much healthy root left. I repotted it this morning and put it on the other side of the room (away from the windows) where it could rest from being repotted.

If this one dies, I WILL be purchasing another one, if I can find one. . .but I want to know what I'm doing wrong first. Any suggestions, I'd appreciate it.

There is a fan in the room - set on low - the breeze in the room is not heavy - I can just barely feel it when I put my hand infront of the orchids. There is an air conditioner that does not blow on the orchids at all - it is also set at very low just to keep the room from climbing past 85 degrees.

Thanks!

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #2 08-22-2009, 01:38 AM

Did you check the roots visually upon arrival?

stefpix · #3 08-22-2009, 02:56 AM

read many people have been succesful with water culture. stick it in a vase with water. make sure the water level is nbelow the crown. do a search on this site -

Just bought a closeout phal NOID at Lowes for 1$ and I am experimenting water culture
stefano

orchidsamore · #4 08-22-2009, 06:16 AM

You are not doing anything wrong but the dealer who sold it treated it badly.

You do not have any good roots to bring water into the plant. Even though you are watering every day the plant is starving for water.

This may sound funny but I would reduce the watering. Since the plant can not use the water, it will only cause rot to destroy the plant.

Remove the bad roots and clip the Phal to the top of the pot medium and hope for new roots.

Commercially these go in the burn pile but there is a chance of it growing new roots if you do not mine the time to nurse it.

Chances of saving it are not good but possible.

Remember you did not do anything wrong. Somewhere it went dry for weeks and all the roots dried. I hate when I see these not so much for one dead plant but the invalid guilt a beginner feels thinking they killed a plant that had no chance of surviving when it was sold.

Best advice find a better grower from whom to buy.

stefpix · #5 08-22-2009, 08:12 AM

I would try water culture. some people had a lot of success in having their rootless orchids grow new roots.
seems more straightforward than other methods -just phals have to be slightly above the water level

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...culture-2.html

quietmorning · #6 08-22-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Did you check the roots visually upon arrival?

I did.. .the roots did not turn green when I watered put it under the water like my equestris did. . .it looked like a completely different type of plant - heh - I even asked if this was REALLY a Kenneth Schubert - because the leaves didn't look 'phalish'. Out of my newbieness, I thought - well, maybe they aren't supposed to with this kind of orchid. I guess I know better now, huh?

quietmorning · #7 08-22-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefpix

read many people have been succesful with water culture. stick it in a vase with water. make sure the water level is nbelow the crown. do a search on this site -

Just bought a closeout phal NOID at Lowes for 1$ and I am experimenting water culture
stefano

I will research water culture. . .I think I saw a technique her on rerooting orchids - I may try that first.

quietmorning · #8 08-22-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orchidsamore

You are not doing anything wrong but the dealer who sold it treated it badly.

You do not have any good roots to bring water into the plant. Even though you are watering every day the plant is starving for water.

This may sound funny but I would reduce the watering. Since the plant can not use the water, it will only cause rot to destroy the plant.

Remove the bad roots and clip the Phal to the top of the pot medium and hope for new roots.

Commercially these go in the burn pile but there is a chance of it growing new roots if you do not mine the time to nurse it.

Chances of saving it are not good but possible.

Remember you did not do anything wrong. Somewhere it went dry for weeks and all the roots dried. I hate when I see these not so much for one dead plant but the invalid guilt a beginner feels thinking they killed a plant that had no chance of surviving when it was sold.

Best advice find a better grower from whom to buy.

Thank you!! I won't go back to this vender again. .. heh, and I'll start my hunt for another Kenneth Schubert while I'm waiting for find out whether this one will make it or not. It seems that not many people sell this orchid.. . so there might be some patience involved, any way.

Bleh. Well. I'll see what I can do for the one I have. I'd hate to lose it.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #9 08-22-2009, 11:54 AM

Doritaenopsis don't look any different from a Phalaenopsis hybrid vegetatively. It's indistinguishable out of bloom.

Doritaenopsis = Doritis x Phalaenopsis

Yes, this was the vendor selling a bad plant. You don't have to stop going there, just stop making rookie mistakes. They might try to sell you bad stuff hoping to clear their shelves and make money, but you also have the power to say yes or no.

There's always the return policy (unless all sales are final).

Can you post a picture of this Dtps Kenneth Schubert in which you question it's validity? Where'd you get it from?

quiltergal · #10 08-22-2009, 12:06 PM

Like everyone else said, it sounds like it never had a chance from the start. I would contact the vendor and let them know. It might be too late for that if you've had it awhile. At least let them know that the roots were dried up when it was received. You might be surprised. They may send a replacement. If they don't here is a link to Hauserman's. They seem to always have this one. I would recommend repotting ASAP as their medium is usually old and funky. I've never had a problem with any of their plants though.

Dtps. Kenneth Schubert 'Blue Star': Orchids By Hausermann