Help! new phalaenopsis doing strange things

[hrothgar]

Always wanted to grow orchids, bought one for my girlfriend for valentines day this year and I'm doing most of the work, what I secretly wanted anyway. . .

So, I picked up a small Phalaenopsis at a local greenhouse, I was told they were well cared for, disease free and probably blooming for the first time.

Everything was great for about two months, I had two flower spikes with lots of healthy blooms.

Then the flowers fell off, I cut the first empty spike about an inch from the base of the plant. Then, as I was about to clip the second spike I noticed new blooms forming, so I let the blooms run their course, but they all wilted and fell off within a few days of opening, the dead blooms had some black discoloration on the back of the petals at the base and tips. I clipped the second spike, also about an inch from the base.

In the mean time, what I thought was a new flower spike has developed into a keiki, I'm told this means my plant is in crisis, and believes its going to die.

Everything was going so well, now I have a suicidal orchid, where did I wrong?

Care was and still is as follows: water about once a week with lukewarm tap water, and leave it in a window with north-eastern exposure with the blinds half drawn.

Leaves are green and show no yellowing, though compared to some I've seen, they seem very dark, one or two look a bit "wrinkled." The keiki looks very healthy though. . .

It’s in a clear plastic pot, and the roots I can see look healthy and are bright green.

There is some white discoloration on the medium (moss), and I had planned to re-pot in a clay "orchid pot" from home depot with a bark mixture. Should I use the clay pot or stick with something clear (I've heard clear is better for the plant)?

What should I do? What’s wrong with my plant?

Any input would be appreciated, I'll try to find a way to post some pictures. Sorry this post is so long, I didn't want to leave anything out.

[Call_Me_Bob]

a clear pot would be easier to tell how the roots are doing.

keikis dont always mean that the plant is distressed.

i would repot

pictures would help

welcome to orchid board by the way

[johnblagg]

Welcome to Ob and dont panic ...I second what help said a keiki does not mean the plant is going to die they also make them if very healthy just to reproduce also....a baby plant on a stem that holds it away from where the original is just a good way to travel for a plant

[Gin]

Nothing is wrong if the roots look good some will just do that, it is a basal keiki if coming from the base of the plant. I would re pot in a clear pot . I have one with 3 big basal keikies it blooms on all of them .. all sounds well

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board!

Clear pots are easier. If you DO want to go for a clay pot make sure it has holes in the bottom. The pots sold as 'Orchid Pots' here in the UK are actually 'cover pots' for an inner plastic one and should NOT be planted in directly. Basically if it has no holes DO NOT use it to plant in directly.

I agree with everyone else that while keikis are produced as a survival mechanism, healthy plants can also produce them.

If the leaves are very dark you MAY need to give it a bit more light. Phals like quite bright light, just not direct. I have mine in an easten window behind a sheer curtain and they love it there. If you DO increase the light do it steadily over several weeks or you may risk burning.

Repotting with fresh moss (or bark) is a good idea. Moss breakes down very quickly and can also hold water too long, if you are happy growing in moss then you can replace it with fresh. Many people here prefer orchid bark though as it dires quicker and you have less risk of root rot (although you still have to be careful) others get on really well with bark. There are lots of discussions here about choice of medium so it's best to read up before you decide what is best for you.

[hrothgar]

Thanks for all the quick replies, I'll re-pot, transition to more light, and relax!

just a few quick questions:

Any reliable warning signs i should be aware of?

Is it best to trim damaged leaves or let them be?

When watering, should i ovoid placing watering the leaves?

Should I add a an orchid food or fertilizer to my watering?

[butterfly79]

There is a really good video on repotme.com showing how to repot the orchid. Remember to choose a good media to repot it in.

Don't forget to cut off any dead/dying roots before repotting.

Always sterilize your utensils with alcohol.

Most of us fertilize when watering. Most do a weak weekly fertilization and on the fourth week just clear water to remove any buildup.

firstrays.com has a lot of helpful info on orchid growing.

[Call_Me_Bob]

go to repotme.com and watch the video as butterfly has recommended.

i wouldnt vut the leaves.

dont get water on the leaves if you can help it. if water does get into the crown, put your lips real close to the crown, and blow all the water out.

good luck!

[hrothgar]

OK, so I re-potted a few weeks ago and started watering with an orchid food once a week.

My original potting mix was a packed moss, I re-potted into clay pot with slits up the sides using a bark-moss (mainly bark) mixture, I did find several bad roots which I trimmed off, I also trimmed off a damaged leaf that was holding on by a thread.

The plant seemed to be doing well, but now one of my lowest leaves has started turning yellow (didnt notice this before my last watering) also, my old trimmed flower spike (directly adjacent to the yellow leaf) has turned brown.

I was about to post to ask how often I should be watering with my new potting mix, but this has got me worried, any clue whats going on? any help is appreciated!!!

[mattryan]

Hello...i'm pretty new to this , but a good way to tell when to water is get yourself some bamboo skewers put them in with the orchid leave in when u feel that it's time to water pull it out and check it if it wet or cool to touch don't water if it dry water. Phals loose there bottom leaves so if roots seem ok i wouldn't worry too much. good luck