Worrying orchids to death
 

When I first started collecting orchids I would react to any imperfection, and sometimes simple worry, by taking action. A spot on a leaf - grab the Thiomyl. A dead or dying root - time for a Banrot drench. A couple scale insects or mealy bugs, spray the entire collection with malathion weekly for two or three weeks.

And then there are preventative measures such as root drench with Physan 20 or hydrogen peroxide. Maybe the media is no good or maybe the wrong kind. Time to repot again. Oh, no, what if it is too much...no make that too little fertilizer. But what, if it is the wrong fertilizer?

Some remedies such as too much misting, over-watering, under-watering, humidity too high, and applying chemicals often cause blemishes, or can even kill the plant.

Finally, there is the ultimate preventative. If that blemish could be something serious, it is imperative to cut it off.

I'm thankful that I knew so little about viruses, or I might have ended up needing therapy.

Unlike a philodendron, which can be grown blemish free, it is common for orchids to have harmless blemishes. The new collector sets out to glean all orchid knowledge from the internet; med school student syndrome sets in. Their orchids may have just about everything they read about. Something must be done!

How do we keep forum visitors from worrying their plants to death?

-Keith

Block YouTube from their computers.

Seriously, I have no idea. I have no idea why people think orchids can tolerate treatment they would never consider for a tomato plant or a maple tree.

Excellent post. I often find my self reading posts about possible ailments that seem to me to be nothing much. My reaction is usually not posted, but to myself I'll say something like, "Relax! You're worrying too much." Stressing over every little blemish or bug spotted on your plant is just that- stressing. Orchids are tough, mostly. They get bit and bumped, a little too much/not enough sun, etc. and come out fine. They grow slowly and, like Roberta says, teach patience. So, to the new growers, relax. Let them be. If something looks odd, ask. But don't stress out. Enjoy the hobby. Don't be controlled by it. Everything will be alright.

---------- Post added at 10:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:50 PM ----------

Maybe the powers that be can make the op a sticky in the beginner section?

Yes, and ask before taking it out of the pot. I believe a fair number of the root problems people come here with are caused by unpotting/repotting the orchid to be sure the roots are okay or change to a "better" media.

-Keith

This thread should be mandatory reading for every newcomer to the wonderful world of orchids.

Yes, I see more plants killed than I like to think about because a grower changes conditions multiple times in quick succession due to an overreaction of a minor issue. I think it just takes experience to understand what is worth worrying about vs. what isn't.

This reminds me of having kids. Every cough or bruise on your first born is a big deal. Then you don't bat an eye for similar issues with your second born because you have a better understanding of what is actually worth worrying about. I think the same thing applies to orchids.

Great analogy. Thankfully orchids can't get Covid. If they could, things could get really crazy.

I forgot one of the worst. When in doubt, cut it out. If one cuts off every damaged root back to good tissue a healthy orchid with a minor problem can wind up on life support.
-Keith

---------- Post added at 08:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:51 AM ----------

E.s., a lot of people would get their lives back if we just turned off the internet. That's not a serious idea, but sadly it's true.
Actually, the question was about what we can do.

I believe it would make a difference if we asked a lot more questions before making recommendations: "What have you done already?", "How's your water quality?", "How new is the potting media?", or even "What is the potting media?" Another would be to mention both pros and cons to the course of action. We could also emphasize the importance of not doing too much and overreaction. More diagnostic measures could also be suggested.

-Keith

I think there is merit to what ES said about youtube. Warning newcomers to the variety of conflicting information across the web and directing them to the wealth of successful growers right here could go a long way in saving them so much stress. I stay away from youtube most of the time, and when I do view an orchid video it is usually by one of our own. When it isn't, I find myself shaking my head at the bad advice.

It's all about pathways. There are various possible paths and approaches that people take when learning something ----- and various different situations and starting points for the various orchid growers out there. Some start by getting an orchid gift. Some start in other ways. So ----- it all depends on situation.

Not every grower will be like ourselves, where we might read a heap of orchid growing books, and learn various techniques, and purchase equipment and orchid-care items in advance. And not every grower will know how to treat a particular issue effectively or efficiently.

But in the end ----- maybe, like a lot of us ----- after spending enough time and effort and gaining enough experience through whatever means we can ------- things can come 'good' ----- or good for relatively long periods of time.

I agree with this. MissOrchidGirl does some good, but she also draws conclusions based in incomplete or misleading information she presents as fact. An example is that nonsense about keikis "sucking the life out of the mother plant". JustAddIceOrchids is another online disaster! I gave an orchid to a friend who ignored my watering advice and killed the roots with ice.

-Keith

---------- Post added at 12:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:07 PM ----------

I completely agree, SP, but this thread asks what we can do to improve the situation. Initially I though there isn't much we can do, but after some thought I think there is a lot we can do. The example of our approach to a problem, that is modeling the correct approach, could go a long way.


-Keith

Keith --- I agree ----- in that --- there is not much we can do - except to do our best. Not everybody goes online to orchid forums, and not everybody has all the information, or knows experienced orchid growers.

But - I guess, the old saying goes ------ we can only do our best. This particular orchid forum does have a sticky - such as the phalaenopsis one, that can help anybody that visits this particular forum.

Another sticky could just contain a general set of rule of thumb - including finding out as much about growing orchids, or particular orchids as possible prior to growing one (if possible). And rules of thumb about orchid roots requiring enough oxygen - so avoid drowning. And also about benefits of gentle air-circulation to avoid mold/fungus on leaves, stem etc. Avoiding crown rot. Adequate light. Suitable temperature range. Adequate humidity. Fertilising and mag-cal scheduling. Equipment, media, items to have on hand - including treatments for fungus/pests etc.

A little can certainly lead to a lot of information. But it should be possible to have some general rule of thumb points ----- and then anybody can branch off and develop from there.

Adding to "Orchids teach patience" (my mantra) I also am delighted to quote the brilliant Bulbophyllum (among many other things) grower Bill Thoms, who advocates for your "Hidden secret power, the Power of Observation, or POO" Exercise your POO! Orchid growing benefits from your POO! :biggrin:

People also need to remember an orchid, its medium, its surroundings and its container are an ecosystem. There are going to be harmless fungi and bugs in there. If people can't handle that they need another hobby. I wish these germ phobes could look at their surroundings with a microscope.

I see this all the time with people who want a pond. They freak out when a little algae grows on the walls. A pond is not a bath tub and not a washing machine. Ponds have algae, microorganisms and insects along with the fish people put into them. A pond with completely transparent water is called a chlorinated swimming pool.

I fully agree. The only way I'm really going to take another grower seriously, YouTuber or otherwise, is if I have a clear view of their collection and it is consistently in excellent condition, or close to it.

I guess that is the benefit of people sharing videos and photos on the various social media platforms. A discerning viewer, newbie or not, should be able to figure out who actually knows what they are talking about. As I heard Roger Frampton say in one of his videos, "The proof is in the pudding."

Ed's Orchids for example, his Paphs and Phrags are immaculate. Beautifully grown, some of the best I'd ever seen. The second I saw his collection, I started taking notes.

Maybe OrchidBoard members could create and maintain a current and curated list of growers on social media who have the OB seal of approval.

as beginners i would offer that we obsess too much, but there are a couple reasons why i think this is so. (for the record, i personally worry and obsess, but the better half is super relaxed about them and you wouldn’t even know she cared sometimes...she has a good balance about most things!)

1. orchids can be expensive and, unless you buy at a grocery store, some effort must be put into acquiring them. thus, i want them to perform their best and of course not die straight away or linger on for months not doing anything at all. i personally don’t care about any old houseplant we get at the corner plant store. if it dies i only paid a couple euro for it and i can go get another one.

2. the flowers are beautiful and unique (obvs), which is why most of us get into growing them. often we may get a tease when we buy one already in flower and so want to see them again. in my head i equate it to investing. thru this year we have put a lot of time, money, research, and effort into investing in our phals to get the most bang for our buck thru winter and into next summer (and hopefully beyond). the difference is with stocks and stuff, you get quarterly earnings statements and can see how you are doing....with paphs you just gotta wait and see and hope you did things right. i obsess over the leaf and root development and bug signs as sort of my quarterly statements on my investment.

3. plants in general (and also other organisms) have a way of trapping the human brain. i have gone thru this for years with different groups of plants. i can’t help it, it is truly an obsession. plus, they are right there in your living room and looking over them for me is a sort of meditation, in much the same way i approach my bonsai trees. i feel i get something from them energy wise when i spend time on them. and the psychedelic side of me says the plants get something too!! :lol:

so anyways, as always i really hope my posts don’t come across as hegemonic or anything, i just try to put out a beginners perspective when i feel i have something to contribute!

reedit cause i forgot my main thought, and that was for sure the plants do better when i am forced to stop worrying and obsessing over them! that’s why my girl and i make such a great team cause she can just sit there and tell me to chill out! :rofl:

Also .... among the best we can do ..... can be to put into the sticky .... a notice that encourages some orchid growers to discuss the situation before doing something possibly 'drastic'.

I would be very surprised if it were not the case that every last one of the experienced collectors posting here recognized at least some part of the OP as something they lived through themselves. :biggrin:

...and from time to time probably still do.

-Keith

...and from time to time probably still do.

Especially when one of my plants is struggling!

While that might be true - the situation or circumstances aren't always straight forward. Because the conditions and challenges are different through the world, and depends on where people live - country, city, and their resource - what equipment and accessories they can get, and have access to. Budget, environment. Lots of things.

Some people even assume that everybody has mobile phones, and internet, and unlimited internet access ---- in order to gather information about orchid growing, and other things.

So for those people that don't use the internet that much, or at all, and don't visit orchid forums etc ------ then ----- we're back to the beginning again. There's nothing much that can be done - except to just do what we can ----- such as have a sticky in this forum --- so that if newcomers just so-happen to visit this forum, then they can read the sticky - and start from there.

The information taught there, and in this forum, and orchid books, and other places such as nursery guidance, and orchid club/society guidance etc ----- will certainly spread and propagate out. How fast or slow --- doesn't necessarily matter. But ----- it will. Many people will benefit one way or another.

I forgot to mention - that I totally disagree with those people that reckon that it's necessary to kill LOTS of orchids (eg in the hundreds or thousands etc) during their 'learning' or gaining experience phase. It absolutely is not 'necessary' to do that in order to become pretty good at growing regular phalaenopsis or cattleya sorts of orchids - provided that the environment in the particular part of the world is suitable for that sort of orchid.

And - also - one orchid grower and another one may have various different approaches and resources (for learning) ---- and different abilities in terms of applying what has been learned, and decision making processes etc.

So - after doing what we can to help others ----- it then becomes up to individual growers to do what they can. So overall - that's all we can do. That is all there is to it.

There are definitely a lot more chemicals in the USA that you can blitz your orchids with than in Europe. Maybe if there weren't so many readily available then you would learn to live with the spots and blemishes.

Of course there is a lot of good information on social media. isurus79 and My Green Pets provide great information. The problem is beginners may have trouble distinguishing good from useless.

Remember "free" content is paid by advertising. Content providers do everything they can to keep people watching so more advertising can be sold so the provider can get paid more. This means excitement, drama, fear, low-cut cleavage dresses and tight yoga pants, well-muscled shirtless hunks and breathless craziness.

All the news and programming (how about that word?) you see on TV or your screen is no more than advertising and propaganda.

One way I judge media is whether it is presented in a dramatic manner. If so I turn it off instantly. Except the talking dog videos.

I consider myself most fortunate! My very first internet search on orchids brought me to OB and specifically to 'phal abuse stops here'. By the time I had read every post in that thread, and asked a few questions, I had a support system in place with all the friendly and helpful people here!
Hubby doesn't talk plants and I have no local friends who are into orchids (or really have any idea about gardening) so OB is my daily dose of sanity. Thank you all :bowing

Having been around houseplants all my life and collecting them since I was small, imperfections in plants have never bothered me too much. Nor do the things I cannot control like all the orchids I lost due to the kids and dog. I do regret the orchids I lost due to Calcium deficiency and putting the orchids too close to the fluorescent lights that first year....growing plants is an endless experiment for me and I do tend to learn though my mistakes.

Don't we ALL learn that way? :blushing:

Absolutely - the history of technology (where lives/life matters) has often been about learning from mistakes. And it also depends on approach ------- as in - if some people have access to adequate information - accumulated information, knowledge/techniques ----- then there's the possibility of progressing (if there is enough information) with the other aim of minimising mistakes (if we can) ------- or even try to avoid mistakes -----where and whenever we can that is.