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7146 members, 153551 posts, 341 blogs
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playtime8978
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 18 Jul 2008
Location: blackpool england
Posts: 471
PlantStew: 10 |
| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:00 pm Post subject: sad orchid |
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This was sitting in the store with a reduced sticker on him looking very sad among all the other healthier plants so he had to come along home with me, I have wanted to grow orchids for many years but never plucked up the courage if I can keep this little sick boy alive I am sure I can do it and with the help of everyone here, his leaves are looking rather sick so I dont know what my chances are and i would like some advice as to whether i should take the leaf off on the bottom left as you look at it in picture as it appears to be mildewy all the leaves have brownish areas but i can hope and its good practice to see if I am fit to start a collection of them
well here he is
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There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling. ~Mirabel Osler
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Tina
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 07 Feb 2007
Location: Seattle,WA
Posts: 376
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| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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He is a beauty - even with his sick leaves. Hope he does well!
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
 Forum Moderator
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Location: Scotland (Map)
Posts: 14179
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| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:47 pm Post subject: |
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Oh nice - very nice!! I've managed to murder more orchids than I've had success with so I'd better not offer any advice.  I hope someone can help you to make your 'sick boy' well again.
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Droopy
Slug Slaughterer
Regular Plantstew Contributor (over 1000 edits)
Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Location: Western Norway (Map)
Posts: 7163
PlantStew: 10067 |
| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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Lovely orchid, congratulations! It looks like it's either got a fungus attack or has had too much water. If that was my orchid, I'd remove the very sick leaf and try to find out what kind of disease it has.
Phalaenopsis orchids are easy to grow. No direct sunlight, a bit of water during winter, a bit of fertilizer with the water during the growing season, and that's it.
You know when it's beginning to grow because the tips of the white roots will turn green.
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The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
-Bertrand Russell
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stratsmom
Flower Fanatic
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Location: Southern Oregon (Map)
Posts: 1487
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| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:40 pm Post subject: |
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He is a handsome fellow  I've never grown orchids before. I'm too scared, they seem way too fragile  I'm sure someone here knows exactly what to do and can give you good advice. 
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playtime8978
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 18 Jul 2008
Location: blackpool england
Posts: 471
PlantStew: 10 |
| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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thank you, I will remove the leaf before bed looking at it and after feeling the moss I believe it is likely it has had too much water at the store, I will let it settle for a while and as it seems to have green tips right now I will feed it when it is ready for water as I already have some orchid fertiliser that was on its way to my mom for the one I bought her a while ago.
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There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling. ~Mirabel Osler
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Gardengirl
Knows Their Stuff
Joined: 25 Sep 2008
Location: Hertfordshire,UK
Posts: 839
PlantStew: 177 |
| Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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That's a beauty playtime. I do hope you manage to save it. Like Eileen, I have had no success whatsoever with orchids so I leave well alone now to save murdering any more. Let us know how you get on and maybe give us some tips on how to keep them 
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Whenever I feel low I head for the garden.
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playtime8978
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 18 Jul 2008
Location: blackpool england
Posts: 471
PlantStew: 10 |
| Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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So far the two unopened flower buds have dropped off but I think that is my own fault for having it by my windowsill on here which is rather cold, I think the cold killed the buds but the two open flowers are looking good and he is now in a warmer position apparently phalaenopsis ( correct my spelling lol) like a drop of 10-15f at night but my windowsill was bordering 15c in the day which is its preffered minimum, I am holding off watering for a week or so and then i will give it a feed apparently you need to prewater then feed and let the water drain off before putting it back into its outer pot. I am going to a garden center tomorrow so i might try and obtain another I am hooked already, I have a lot to learn but boy are they beautiful.
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There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling. ~Mirabel Osler
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Droopy
Slug Slaughterer
Regular Plantstew Contributor (over 1000 edits)
Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Location: Western Norway (Map)
Posts: 7163
PlantStew: 10067 |
| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:55 am Post subject: |
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Orchids are a good addiction, playtime.
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The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
-Bertrand Russell
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olma156
Just Arrived
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
Location: Athens-Greece
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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playtime 8978,
most people think that orchids specially Phal are sensitive plants, that's wrong, are very strong if you follow some rules.
1.Check the soil if it is turf, change the soil to pine bark.
2.At winter, water every 7-10 days with water that you left for a day in the same room, after half hour strain the outer pot.
Watering must be made only at morning.
3.Next day fertilize your orchid with an 20-20-20 water soluble fertilizer at the half of the suggested doze.
4.Never let your orchid next to windows at night and at cold days when the temp. gowing down of 10c but in the middle of your room, only at sunny days next to window.
5.Clean the leaves with a cotton moist with alcohol 95o surgical spirit(both sides).
Follow the above mentioned and you will see the difference.
Good luck
John
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gardengater
Highly Skillful
Joined: 30 May 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 1566
PlantStew: 28 |
| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome Olma from coastal North Carolina and thank you for the advice on orchids. How long do Phals keep their blooms normally and how often do they bloom? I also am a novice orchid grower.
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playtime8978
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 18 Jul 2008
Location: blackpool england
Posts: 471
PlantStew: 10 |
| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you so much for the advice olma that was very very helpful I am wondering if you could diagnose what is worng with mine if i can get a good picture of the leaves as the areas that were damaged are getting darker I am fearing my little soul will not survive, I believe if you dip a flower stem into sulphur and put into a test tube with cotton wool it can root Have you heard of this and is it succesful?
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There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling. ~Mirabel Osler
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olma156
Just Arrived
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
Location: Athens-Greece
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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Hi all,
first I must to declare that I am not an orchid expert.
I have only one year experience but I am looking very close my orchid plants and I follow the advice of a small but very active Greek plant forum with a member very expert on orchids.
Till now all my Phal thrive and growing very well and are in the second round of flowering.
So, I can answer to your questions according to my till now experience.
Gardengater,
my orchids keep their blooms for about 2 and more months, they bloom every 6 months and I fertilize (at half of suggested doze) them every time a day after watering.
Now, (its winter in Greece), I watering them every 7-10 days, at summer I watering evry 4-5 days.
playtime8978,
yes, please take a good closely picture of the leaves and I will pass to our orchid expert of our forum with your question about " dip a flower stem into sulphur " and I will inform you.
Also inform me in what type of soil is your orchid, if you can't name it, take a picture, is very important to be pine bark (is small pieces of wood) without any other as turf etc
John
olma156@yahoo.gr
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gardengater
Highly Skillful
Joined: 30 May 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 1566
PlantStew: 28 |
| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for your gracious replies, Olma156. Perhaps you could get your friend to join our "stew" too. We'd love an orchid expert on hand. Your tips will help us a lot.
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playtime8978
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 18 Jul 2008
Location: blackpool england
Posts: 471
PlantStew: 10 |
| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you Olma I have sent you an email with the pictures of the leaves and the crown hopefully you will be able to shed some light on the issue I suspected over watering hence crown rot but the actual crown appears healthy it is the leaves that are not the patches across the leaves are getting darker by the hour it seems and I think it might need some water but I am reluctant to do so until I know what is wrong with him.
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There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling. ~Mirabel Osler
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