Orchid help.....Phaleaneopis

[dwnloom]

I need help.....My poor orchid isnt doing very well. I have never had one before. It has two stalks that are blooming. One stalk is very sturdy and healthy looking. The other stalk still has the blooms on it, but it has drooped and just looks sad. The leaves are a medium green with no brown spots. I brought it to work today....hoping that the office light will help it. Also, the instruction tag says to water with ice. I read on line, it doesnt like cold water. How much and what kind of water should I use? I am hoping its not to late to save my plant.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Dawn

[OOwl]

I keep orchids but not in a greenhouse or anything. The big thing with orchids is NOT to overwater them. They aren't like house-plants that require frequent watering. Phals are EASY orchids to grow indoors (mine grow best in an east kitchen window; they like the humidity from the sink and the sun is just right for them). I literally do NOT water them all week, then soak them, clay pots fully submerged, in a sink of room-temp water once a week (sometimes add orchid fertilizer to the water) for a couple of hours. Make sure the orchids roots are well ventilated, such as in the orchid pots with the holes all around (if you got that as a gift, it might not be in an orchid pot). For those that don't know, most orchids don't grow in garden soil but with their roots wrapped around bark and/or moss. I think your orchid will probably be just fine. They are most ordinary looking "plants" when not in bloom but well worth the care until they bloom again. Good luck.

[krbshappy71]

I don't have orchids but thought this article would help:

Orchid Care - Phalaenopsis

One thing I do know about plants is not to use bottled water, ever. Don't dump the last of your bottled water sips into it, it can kill it. Plants need the minerals that are in our regular tap water.

Also, many people over water their plants.

Office light isn't the same as natural light. Even when it says indirect light it means indirect SUNlight.

A friend of mine that has orchids says she sets the entire pot in a bowl of water for a soak, just a few minutes, and that is IT. Every week she does this. Hers are doing great, I hope that helps. I haven't gotten in on the "orchid kick" because I've heard once you start they can be very addictive with the bazillion of varieties out there available, like potato chips you can't have just one. HA!!

[frugalfranny]

Yeow..........I would say NO ICE.

If you have chemicals in your water, fill a container and let it sit for a couple days......unless you want to use distilled. Then it will be at room temp. anyway.

I just let a container sit......then water mine until it runs through....then run it through again. I have mine in a south facing window.......only have two, but one bloomed for the second year and I think the other is big enough now it should bloom next year.

You can buy orchid bark at Lowe's or HD.......and it has worked with mine.