Dear Orchid Doc:

My friend’s Phalaenopsis orchids are blooming but the leaves are withered. She has taken extra effort to water them properly like you said…when the potting medium is 3/4 dried.

But they have been withering ever since she increased the size of pots.

They are presently in bloom, but that is all that is good with them right now. Any ideas?

Marie

Dear Marie

I am getting the impression that she did not trim the roots when she changed the pots.

PLEASE NOTE: once you have disturbed the orchid, you must trim the roots before repotting,…and your plant will bounce back quickly.

Some people are afraid to cut the roots, but don’t be afraid. Once you have disturbed the plant, roots are like nails, they grow right back.

I am assuming that your friend did not do this, and that’s why the roots are rotting.

Please try to lift the orchid out of the pot, examine the roots, and you might find that they are beginning to rot. If so, please cut them off, and plant the orchids in stone.

Dear Doc:

How long should I keep blooming dendrobiums and Phalaenopsis inside? I want to enjoy them outdoors too! Lol

Anna

The Phalaenopsis blooms actually last much longer in the cool, so if you can find a cool well-lit place indoors, they both should last much longer than outdoors. Remember to point the spike towards wherever the sunlight is coming from, or else your orchid buds will start to drop prematurely; in other words, too drastic a shift in temperature before the buds are mature will cause bud drop.

Betty Stephenson Ashley

Betty’s Landscaping, Farm Garden Supplies

161 Constant Spring Road,

Kingston 8, Jamaica .

Cell # 8763224585, 8700191

876-931-8804, 876-755-2204

Fax 876-931-8805

betty-may2@hotmail.com