Orchid growers!

[nachoqtpie]

So, we went to the commissary yesterday and Sam decided he needed to use the restroom. Low and behold, there were a bunch of bamboo and orchids on sale. (The bamboo had a Happy Fathers Day plastic tag attached... LOL) The orchids looked pretty sad. A few had some dying flowers on them, some looked like they were about dead, and the one that I picked has a flower stem but no flowers. I'm pretty sure that all the flowers have fallen off.

Anyways! Here are a couple pictures of my sad looking lil orchid

Should I cut off the flower stalk? There are actually two plants in this pot. Should I repot the smaller one into it's own pot? I wish I knew what color its flowers are! I now want to go get another..... what have I done?!?! LOL

 

[lesa]

Good luck with it! That should bounce back fine. I wouldn't cut off the stem, until it dries out. I have seen them rebud on the old stem...I don't think you have to separate the plants- but I would get them out of the plastic cup. Keep us posted!!

 

[nachoqtpie]

What should I plant them in? It's planted in a clear plastic container with drain holes, which is then set inside the blue outer sleeve. When I pulled it out of the sleeve it looked like it has some bark and moss in the pot but it was fairly wet in there.

I don't really know anything about orchids... other than they're gorgeous when they flower and hubby bought me one.. heheh

 

[lesa]

You don't use dirt for orchids. That bark material is correct. I would just take the whole thing and get into a clay/ceramic pot...They don't want to sit in water.

 

[nachoqtpie]

Okay. I'll see if I can't pick up a pot and some orchid mix to repot it in.

 

[vfem]

I've had good luck with my orchid for a couple of years, I just kept a sprayer with water and would just mist it. They like the moisture, but hate to be damp. So bark mulch is fine... I put mine in a plastic plant container with lots of holes from an old plant from a nursery and then dropped that into a larger porcelain pot with no holes and kept in where it got filtered sun.

Sadly, these fuzzy white bugs got it last winter and it ended up not surviving!

 

[nachoqtpie]

Well... I'm hoping to be able to get it to bloom.

Should I simply just mist it a couple times a day and not water it, or should I mist AND water?

I put some books on hold from the library and did a lil research online... but sometimes they can be kinda vague...

 

[lesa]

My Mom has had really good luck with orchids. She has kept the same plants for years- and they always bloom. What she does, is soak the plant (bark) in the sink- let it drain- and ignore for weeks! Don't let them stand in water. I think you either have the right light for an orchid or you don't. Good luck!

 

[nachoqtpie]

oiy.... well I probably don't then...
It's sitting in a north/north east facing kitchen about 6 feet from a window. The only other real place to put it for it to get more exposure to not direct light is my desk... but it's not much better. :-/

 

[lesa]

Don't despair- I have wonderful light in my office - and grow all kinds of houseplants. But, the orchids don't like it! You may just have the perfect spot!!