You are on the right track. The plant was $2 down from about $20 to get rid of it.

The spots are normal.

The only way you can increase humidity is to put the plant in a closed area or use a room humidifier. Anything around the pot/under the plant won't cut it.

Don't expect new roots until the next new growth starts to mature. The old roots may or may not work well after repotting so expect the plant to shrivel more or less. Don't worry the plant is made to do this, its not made to rot with over watering when you try to prevent it.

Even Montana should have humid nights in the spring, so try to get the plant into day temps up in the 80s during the growing season by putting it outside, unless it is a Miltoniopsis-pansy orchid which likes it cooler.

After watching growth cycles, especially root tip growth, I think that the combination of temperatures cool enough for people plus low humidity stall growth of most orchids. Humidity doesn't have to be constant, it can be high for half a day and really dry in the afternoons.

it's going to need more sunlight than that. definately. if you have a south window, put it there. west will work, i've bloomed mine in western sun, just watch for sunburn. honestly i don't know if they will bloom in an eastern. possibly. the spots are normal and are caused from cold water splasing on the plants, no worries there. whatever you do, put it right by the window. these plans can take, and LIKE a LOT of sun in order to bloom. oh and btw Lowes is great place to find discount orchids. i go into mine all the time and ask for discounts on the ones that are through blooming. $2-$3 every time. once i had a guy give me two phals still in full bloom for $2 just cause he thought i was cute, lol!

Thanks to you both! I have a Jade plant sitting on the back of my 50 gal. aquarium in a huge southern window (over one of the cut outs in my aquarium hood)...he can trade places with the orchid, since he doesn't need the humidity (it's just there to remind me to check the soil when I change my aquarium water weekly). I'll put the orchid there - it will be snuggled up to the huge southern window, with full sun for the better part of the day, and balanced over an opening in the aquarium. The humidity is much higher right there with all the water below and two filters running on either side. Do you think that will be enough humidity? It's kind of my "plant wall" right there - everything loves being by the aquarium, due to the higher humidity in the air & the warmer southern sun. :-)

There is a heating/cooling vent just under that window, but I have it closed so it doesn't affect the aquarium temps, and the little air that does escape doesn't make much of a difference. It does get cooler by the window at night, even with the blinds shut, so it might even get better temp. changes there. I don't put my houseplants outside in summer at all - too many times dealing with bugs and losing plants to infestation and sunburn, so they stay inside year round, where I can keep a close eye on them.

Wow...I guess I should check out Lowes more often. Then again, though, space is an issue (I have an affinity for large-leaved foliage plants), so maybe it's good that I don't. That's partially why I bought the orchid - loved the leaf shape, black spots and all. I'll still be happy with it even if it doesn't bloom. I'm weird that way. ;-)

Thanks again - I'll move the orchid on my lunch break today, so it can have full sun all afternoon (well, theoretically - the forecast here is rain, snow, snow, and more rain for the next several days, so it might have to wait awhile for the sun to come back, sadly).

Sounds like it will have a happy home in your Southern window! you should have no trouble getting it to bloom there. but you just may have to wait another year. the only thing i might do, is gradually introduce it to the higher light conditions, this will help prevent any possibility of sunburn or shock to the plant. LOL, although i preach it, i'll still stick my plants that have been sitting in my north facing bedroom directly in the window of my south facing "plant room". they never get burnt, but it's still prolly a good idea to do it slowly though.

Yeah, I know what you mean, but like I said...there's rain in the forcast, and it's been getting "gloomier" here throughout the morning. I doubt there will be any sun left by the time I get home to move it at lunch, and probably very little actual sun over the next few days with the snow and all. I guess this is a good time to move it, in light of the weather - it should have several days to acclimate to "brighter" light before it gets full sunshine... :-)

Was there no tag? I agree with all the posters, but some hybrids need cool temps. The spots are totally normal, but I would try to figure out what type of plant this is. I grow mine in a S.W window, but keep them really cool. I have some that need heat and those are in warmer spots. But the cool-lovers, won't bloom if kept too warm.
Try to get it outside in Spring and enjoy!

Jane

My experience with Lowe's in Western Pa is to go to the Lowe's reduced rack in the garden center. Usually an orchid that is thru flowering that is normally $23.99 is reduced to $8.00 or less. I never buy full price there mainly because I don't want another generic phal.

There was a tag, Jane - it declares the plant to be Oncidium "hybrida", and "dancing lady orchid"...which I assumed to be a hybrid of unknown origin, though if you want to give your name, address, and home phone number to the Lowes site, it says you can look there for more information (since I don't care to be on thier calling list, I'll pass on that). If I'm wrong, and O. hybrida is the actual cultivar name, then that's what it is.

It won't be going outside - my houseplants do not summer outdoors, simply because every single one who has spent the summer outside has been a pain in the butt to "debug" come fall if they make it through the long, hot summer with the little water I remember to give them when they're out there, out of site most of the time. I've lost some of my favorite plants that way, and I'd rather they stay healthy and safe inside, where I am less apt to forget important things like watering, etc. And there's the added bonus that if they stay inside, they don't lose thier spot in the house by fall - I don't do well with a house devoid of plants all summer, and tend to buy more to fill the "empty spots" if things migrate outside. ;-)

Today it's raining, with up to 18 inches of snow predicted by tomorrow evening (100% chance of snow period). So where the orchid is at, right up against the window, it will be quite cool for the next week or so up towards the leaves (the roots will stay slightly warmer due to the aquarium), and warmer when things warm up again. So the temp will fluctuate there...and next winter, it will be cooler in the window again.

I think for the time being though, it will stay put, and I'll see how it does. I've only had it 5 days now...not much time to adjust to it's new surroundings.

I just switched computers last weekend, and haven't gotten the drivers re-installed for my web cam yet. But as soon as I get that done, I'll post a picture of this Oncidium, and you can all have a gander at my $2.00 find in it's new home. :-)

Just be careful not to overwater. Every other day might be a little much, esp if it's still cool.

Most oncidiums like plenty of light, so you shd be good in the southern window.