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why isn't my orchid growing/blooming?

11 years ago

Hi all,

I rescued an orchid from my office about 2 years ago. The original leaves had fallen off and it's growing new leaves. However the roots keep shriveling up but it's growing little baby roots. The leaves also keep drying up and falling off. There are currently 3 leaves (pretty small, thumb size I'd say), one of them is getting a bit dried up. What am I doing wrong? I water every 2 weeks. Is that too infrequent? It's still in its original pot. It has barks and other stuff, and moss top. Do I need to repot? Do I need to set it on a humidity tray?

I'm in SF bay area and I keep it by my window (no direct sunlight, I keep my violet and wandering jew plant there and they thrive.)

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Comments (7)

orchidnick
11 years ago
Water once a week, fertilize 1/2 strength every 2 weeks, repot in fresh orchid bark, join an orchid society and your plant will become happy.

Nick
xiach
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you Nick. What's the purpose of getting fresh orchid bark vs reusing the old ones?
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orchidnick
11 years ago
The old one deteriorates and gets mushy then resembling soil. You need to change the bark at least every 2 years, yearly is better.

Nick
xiach
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Nick. I repotted my orchid in orchid bark. I noticed that most of the original roots has rotted. Leaving only 2 baby roots near the top (see pic for one of them). Should I bury the roots in the bark/moss? or leave them out? below those baby roots it's pretty much all dried out brown stem...
toyo1960
11 years ago
What you don't want to do is pot the plant where the level of the media is too high to the crown of the plant. The crown of the plant must remain above the potting media, whichever potting media you choose. (If growing in moss, I would grow in a clay pot, by the way. For bark, I prefer the plastic pot.) Never allow water to collect in the crown of the plant: you'll get crown rot. Up the humidity for the plant if the plant has few roots. Don't overpot the plant either. If there are few roots on the plant, then keep to somewhat small diameter pot.
xiach
Original Author
11 years ago
So now te bigger leaves are shriveling and the baby roots have also shriveled up. What can I do?
olympia_gardener
11 years ago
If you have repotted this plant. leave it outside in area where it can get the filtered light. water it but not overwater it. Just be patient. It will take time for it to recover and regrow. older leaves might turn yellow and die. But it still has some healthy roots left, it very likely will grow new roots then new leaves.

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