What's wrong with my orchid plant?

iliasred

8 years ago

The upper half of my orchid looks almost wilt, and the flowers too.

Location:Thessaloniki(coastal area), Greece.

I bought it, one and a half month ago.

It is monopodial.

The potting media when I bought it, was suitable for orchids, but I do not now the composition of the potting media I used during the transplanting.

The pot is plastic.

I water it with bottled water once a week, but after seeing these symptoms I rarely water it.

I do not fertilize it.

I put it in my bedroom, almost opposite the east -facing balcony glass door, and away of the heating source.

During the transplanting less than 1/3 of the roots were damaged.

Is it a matter of watering, not fertilizig, light conditions, potting media, time of transplanting, bad treatment during the transplanting or all of them? Or is it transplanting stress; and maybe the plant will recover after several days?

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Comments (5)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
8 years ago
Was it in full, gorgeous bloom when you bought it?
iliasred
Original Author
8 years ago
The plant had these flowers you see in the pictures plus 3,4. I bought it one and a half months ago. I transplanted it one week later and the flowers show these symptoms, two weeks after the transplanting.
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Nae Boston, ifraser25 is correct, but here are some possibilities you can consider: Watering too late ~ I have noticed with my blooming Phals that they need water a day sooner than when they are not in bloom. I water blooming plants when they are "a day more moist," than when they are just vegetating. Too frequent water ~ you can use a skewer left (all the time) about 2 1/2 - 3" deep in the medium or your finger, stuck to the same depth, to test for moisture. Direct sun on buds ~ Many tender buds are not heat tolerant and will cook in less than an hour of direct sun. Misting or spraying ~ It is not necessary to spray the buds of most orchids. This can promote fungus growth or chilling. Fertilizing plant while in bloom ~ For my Phals, this causes bloom drop. Cold air ~ Some orchids are sensitive to sudden temp changes. Knocking, jarring, falling, bruising ~ but then, you would Know if your plant had an accident. Spraying with insecticide ~ Many sprays labeled for orchids caution that they should not be used on blooms or buds. Insects and mites ~ Get out your magnifier and a white sheet of paper and give the fallen buds a good inspection, inside and out. It is also a good idea to look over the plant's leaves and nooks and crannies for black brown or red specks (mites), or other critters (thrips or scale, etc.). I'm sure others, here can provide more reasons for bud blast. I hope you are able to stop the process. If not, look forward to the next blooming ~ chances are, it will be glorious. Sweetcicely
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
transplant shock ...

i usually.. NEVER repot a plant in bloom ..

but when i do ... i fully expect the flowers to be aborted ...

the plant is focusing itself on getting the roots re established... rather than worrying about procreation ... which is what a flower is intended for ...

if that is the new pot.. how small a pot was in in prior ... orchids amaze me.. in how little pot they really need ..

BTW... did you pre moisten the media... before potting.. looks incredibly dry ... i know they dont need a lot of water.. but a bone dry media.. may never wetten properly ...

ken
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
Yes, I would never consider transplanting an orchid in full bloom or even in bud. First, newly purchased orchids seldom (never?) need transplanting and second, even with very careful handling, the stress of this activity on the plant is very likely to cause the flowers to abort.

The medium looks pretty dense for an orchid. As epiphytes, they do not need "soil" but rather just something loose for root anchorage, which is why one normally finds them planted in a a coarse bark or in moss.

Additionally, the plant looks very dry. The brown on the top of the bloom spikes is dry, dead tissue and the potting medium looks bone dry. The brown tissue will never regenerate and needs to be removed and the flowers are done for this bloom cycle.

Phaleanopsis, which this appears to be, can be in bloom for 3-4 months and are one of the easiest orchid types to grow and to get to rebloom. Without going in to all the details of their care here, I'd check out a good orchid care resource and pay close attention to suggestions regarding the media, watering and fertilizing.
im3xallady
8 years ago
This Plant was already almost finished with it's bloom when it was purchased and that is why the bloom died. They only bloom for a specified time anyway! And this one looks like a bloom that died at the end of it's cycle.

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Comments (5)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

iliasred
Original Author

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What's wrong with my orchid plant?

Comments (5)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

iliasredOriginal Author

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

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iliasred
Original Author