Can I attach Phalaenopsis Orchid to a Tree ?
Katherine 10A
5 years ago
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dirtygardener
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoKatherine 10A
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Phalaenopsis Orchid
Comments (2)It is not happy, do not like the look of the leaf colour, should be a darker green. Cut off the two dead flowering spikes, read past posts on this site, just put Phalaenopsis in the search box on top of this discussion page to find them. Read the culture notes in the link for Northern UK. The plant can be saved and with spring coming on better growing conditions should help. Still puzzled?give more details on your growing conditions, watering frequency, temperatures , fertiliser, lighting etc. Here is a link that might be useful: Phal. culture, notes for UK...See MoreAttaching orchids to trees
Comments (7)Emily, I use a lot of jute to mount orchids. By the time the jute rots away the orchid is well rooted to the mount/tree in most cases. I also use a lot of the natural mosses and lichens found in my area to hold a bit of moisture to the roots as they establish. Phal type dens do really well mounted to smooth barked palms. The roots ramble around and are a glorious sight all by themselves. I have found that phals like a rough barked tree to grow on. Good LUCK!! I'd love to see pictures!! Pat........See MoreWhat's wrong with my orchid Phalaenopsis? I
Comments (30)Ginger, You need to go to the American Orchid Society Web Site and find their culture sheets for Nobile type Dendrobiums. There are other web sites that also offer detailed culture instructions for these plants. Nobile Den's. grow a bit differently from other orchids, and you will have to conform to their wants and needs to get them to bloom. First, be absolutely sure you are rid of the scale. Scale suck the juices out of the plant, and are difficult to get rid of because most contact insecticides can't get through the scale to the bug. The scale is probably not what caused the leaves to drop.....That happens to the leaves every year. Next, any of the old canes on your plant that are shriveled, and DEAD, can be removed. Sharp sterile blade, and cut them off at the base. Be sure they are completely dead, because the old canes are storing nutrients for the plant as long as they remain alive. Now, growing the thing.....In the spring when new growth starts at the base of the plant...(Nobiles are prone to producing Keikis on old canes, and that's ok. Leave them on and let them bloom then remove them and pot up as new plants.....you need to really grow the plant. Lots of sunlight, water, and 30-10-10 fertilizer. You want those new growths to really grow big and healthy. In the early fall, the leaves will begin to yellow, and fall off the plant...normal..... At this time you should stop feeding the high Nitrogen fertilizer...use 10-10-10, or just stop fertilizing until spring growth starts again. If you are not growing the plant outside, it would be best take it outside in the fall. Let the plant stay outside until it experiences several nights of very cool temperatures....even a light frost won't hurt. When the weather gets too cold, bring the plant in and enjoy the blooms. When the blooms fade, reduce the amount of water you give the plant until new growth starts in the spring, then go back to the heavy feeding/growing of the plant. Once a cane blooms, its not going to ever bloom again. All leaves fall off in the winter. Bill...See MoreHelp Saving a Phalaenopsis Orchid with severe root rot
Comments (10)Louise, First, you might want to start a new thread for this. You have jumped in on the tail end of a three year old thread, and a lot of folks may just be looking over it. I'm located in the center part of South Carolina, USA and have very little experience with potting in sphagnum (in this part of the world we tend to prefer the fir bark mixes), so I'll leave potting mix preferences to someone else to comment on. Generally speaking the orchid plants sold in the "big box" stores and florist shops in the USA come double potted. the plant and potting mix are growing in a clear slotted plastic pot that is nested inside the heavy ceramic un-drained outer pot. This is the reason most new growers loose their first few orchid plants. It sounds like your plant was actually planed in the heavy non draining pot, and you have taken all the necessary steps to give it the best chance of survival. If your new plastic pot only has one or two holes in the bottom, consider cutting additional openings in the side of the pot for additional ventilation. Enclosing the pot and plant in a plastic bag increases the humidity around the plant, and this is good. You may also want to consider putting a few holes in the top and bottom of the outer bag to increase air flow. You want to enclose this plant in an atmosphere that has lots of humidity and warmth, and a bit less light than normal until the plant begins to grow. It also needs air flow to prevent any standing water from accumulating around the roots. The roots need to be moist in the potting mix, but not wet. Epiphytic orchids grow in the jungles attached to trees and rocks that are covered with moss, lichens, and other plants. When it rains, they get soaked, but as soon as it stops raining they begin to dry off. You need to duplicate this for your other orchids, but for this one plant that is already having problems, increasing humidity, temperature, and air flow without allowing standing water to collect around the roots is the proper method to deal with it.. This process is slow, and does not always produce the desired results, but when it does, it produces a great deal of satisfaction for a new grower, not to mention the knowledge and experience you have gained from the experience. Good luck. Bill...See More
Joyce Vorbach
5 years ago
bea (zone 9a -Jax area)
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoPhals don't die after they bloom. With good care they are a long lived plant and will bloom every year. In my collection I have 9 that are over 10 years old.
Also in nature they do NOT grow upright, with the crown facing up. They attach to trees with it facing down. That is so rain will drain out of the crown freely which is a must for phals because water standing in their crowns will result in crown rot and a dead plant. In the wild the spike hangs downward.
Katherine as long as your night temps don't get below mid 50s it will do great outside. In fact phals need a 10-15 degree drop in night temps to initiate blooming. They can withstand short periods in the 40s but aren't happy about it. And they need shade - no sun at all. They also shouldn't be allowed to totally dry out. They like moisture. If you plan to attach it to a tree you might consider applying a wad of spagnum moss over the roots to give the plant a head start.
This photo shows how they grow in nature. Not my photo.
You can also visit the Orchid forum and post your question.
Katherine 10A thanked bea (zone 9a -Jax area)Joyce Vorbach
5 years agobea (zone 9a -Jax area)
5 years agoJoyce Vorbach
5 years ago
suncoastflowers
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoKatherine 10A
5 years ago
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Ben(8b/9a north FL)