Comments on: help! how can i make my orchid grow?

By: pat

pat — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:49:42 +0000

for heavens sake, people!! those green arms coming are their roots. they dont like to be repotted and just let the air roots grow. they might turn white and if they do, and are in a tiny pot, i just put it in sink and soak it good for 10 min. those roots grow rapidly green again and look healthy. you should fertilize them weekly, weakly..watering depends on the type of mix they are in and also the size of pot. tiny pots i water every 3 to 4 days. after letting them sit up to top of pot in water, then drain them good. sit them back there you had them. yes they do like humidity… even bathroom windows. good luck!! if your orchid isnt doing anything, take it out of pot and check the roots. if they are mushy, then you have watered toooo much..

By: farah

farah — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:16:17 +0000

hello i have two orchid since the last flower i keep watering them but, they donot have single leaf or flower do you think it,s dead shall i keep them or throw them away please help what to do thanks so much.

By: Laurie MCQuillan

Laurie MCQuillan — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:34:02 +0000

I received an orchid as an office gift – lovely – had nice white blooms when I recieved it in March. Since then, the blooms have fallen off. I cut it down to right where you are supposed to and it spiked. Since then that 1 “arm” keeps growing with buds, but the buds all only make it to the budding stage, then they shrivel and die. Then, once again, it pushes itself, buds and the buds die and fall off. HELP! What do I do? Do I cut the arm off, which is now 12 in in length? I don’t want to cut it as it has life at the end of the “arm” …. HELP! Please.

By: Amy M.

Amy M. — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:12:39 +0000

kristine: If the roots look green, let it just dry out. Looks like you caught it on time. Just keep checking on the roots, but it sounds like you are okay. Maybe someone else has other advice, but my instinct is to do as little as possible (to avoid shocking the plant).

As for blooming, I think the temperature has a lot to do with it. I have 2 spikes coming out of already existing spikes. They cool temps at night, but not below 55 degrees.

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:16:01 +0000

Unless your extremely patient I would always buy a mature plant. We all want beautiful flowers in our home. I cannot tell you how many pots I have with a couple of leaves trying to baby then along. spebd the extra dollars on a larger plant that is ready to bloom. It;s worth it

By: Zobia

Zobia — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:14:51 +0000

Buying a mature plant goes along way. I recieved a large moth orchids 4 years ago in a 8″ pot. It blooms like mad (25-30 flowers), for about 3 months, twice a year, with very little help from me. I water once a week, fertilize maybe once a month and mist hardly ever. I bought my mom 2 smaller orchids, 2 years ago, and after losing they initial flowers, they refused to rebloom. My mom can make ANYTHING grow. Finally, she had me set them down next to my own plant. Still nothing.

After a little research, we learned the mature plants are worth the extra money. Smaller plants are often “shocked” either through temp changes or fertilizers to produce spikes before heading to stores. Another interesting tibit we came across was that white blooms last longer than their richly hued counter parts and smaller blooms last longer as well.

We are going to try to place my mom’s plants by a cool window at night for a more pronounced temp change between night and day. Let see what happens.

By: hairy smalllbear

hairy smalllbear — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:37:29 +0000

I have come to the conclusion that orchids are like people!! Some are easy going, pop them down anywhere, they get along. Some are a bit sensitive but once you find the right spot they are happy. Some like my boyfriend are a bit highly strung, needs a bit of careful handling but you get used to it & still love it. Then you get the prima donna. It moans, it whines. Best to ignore for a bit then if it doesnt respond after seeing the error of its ways, cross it off your friend list & give it to another friend who gets along with it. Never fails!! Had one like this, gave it to my mum who promptly dumped it on a sunny window ledge over a radiator & soaked it until it was swimming, hey presto, flowered like it had an audience. But then, they were very much a like! Heres a tip: grow to love them even without flowers & they will love you back again, most rewarding. Put something like a ball or pencil topper on the support stick, looks pretty, gives you something to look at. Put three together in a bowl, that way one will always be doing something of interest while the other two lay dormant. Some like hot weather, some like it cold. when you find one that is compatible with your living conditions you know you have a friend, others like to visit you but donet want to live with you, then the prima donnas………….cross them off your card list, let it move in with your mum & enjoy the peace of not having it around irritating you. I love orchids, very beautiful, very rewarding. I have learnt great patience with them, just like people they have their own ways & teach you how to appreciate all of God’s wonderful things, fascinating & pondering over the miracle of a flower when it does finally happen. Be lucky growers! x

By: kristine

kristine — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:03:35 +0000

I recently purchased an orchid and noticed today that overwatered my orchid and its feet were wet. Possibly for up to a week…some of the flowers are looking wilted and two dried out to break off easily. However when I took the pot out of the container (thats when I noticed the pool of water btw) all the roots looked nice and green. No sign of rot. I now have the plastic pot out by itself sitting on top of a couple of rocks. I’m thinking this will air out the roots and get them drying out. My question is do I repot or since the roots look good just let it air out? thx!

By: Nabeki

Nabeki — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:54:59 +0000

Orchids like it tight, they like being cramped. I find that smaller pots are better for them. Also for the first time, when I repotted an orchid that had been lingering, not a phal, I transplanted it into Miracle Grow Orchid Mix and it has come to life slowly but surely. With orchids, patience is the key. Just when you think they are going to be dormant forever they fool you.

By: Nabeki

Nabeki — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:18:43 +0000

I have six Phals and they are all either in flower, growing a spike and getting ready to flower. I think i’ve found the secret to caring for them.

I. I soak them about every 8 days for five minutes in weakly diluted orchid fertilizer. I actually time it on the microwave.

2. I never cut anything off the spike unless it whithers and turns brown. I have four Phals right now that are growing spikes and getting ready to bloom off old spikes.

3. I mist my orchids once a day. One of my orchids is in a humidifier tray, it’s not doing any better then the ones that I just mist.

4. They are under a small grow light for at least twelve to fourteen hours a day.

5. I keep the temperature even, fairly warm. Around 72-75/daytime and no lower then 65 at night. They are on my dresser close to my door so they get a little air flow exchange when the door is open, they like that.

Well those are my secrets and they work. I have several purples, a green lemon and two whites. I live in Montana so if I can grow them anyone can.