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Is my orchid ok?

I had an orchid that kept it's flowers for about 4 months. It was purple. Here's a pic next to a new white one:

After it losts its petals it looked like it's leaves were getting some kind of disease:

So, 3 questions:

1. Will it survive?

2. Will its flowers come back sometime?

3. What if anything do I need to do to help it?

Thanks for the help.

infernactual asked in Flowers about 1 year ago | Report

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  • Finn3goof_small
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    Phalaenopsis orchids are easy to grow. Yours may be getting too much light, too much water, or is too cool.

    I've raised a few dozen. Look for mealy bugs and remove them manually. They will look like a white mildewy powder.
    Cut off the offending leaf. get a larger container and some orchid bark. Transplant and set the the whole container with plant in cool water up to where the stem starts. Leave for a few minutes. remoe, drain, and put somelace shady. Morning has worked best for me.

    Spray with waer on occassion and let the roots get dry. they tend to flower once a year for several months.

    Tom answered in Flowers about 1 year ago | Report
    1 comment by Tabitha Borchardt…
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  • Dsc_0339_small
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    Master Gardener Andrea

    It's tricky to diagnose a plant problem from a photo or verbal description. To be safe, I'd recommend taking it to a local Master Gardener clinic to have it properly examined. See www.kingcountyMG.org for a clinic near you.

    Now, let's think about some possible causes. More often then not, plant problems stem from care, which then can lead to pests or disease.

    1. Is it just one leaf? Or are the other leaves starting to split and brown on the end? Be careful when watering not to let the leaves get drenched. Don’t water down the middle--orchids don’t like water sitting on their leaves.

    2. Check the leaves for signs of pests. Orchids should be monitored for aphids, mealybugs, mites, and scale. These can usually be removed with a soft cloth and soapy water. If you choose to use a commercial pest control product, be sure to follow all label instructions.
    If you suspect you have a pest, make sure you isolate the plant from other houseplants until you have the problem under control.

    3. Are you over or under watering? Water every 7-10 days, preferably in the morning, and let the water completely drain out of the bottom of the pot into the sink. Don’t let your plants sit in water. This often causes just the right condition to encourage pests or disease. Phalaenopsis do not like to be dry to the point of wilting. They should be watered thoroughly and then not again until the media is nearly, but not completely, dry. For added humidity, especially when your furnace is running, set orchids on a tray with some pebbles and a little water.

    4. Are you fertilizing? I don’t fertilize when in bloom. After the flowers are gone, add a pinch of orchid fertilizer, available in many good nurseries, to about a cup of water. I withhold fertilizer about once a month. Over fertilizing can lead to leaf problems.

    5. Will my plant bloom again? Well, as they say, “Location, location!” One of the most common mistakes made is placing orchids in direct sun, which will scorch leaves, or placing orchids in dark rooms, which will lead to no blooms. Phalaenopsis like in-direct light.

    6.And finally, there may not be anything wrong with your plant. Sometimes you just have to prune off a leaf. :-)

    Master Gardener Andrea answered in Flowers about 1 year ago | Report
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