save poor orchid from stoopud human abuse

Hi there!

I'm asking for help on behalf of the orchid I've tortured for almost a year and a half now. Someone gave it to me after it was already a little sickly - they were going to throw it out and for some dumb reason, I thought I could save it. I've never seen the blooms, don't know what variety it is, how to care for it or solve any of the variety of problems it has. Maybe it just needs to be put out of it's misery at this point. I've tried researching online, but it seems that care varies so much depending on type, I might do more harm than good by trying to repot or fertilize. I've included pics and the details below. Thank you so much to anyone willing to read my lengthy post and offer advice :) Any identification and care tips? Should I just give up?

What I do know:

- potted in bark and some sort of white stoney substance
- clear plastic aerrated pot
- some bark has white residue on it ( rotting / too old?)
- the plant / bedding is at least a year and a half old
- exposed roots above bedding are light browning and a bit mushy to the touch
- roots beneath the surface look white (I'm afraid to pull it out of the pot to feel their consistancy)
- the leaves grow out of a sort of oval fleshy base ( pseudo bulb?) which is still green but very wrinkled
- originally had two psuedo bulbs but one wrinkled, turned yellow and appears to be dead
- the leaves are still green but wrinkled / bent in spots
- a few of the leaves also have a black speckling on them (virus, fungus, something else?).

Hi, and Welcome to DG!

Actually the plant doesn't look that bad. Looks to me to be a cattleya. Maybe theses two links will help you.

http://www.sborchid.com/GrowingGuides/culture-catt.htm

Scroll to the bottom of the page: http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/growing-orchids-at-home.html

Good luck,

Karen

To me it looks like an oncidium http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=oncidium&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search, or maybe odontoglossum http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=odontoglossum&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search. I have one as well, that I bought from HD on an impulse (had a wonderful flower on), but I have no idea on how to treat her. I will wait for good answers from people that know what they are saying.
A few things, though:
1. the mushy roots you said might mean too much water. many orchid growers say that you kill orchids more often by overwatering than by the reverse... how often do you water those?
mine is in a "sawdust-y" kind of potting, that I've never seen orchids in before, and I'm really concerned of the overwatering issue. I water mine once a week, with weak fertilizer every other week.
Anyway, the good thing is that you seem to have healthy roots inside the pot, and by the pick the plant looks ok.
2. the white deposit might mean fertilizer/salt build-up. or it might mean old potting stuff.
3. at least for oncidiums, they say that if cold water splashes on the leaves, it leads to the development of brown spots, unpleasant to the eye, but otherwise harmless. If it is black or fuzzy, it might mean fungus.
4. about overall health and flowering, you will need to find a good light condition as well (have no idea for it though).

I am posting a link on the tropical forum, someone might come and help, they are a wonderful group! And I hope Ecrane and JasperDale and all the good people that take care of us the beginners will take a look soon!
Do not give up hope, help will come for the ones that try to save plants! You are doing a good thing!
Goofy

This message was edited Mar 29, 2008 4:28 PM

This message was edited Mar 29, 2008 4:29 PM

Hi and welcome to DG!!!
I can't offer much advice since I'm pretty much an orchid newbie myself :) But I remember hearing that they need to be repotted into fresh orchid mix/bark about once a year. I remember the reason given was that the roots need to breath and be well ventilated and this becomes more difficult once the bark begins to break down. I remember hearing it can also lead to too much moisture in the mix as well, which can cause root rot.
I'm sure someone who knows more then me will be by shortly though to help you out!

Steven

I made a post over on the Orchid forum aswell asking if one of them could come help you out!

This message was edited Mar 29, 2008 3:55 PM

May be an oncidium as Goofy says. Bright indirect light, let dry almost totally out between good watering.

Hi, and welcome. I'd like to help too. I agree with Goofy and Tommy, it does look like an Odontoglossum or Oncidium cross. If it's from one of the Big Boxes, well that's what they have been getting in the last few years.
First thing I'd do is get it out of the pot and pick off, then wash off, whatever medium is attached. Cut off EVERY bit of rotten root...don't be shy here. I have a picture posted under the March orchids thread of a plant that has no roots (eternal optimist here :)). Your medium has deteriorated and choked the roots. Orchids require air circulation around their roots. The pseudobulbs are shriveled and the leaves crinkled because the roots have rotted and can't transport water to the plant.
Next, I'd dust it with some rooting hormone (I put the hormone on a cotton swab and tap it onto the plant base). Then scrub and disinfect the pot with a little bleach and repot in fresh bark. The new bark will not hold water well for awhile and give the plant a chance to recover. Being Spring, hopefully your orchid will send out some new leads.
Lastly, and this is a little tricky for many of us, the plant needs the best possible light and air circulation you can provide. My Oncidiums and Odontoglossums receive S.E. to S.W. light and it's pretty direct. I am way South of you. If the plant has been in lower light, move it slowly. The spotting is probably due to less than perfect air circulation and, from what I can see, does not look at all viral. This is the least of your problems for now.
My final piece of advice... buy at least one healthy orchid and come over to the Orchid Forum. I am pretty new but everyone is warm and welcoming. I learn something everytime I log on. Hope this helps.

Laurel

Hi Misia! So good of you to try to save this plant...it will reward you, just be patient. You have been given lots of good advise here, so I won't repeat other than to say - get it out of that pot, and completely replace the potting medium. I would recommend some coco bark, but whatever you use, make sure it is fresh...do not reuse what is in there. The brownish roots are damaged or dead - cut them off. Use VERY sharp scissors and clean them before cutting anything else. If your orchid is outside, you may want to get it into a sunnier spot than is shown in the pic. You want air circulation around the plant...if it is inside, you might try a light fan. If you have any other specific questions, be sure to post them...we will all keep an eye out for you. Good luck!

Yokwe,
Shari

Shari, What type of orchid is that? It's just gorgeous!

Wow! What encouraging, informative responses. Thank you all so much. More than anything I just wanted to make sure repotting wouldn't be a mistake - sounds like it's the right way to go. I really appreciate the very specific directions from Laurel and Shari - I'll give your suggestions a try and if all goes well, hopefully I can post a photo of a happier, healthier orchid in the Orchid Forum next time.

Thanks again, Misia :)

Everything said is right except the light, these orchids live on tree branches in light but dappled shade and dont like hot sun directly onto the foliage, you can buy special orchid plant compost at the garden center and also the proper balanced food, when you re pot it, dont use too large a pot as these orchids flower best when they are almost pot bound and the roots are spilling out from the top of the pot, after you cut away all the dead rotten roots, make sure you dont bury the fleshy bulb part as this has to sit half or more above the growing medium, when I re pot mine, I try to find a fairly shallow woven hanging basket (not plastic) I line this with sterilised moss (buy a bag when you buy the orchid compost) soak the moss then line this DAMP moss around the basket, gently squeeze out the excess water, then add some compost, set the tuber/fleshy bulb onto the compost and gently try to spread out the nice fleshy roots, (easy to break) top dress with further compost and very gently tap the compost around the bub/roots, if at all poss, try to hang the basket, even if it is just a few inches off the ground in light but not bright sun from a window or the foliage will dry and burn, when it is really warm, give a good misting with tepid water onto the foliage and compost to give the humidity these plant like (think jungle type humidity) even mist under the leaves too, if you want to add liquid feed, dont do it when you have just re potted, wait for a couple of weeks and start half strength, dont know if it will flower again for this year as they sometimes take a while to recover from stress, forgot to mention, dont use plastic pots as they sweat the roots and can cause fungus/disease etc and they dont look that good in these pots when in flower, good luck. WeeNel.

WeeNel, Read your post with great interest as every grower is an expert in their own region and zone. I am originally from S. Florida where many Oncidiums are native and indeed they do grow in trees, in dappled shade. BTW, my Dad, who is still in Miami, said it was blazing hot and pushing 90 degrees this week! That being said, and I haven't been to Scotland, my Oncidium and Odontoglossum hybrids currently thrive and bloom in an attached orchid room with skylights and a four direction exposure. All but the Jewel orchids and the Paphiopedilums receive full exposure (that is 2,000 foot candles or more). I would really like to learn more about what you grow, how you grow and what your challenges are in your region as I never even gave thought to someone in Scotland growing orchids please share over in the Orchid Forum.

Laurel

Hi Steven, - my pic was of my island dendrobium...we have very few pollinators here on our tiny little rock, so we get what we call Island hybrids of just about everything! I have some hybiscus here that I have never seen anywhere else. I have about 15 other orchids of various types, and as you say Laurel...every grower's conditions are different. The one in my picture above gets full tropical sun from about 10:00 am till dark. As you can see - it's pretty healthy. And with the exception of about 4 that are in baskets or ceramic pots, mine are all in plastic, and doing very well. All the ones in my article were either in plastic or on coconuts in trees. I think the light and the container are dependent upon what the plant is used to, and how well the caretaker takes care. Weenell, I would NEVER want to contradict you, but on this one tiny point I must stand firm...plastic is not bad for orchids - see below.

Wow, Shari,
SOO beautiful! I wish one day my orchids, and as a matter of fact, all my plants, will look like this! Well, I'm learning, I'm learning!
Misia,
Don't give up, do whatever you can and I bet you'll save the little chap! I keep my fingers crossed for you. Post flower pictures when you have them!

Alexandra

Shari,
I just can't stop looking at that photo! They are all amazing!
I can hardly imagine growing those outside all year round, not to mention your "island hybrids" make it even more exotic. Here's a picture of my backyard just taken a moment ago.......*sigh* :)

Steven

Oh Steven, you have my sympathies! I lived in Colorado for many years, so the scene is not unfamiliar to me...and you can keep it. I love my little tropical rock.

Here is a close-up of a rather unusual one: it is pale green with a purple labelum.

HAHAHA, thanks....I think I'll have to keep it for now :)
That is another lovely orchid, I have a few Phals but thats it...

Steven

Shari, I too think coconut husk is about as perfect as you can get to an ideal orchid growing medium.However it is difficult for many growers to find in their area. I have several potted that way and love the way it holds water but still breathes. It doesn't stay wet as long as sphagnum. That property of sphagnum makes me nervous as I "grew up" potting in bark and tree fern which, when fresh, dries very fast.

Your orchids are lovely growing in such ideal conditions. I too love plastic and use unglazed pottery around my plastic for decorative purposes as this pottery can expire any residual moisture.

Steven, do what I do. Just pick a date to declare Spring and start walking around the house in shorts. I'm doing this today (even though I've got a long sleeved shirt and fleece on). Gee I'm freezing!

Hey Laurel, I love the declare Spring idea...just don't catch a cold!

Maypop, I was so excited when I woke up this morning because it was 59F and SUNNY!!! It was warm and rainy last night so the snow is almost gone! Lets pray we don't get anymore, the crocus and snowdrops are blooming :)
I like your declare spring idea but I'm sure I'd freeze to death, I get cold wearing fleecy pants :)

Steven

I grew up on Miami Beach and did not see snow until I was fifteen. Snow culture is alien to me. Then I took my daughter to New England to look at colleges in April. It snowed. I had never seen a snow plow. We get a little snow here and there and everything closes down. Anyway, she did go to school in New England and loved the snow. We loved visiting.

I'll send warm wishes from down South that your Spring has sprung as I know several DG friends up 'yonder' who are ready to get in their gardens. BTW our crocus and snowdrops are long gone, the daffodils just finished and we are moving on to Eastern redbud and Dogwoods. The azaleas will be fantastic in another week.

Laurel

Wow, wish I could say I've only seen a few snowplows :) Thanks for your warm wishes and I saw a bud coming on a mini daffodil this morning! YAY! In another month or so we'll probably start seeing some azaleas blooming.

Steven

Hi Shari, great to hear from you after such a long while, hope your well. let me explain about my orchids in plastic pots, when we buy these plants they always come in plastic pots From the growers) and the first thing I have to do is get the plants out from those, they dont allow enough air to circulate and the climate we have here causes the soil temp to be either stay too damp and cold or to dry and hot, so most of the orchid growers use either baskets made from natural fibers or wooden hand made troughs, that way we have more control on the watering (drainage) and the air around the foliage and roots, I have always had more success when I hang the plants up and off the bench or ground as this stops the cold from reaching the soil/roots, so I guess the lesson for us all here is test and trial till you find what suits you best, to be honest, I find any plants that will be growing in the one pot for more than the one season is better potted into the clay terracotta pots as they breath, hold a bit more moisture and they warm up better in summer while insulating better in winter, but then here in UK we have such unpredictable weather even in summer it can be really cool/cold days or nights, as for the sphagnum moss being a pain when it dries out, I use this stage as an indicator that water is required before it gets completely dry, or yes, it is a pain to get moist again when too dry, but then so is compost when I have let that go too dry, hope I didn't confuse anyone buy my advice, it's a case of trial and error really to find the best way for yourself,
Have a happy gardening season shari and as always, good to know you are on hand. WeeNel.

Hi again Weenel! Aloha and yokwe! I think you hit the nail on the head with your comment "the climate we have". Yes, isn't it fun trying to figure out all the different climates represented here on DG? What works beautifully here in the tropics for me, could be a death sentence for a plant in Scotland, or Canada. And viceversa of course! So where have you been traveling to lately my friend? Any more excursion adventures to tell about?

As you can see Misia, there are as many opinions on how to grow orchids as there are growers...but the basic advise you have been given here in this thread will get you well on your way to beautiful blooms before you know it. Good luck, and be sure to post "after" pics when you get your lovely repotted.

Yokwe all!
Shari

Hi shari, Just back from almost month in Florida, Sanibel and Naples, it sure helped to shorten our cold, wet and very windy winter, but I am back to reality again and can you believe it, the weather here in Bonny Scotland has not moved on one bit, I went out the garden to-day as the sun was beautiful, after 10 Min's, the skies opened and large golf ball size hailstones came crashing down, so had to run for cover, even my greenhouse ain't getting enough light yet, and it's too cold to sew seeds without heat, so who knows what we all did to deserve this reaction to us gardeners, great to here from you again shari, take care and be good. WeeNel.

Oh WeeNel! So terrible to hear about the hail!, nothing worse for gardens...hope you recover okay! Bet your trip to Florida was great! I'm sure it felt good to get some heat in your bones...

Sending hail-less thoughts!

Yokwe,
Shari