Software
Houzz Logo Print
amorrow_gw

Newbie Concerns

18 years ago

Hello great and wise orchid growers!

Last weekend my loving husband bought me two beautiful orchids. One is a lady slipper and the other is Oncidium Sharry Berry I belive. I have been very very careful to give them what they need. The lady slipper seems to be a happy girl but this morning I noticed that the Oncidium lost three flowers over night. They were on the end of the one completely bloomed spike (she has two, one bloomed, one bare). So I am concerned that I am not giving the plant something she needs. She is in a room that has indirect light all day with one south window and two west windows, there is a misting fountain in the room providing humidity, a fan provides air circulation and average temp is in the 70's. The leaf growth seems good with no wilting leaves, nice green color with the base of the leaves a little brighter. So my questions are 1. is losing the flowers just dropping old growth or a sign of stress. 2. how much light should a Oncidium receive? All of the light it gets is defussed light but it is enough? I have a pot of different houseplants right next to it that are thriving. Also, can i put the babies inside another pot for display? If so, should I get one with the holes in the side. I know to not water in the pots. I was told to water from the bottom up.

Comments (5)

  • 18 years ago

    the oncidium likes nice bright light, the slipper much less. Sharry Baby is very easy to grow as long as it gets enought light. Don't worry about the fallen flowers. Since they spike is completely bloomed they were most likely old and finished. I've found that each bloom only really last a couple of weeks.

  • 18 years ago

    Hi! IMO watering from the bottom up is not something I would do regularly--you do want to flush out some of the accumulating salts.
    I'm still a newbie, too!
    nicole

  • 18 years ago

    Speaking very generally, it wouldn't be my asumption that all is well after losing three blossoms at once. They opened several days apart quite likely and usually retire in roughly reverse order from how they opened. However, it is natural, given the change of location that there would be some stress and therefore the loss of the blooms is somewhat to be expected.

    Still, IMO, you will need, going forward to observe carefully if the care you give the orchids can really sustain them and lead to a re-bloom next season. I believe you have addressed the key areas of culture but have stopped short of fully addressing the light issue. I for one find it very hard to properly meet the needs of orchids indoors using only window light. Either it will be too intense or too weak, rarely will it be 'just right'. Yes, you could shade a too bright location but duration is important and duration is usually a problem when working with sunlight. For two orchids an investment in lights may not seem worth it but I think it is essential for real and consistent success. You can always work with thngs, as is, until you find that you need to make changes (collection grows) or not.

    H

  • 18 years ago

    I would actually advise against watering from the bottom up, since you don't know that there actually is medium at the bottom (many growers place styrofoam chips to aid in water drainage), some mediums don't wick water that well and orchids don't enjoy having their feet wet (staying in water for long periods). Water the media from the top, but try not to get too much water in the growths and water in the morning, so that any water that does end up in the growths has time to dry by nightfall.

    Julie

  • 18 years ago

    I agree with smwboxer and Howard. The light is not enough. You live in zone 9, and probably have much brighter light than we have here in zone 6. I put my oncidiums in a west window, right up against the glass, no curtain for the winter and outside in very bright shade for the summer. The oncidium needs as much light as you can give it without burning the leaves. Slowly increase the light it is getting. Feel the leaves. If they are warm to the touch, ease back a bit.

Sponsored