Orchids in terrible shape, can you help? (pictures in comments)

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

These three orchids live in my university greenhouse and are in a sad state. Part of the problem is that the work study students who take care of them over water, the bark they are in is soaked and awful, I will be repotting all our orchids soon and am trying to come up with a color coding scheme to help prevent over watering. Which is about 90% of the issues in there... Also, for whatever reasons i have been told we can't use chemical pesticides in the greenhouse. Something about liability, and the zygopetalum has a terrible case of scale. Not sure what to do for it.

I know next to nothing about orchids, especially not these species. Any and all advice is very much appreciated. I can't post photos from my phone, my friend is going to do that for me (thanks tawny!)

The worst one, with scale and lots of black spots is zygopetalum Arthur Elle x Ben wrighton. There is another labeled only Maxillaria, and another that was hard to read, can check tomorrow and see if I can get a better idea, I think Brassia verrucosa x mittaria wanttech (last species name is the tough to read bit)

Aside from getting them out of the horrid wet bark and implementing a better watering strategy, what can I do for these? Any and all tips are appreciated, between the rest of the plants, my own, and my academics and work I do not have nearly as much time to research these three as I'd like.

Featured Answer

arthurm2015

10 years ago

So, what sort of temperatures is the greenhouse set to run at? What sort of light do the orchids get?

As far as the pesticides go. Try and find the USA equivalent of Echo Oil which is a concoction of canola Oil, eucalyptus oil etc. Smothers bugs and prevents fungus attack.

Bad time of year to repot, even in a glass-house, winter is coming.

You could enlarge drainage holes. Enforce strict watering routines. And maybe get through to spring.

Also, seek help from local orchid society members.

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Comments (9)

User
10 years ago
Kim
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks Tawny. So, the photos from top to bottom are the Zygopetalum, Macillaria, and Brassia.
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Kim
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I don't think we have a local orchid society, and I graduate in spring. Was hoping to be of some help and learn a few things in the process between now and then. The bark in these is so soggy I am not sure it is worth holding off on. I will check the greenhouse temps, I suspect they are around 80-85 F. Definitely going to get a better watering routine in place, will see if I can enlarge drainage at all. I graduate in June and have until then. I will look for that product and insist the department pick some up. Shouldn't be a problem, everyone wants the plants to flourish just so few of us have the time and desire to do the work and learn.

And by soggy, I think some are starting to rot. A lot of the bark is black.
Kim
Original Author
10 years ago
Will check tomorrow on the light too. Artificial lights supplement natural year round, will get more details.
shavedmonkey (Harvey in South Fl.)Z10b
10 years ago
They need to be repotted. Because you are the university I bet the local orchid society would muster a group to the rescue. The nature of orchaholics. If I new your town I'd do s search for societies.

What supplies are available to repot? Knowing the light factor among other requests help to dial in suggestions. Make sure the pots have large holes on the sides. If you use plastic water less than terra cotta pots for orchids. What is the humidity?
Kim thanked shavedmonkey (Harvey in South Fl.)Z10b
Kim
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
There is plenty of orchid bark on hand, for humidity will have to check tomorrow. Too much right now I am guessing. Looks like we have a tiny orchid society after all, will contact them after I speak with the department. The pots are more holes than solid really. And definitely getting a better watering regimen. Will have to see if I can find colored plant tags, will be useful to color code in there for future students.

Thanks for the help to, very appreciated. Will probably have more questions as I move forward, about separating, repotting, and pruning roots of they are as rotted as I fear. Hopefully the orchid society can lend us a hand too. Good practice for me, sooner or later I am going to try growing an orchid or 20 at home. May as well jump at a chance to be useful and boost my ever growing horticulture skills. And knowing I can reach out to you guys makes it a whole lot less daunting.
jane__ny
10 years ago
Contacting the Orchid Society is a good idea. I agree with Arthur that this is not a good time to repot even though you have warm temps. If you can control the watering I think the plants will do fine until Spring.

The plants in the photos, don't look terrible. Those plants get spots and can look raggy, but if the watering and air movement (do they have fans in the greenhouse?), they should be fine until Spring.

Alcohol mixed with some sort of oil (I've used whatever I had on hand) will work on scale. Once Spring arrives, you can put the plants outside and blast them with some insecticide. Try mixing some alcohol (rubbing or Vodka) a little squirt of dish soap and oil (I've used Olive oil, Canola, various herbal oils), spray the plants well especially under the leaves. That should smother the scale and get the plants through the winter.

Jane
User
10 years ago
*runs off to the store to buy vodka*