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madimay1997

Can I still save it?

10 years ago

I got an orchid very distressed and drowning. I repotted it and pruned both its limbs(which had no blooms) and it's very brown roots. Then I gave it mirical grow orchid sticks in its pot placed it in a bubble glass window and watered it ever week. I thought it had been saved. It was growing and even developing buds and green roots. Then I was suggested to use bloom booster as well for these buds. Next thing I know the leaves are flimsy and wrinkled and the roots are yellowing. What's wrong?? Could it be the bloom booster? Or was it never saved in the first place?

Comments (8)

  • 10 years ago

    Someone said "a picture is worth a thousand words".

    Without a picture and more info we're guessing.Have you pulled the plant back out of its pot? Are there any good roots with growing tips? I'm inclined to think that you are overwatering/over fertilizing the plant.

    You don't say how long you've been working with this plant. Recovery of a distressed, drowning and bad roots doesn't happen quickly. Bloom booster fertilizer used appropriately shouldn't cause dying roots and problem leaves.

    More info and pictures should help someone on this forum give you guidance.


  • 10 years ago

    I have been working with it for about a month. After a week of getting it I noticed the right side stem growing quickly and developing what are now buds. I only water once a week and use the bloom booster as instructed on the bottle. I have not noticed green tips on the roots but the strongest and healthiest just recently turned yellow.

  • 10 years ago

  • 10 years ago

    Sounds like it could be a bit too much feeding. Orchids really can do just fine with water. I would get a bucket and give it a long (30-45 minute) soak to try and remove any built up fertilizer from the bark and the pot, then rinse it thoroughly. See what happens over the coming days. It doesn't look like a goner, but it's clearly in distress. Take it back to basics and give it some time to recover.

  • 10 years ago

    It looks dehydrated to me. I would soak it for an hour in the sink with water only. I would not fertilize until I see new roots. Your bark looks very dry - did you soak it prior to repotting? How is the humidity? Phals love humidity paired with warm temps (60-90F) and bright, indirect light.

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    OK, the first thing I would do is to stop over-fertilizing! Over fertilizing can build up salts so I would rise it out thoroughly.

    However, the wrinkled leaves suggests lack of water, but it can be a combination of both.

    Phals like moisture but not wet and soggy. I had a few in clay pots as you do with the large bark. They started doing terrible when the rains stopped even though I was watering weekly ... and it's because it wasn't getting enough moisture.

    A wee bit of sphagnum moss laying on top (do not pack) of the exposed roots and with the smaller bark as your growing medium would be better for holding moisture. Again, you don't want it wet and soggy ... just damp.

    Also, Phals need air circulation, so don't pack it too tightly with the medium and leave some of it's roots above ground. In other words, don't bury it. JMO ... Good Luck.

  • 10 years ago

    Like Kauaiguy, I have a couple in clay pots with large bark as well; you do have to be aware of how easily they can dry out like this. I water at least twice a week by running water through at the sink for a minute or so, or by immersing the whole thing in a bowl for 15-20 minutes.

  • 10 years ago

    Update: I moved it so it gets a little more sun still indirect and have watered it twice this past week. But now I believe it is aborting its buds! They are becoming brown.

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