Care For Exotic Orchid

[HongKongphooey]

I bought one of those exotic orchids in Morrisons about 2 weeks ago. I've put on my kitchen windowsill (south facing light) and re-potted it cos the pot it came in was way too small. I've kept it moist and not over watered like it says on the info, but the flowers are wilting and it looks very sad. I noticed it was potted in like bark type stuff, and not much soil, do you think this is the problem??? Any help appreciated, I'd hate to see it die, and it cost me a tenner!!!

[murraymints]

http://houseplants.about.com/od/growingorchidsinside/a/What-Do-I-Do-With-My-Gift-Orchid.htm


look here !

[Captain2]

Good link that MM
I was going to say almost starve it of water and keep out of any draughts.

[murraymints]

sounds like too much water and direct sunlight....

[xstitcher]

I went on an orchid spree last year. The bark like stuff it is planted in is what is right for orchids as are the smallpox clear pots that they come in.

I found the best place for my orchid was on a shelf in my shower stall which has an opaque glass window. Think of a rain forest where they grow and the light they would get there. Of course you don't get much fun out of looking at them when they are hidden away but they loved the steamy conditions and thrived.
I got all my knowledge from gogging "how to care for orchids"

[xstitcher]

Small pots.....

[SlackAlice]

I'm with murraymints @ 09.18

Too much direct sunlight and overwatering.

I have a moth orchid on my North facing kitchen windowsill. Get no direct sunlight, gets watered about once every 2 weeks in the winter and once a week in summer. It started blooming Christmas week and now has just started shedding it's blooms.

I would add it's in a transparent pot which has only got bark in it and the aerial roots are mostly outside the pot.

[Peter Pedant]

It sounz like Phelenopsis - white big flowers...

does anyone grow Cymbidium here ?

They have an interesting botany if you wanna look it up - most evolved plant species and also need a fungus in its roots ( that is a must have) so that the rhizome is in fact a mycorhizome ......

[xstitcher]

They like a bit of a water spray every day as they would get in their natural habitat.

[seekeerz]

They prefer to be dryer rather than water logged, out of draughts but warm indirect sunlight.

Don't try to repot before the flowers go, but it should last for a few weeks before this happens.

What type have you got ? The moth orchids are gorgeous but a bit tricky, I have two and hope they'll flower again later this year

[lilacben]

Hi I have four Cymbidium ...did start with two and divided them. But anyone they are meant to be in a small pot ..and the compost they are in is the type they must be kept in. Being as it is flowering I dont think you should have repotted it.
I would have left it until after the flowers died... Do not water it very much and only water from the bottom of the pot. hope this helps

[tamborine]

1. pot in clear plastic container as roots want light
2. bark is fine
3. soak & drain when bark is dry or in flower (as monsoon season)
4. north facing is best placement in UK

[HongKongphooey]

Thanks guys lot of info to go on here, I think its one of those Cym**wotsit ones. I'll try and get some more bark and put it back in a clear pot in the bathroom by the frosted window, and will water very little :0)

[lilacben]

HongKong, when I first had my one pot..I read they like to be really snug in there pots and only dived and repot after a few years flowering.. I have now split mine up so I have four pots...three are in flower now and the other one is growing a flower stem... I havent got mine in a clear pot but just ordinary ones. They have also got on better by not watering them all the time..some times not for a couple of weeks. this is how I have grown mine..hope it helps.xx

[Prudie]

I have 2 of the supermarket orchids and have had them for 2 years, they've both done brilliantly, flowers getting better and better. I've left them in the original minimal bark stuff and same tiny pot, just water once a week with rainwater and other than that left them alone on a west facing windowsill. Hope you can rescue yours.