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Why do you recommend urea-free fertilizer?
Urea requires microorganisms to break it down and convert it to nitrogen.
Orchids are in soilless mixes so there are not enough microorganisms to
do the job. Ammoniac and nitrate nitrogen are immediately available to
the plant. Depending on what part of the country you’re in, how much sunlight
you receive and what your temps are, you may be able to get by with a
urea based fertilizer. However, people we know who have switched to urea-free
have all said they get much better results. (Urea has been linked to pseudomonas
disease in Phalaenopsis orchids.
Why won’t my orchid plant bloom?
The most common factors are as follows:
Not enough light
Poor root system due to old potting medium or over watering
Not enough temperature fluctuation
Using a poor water source
Generally speaking, if you are not providing sufficient artificial light,
plants need to be close to a window, no more than 3' away at most. Plants
see light from above, not sideways, and if you grow your plants too far
from a window you will notice new growths becoming smaller and the leaves
much narrower. They will not be able to store the energy they need to
bloom.
Poor root systems are caused by over-watering, or forgetting to repot
when the medium is broken down. If this happens you will have to repot
is as soon as possible in order to re-establish the root system.
Temperatures should fluctuate below 65° Fahrenheit at night (preferable
60°) to above 65-75° during the day. Generally a 7-10° temperature fluctuation
is needed to initiate decent flowering for most orchids.
Water should be clean. We always recommend using rain, distilled or reverse
osmosis water. Soften water has too many minerals and will most likely
slow down, damage, or kill root growth in orchids
How often should I water?
Orchids need to dry out somewhat between watering. In general, most
orchids in a 5" or larger pot size will require to be thoroughly
watered once per week. Smaller pots often dry out faster, and can require
water two to three times per week. Do not attempt to put your plants on
a watering schedule. Check your plants every 2-3 days. Are they dry down
in the mix and well as on top? If so, you should water. Every grower's
plant environment is different, and you will become familiar with your
plants watering needs over time.
One trick to help measure moisture is to take a sharpened wooden pencil
and jam it down into the mix. Pull it out, and if the color of the wood
exposed at the tip turns dark, you can be assured that there is moisture
in the mix. You can also use a plastic label. The weight of the pot becomes
lighter as the mix dries out. If in doubt, don't water. Wait a day or
two.
If you happen to have an epiphytic plant that is being grown on a slab,
you should be watering on a daily basis or have very high humidity for
it to grow.
Why are my plant’s leaves wrinkled?
Wrinkled or pleated leaves are caused by a lack of moisture reaching
the vegetative part of the plant. This can be caused by not watering enough,
or watering too much. If you can’t figure out what you’ve done, tip the
plant out of the pot and examine the roots. If they are white or tan,
firm, and spread throughout the mix, you need to increase the frequency
of watering. If the roots appear brown and mushy, trim them off, repot
into a new mix, and decrease the frequency of watering. Always remember,
orchids should never stand in water
What is this clear sticky substance I have on the spikes
and leaves?
!
This is normal for most orchid flower spikes. It is simply a sugary secretion.
You can mist it with lukewarm water to dissolve it off.
Do I cut the spike back when my orchid is finished
blooming?
This is a very common question that really depends on what type of orchid
you have. In general, once orchids are finished blooming you can remove
the spike with a scissors. If you do not remove the spike, the flower
spike will dry up and turn brown over time. There are some orchids that
can re-bloom off of the same flower spike more than once.
Certain species of Oncidium such as the papilio can bloom
off of a broken or cut back spike. The most commonly re-blooming flower
spike is that of the Phalaenopsis (moth orchid). If your Phalaenopsis
is of mature size such as 12" or more in leaf-span, cut it half way
back just above one of the nodes (the little notches on the flower spike).
It should branch out in 90-120 days with a new spike. Generally we recommend
trying this only once per flower spike. Trying it a second or third time
will result in less flowers. Cutting the flower spike completely off will
give the plant more energy in order to produce a new flower spike with
more flowers.
My plant has dropped some leaves. It is ok?
Almost all orchids drop leaves as they grow. Phalaenopsis plants bottom
leaves will turn yellow and fall off when it starts to produce new growth.
Common white and purple Dendrobiums often drop all their leaves on each
cane after they have finished blooming. With most orchids, old leaf growth
naturally drops once new growth starts to emerge. The only time you should
be concerned about leaves dropping is when the new growth or large &
mature leaves turn yellow or fall off. Usually indicates a bacteria or
fungus problem. Unless you've a deciduous orchid that has resting periods
where it may drop all of its leaves, if an orchid has no leaves it is
most likely dead. Examine the plant carefully if the largest leaves or
new growth are changing colors.
I've got black spots on my leaves, what could this
be?
This is generally a leaf rot caused by types of fungi that are commonly
classified as Cercospora or Colletotrichum. Many times this rot will start
out as yellow spots, gradually turning to a brown or black color. Note
that certain plants such as most Oncidium hybrids often get several small
black spots on the leaves due to the sun. In this case it is natural spotting
and will not harm the plant.
The best kind of treatment for this problem is to use a bactericide/fungicide
spray such as Phyton 27. After treatment, examine to see if the spots
are increasing in size or number within a week to 10 days. If you have
successfully rid of the problem, the spots should dry up and turn brown.
If there are still signs of new rot, repeat treatment. Leaves that are
heavily covered in rot should be completely removed. Make sure you sterilize
whatever tool you may use to remove the infected leaves with as it can
spread the disease to other plants.
Why are my buds turning
yellow and falling off?
This is referred to as bud blast, and can be caused by the following conditions:
1. The plant has been too dry between watering, causing it to withdraw
moisture from the buds.
2. There may be some wide swings in temperature, where it may be too hot
in direct sun, or the plant may be too close to an air conditioning or
heating vent.
3. There may be some fumes in the air caused by paint, natural gas leaks,
or other chemicals. Flowers naturally create their own methane and collapse
after pollination to save energy for seed production. Certain forms of
methane or ethylene may trigger bud or flower collapse.
4. Cattleyas in particular are sensitive while in bud to overwatering,
causing the buds to actually turn black in the sheath.
5. All plants need an adequate amount of light in order to flower correctly.
Placing a plant in the center of a room, on a coffee table for example,
is fine for display during an evening of entertaining, but to maintain
proper growth and flower development it is best to keep the plant in its
growing area (near a window or under lights).
I'm doing the same things
I've always done, but this year my plant didn't bloom.What's wrong?
Things to consider:.
1. Weather conditions? Long periods of cloudy days, cooler or hotter temperatures
than normal can change when blooming will occur.
2. Has the plant been moved to a different location?
Caring for new arrivals
Orchids may be shipped with or without pots depending on
the preference of the customer and the practice of the grower. Many people
ask for plants to be shipped bare root to minimize shipping costs and
to allow them to pot the plants in their own growing media and containers.
When you receive a bare root plant, inspect the leaves and roots, cutting
off any damaged portions with a sharp, sterile knife. Then pot it and
treat it as you would any other newly potted plant.
Potted orchids are allowed to dry out before they are packed so they won,t
rot in the box. When you receive a potted orchid, inspect the leaves and
cut off any damaged parts. Then water the plant. If the pot arrives broken,
slip the root ball into a new pot. Unless the roots are badly damaged,
you don,t need to disturb them.
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