The Orchid Garden

Tracey! help!

Question:

On Sun, 13 Apr 2003 16:45:17 GMT, Tracey <rbranch…@aol.com> wrote: Jane wrote: > >I’m really getting nervous.  I just realized that my > >old Denrobium (Singapore White) has brownish roots and > >sort of shriveled pseudopods.  So does that mean > >I have root rot?

No, but the plant might. BWAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!!!! Anne

Response:

>No, but the plant might. >BWAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!!!! >Anne

Oh, shut up.  I’m trying to figure out how to increase humidity here. jane

Response:

 >Oh, shut up.  I’m trying to figure out how to increase  >humidity here. I’ve been trying to think of suggestions for you for the last couple of days. The problem is (IMO) I’ve heard of a lot of suggestions for it, but then there have been just as many people who say ‘That doesn’t work’. And humidity is not a problem I have now. Some that I have heard (and, please, folks, don’t tell me I’m an idiot for suggestion them, but if there are definite drawbacks to one or more, feel free to correct me/add on.) Place plants in a shallow container with a layer of rocks between them and the bottom of the container and put water in the container, but not so high that the roots/medium are touching the water. (This is the one that seems to get the most disagreements. Many people say it doesn’t help. Others say it does.) A humidifier. (The biggest thing to watch for on this, I would think, is that too much constant moisture on the plants/ crowns of the plants if the moisture is condensing on them will cause crown rot.) Misting. (This seems to be a good idea, but how good would you be at misting it two, three, four times a day? And the same caution with the humidifier. Some plants (phals, IIRC) are prone to crown rot if there is a lot of moisture down in the leaves.) An orchidarium. (Think terrarium. Enclosed glass container. Price would be a drawback. What with all the accouterments needed <air circulator, lights, etc.,> they would seem to be pretty expensive.) Other than that, I don’t really have any other suggestions. Tracey

Response:

Thank you for your help, Tracey.  I didn’t get your first reply right off because it was too long.  I saw on google, today, though. The roots aren’t mushy, but they’re not plump and white, either. Fortunately, for me it’s been raining for a few days now.  For most of the year, this area is semidesert, though.  And when we get a Santa Ana, I swear the humidity must be like -10%.  I guzzle water all day. Anyway, it’s pretty warm outside at night now, so I have them in wire baskets over one of those big old fountains that hang on your garden wall.   And I got a mister.   I’ve decided that some of them need to be repotted soon, and that I’m going to go with the same old bark.  They were in separate pots inside one giant pot, but I one of them got too much water and died, so now, I’ve dragged them all out. I can’t go to the orchid group, because I’m so clueless.  It would be like asking a fish to explain water.   jane

Response:

On 15 Apr 2003 22:39:51 GMT, janelaw2…@aol.com (jane) wrote: >And I got a mister.  

Well that’s good Missus, because you were getting a little cranky for my personal taste. Anne

Response:

Okay, I’ve got another crisis.  Again, you’re the only person I can think of who can help. I won an orchid arrangement.  It was lovely.  But you know that a table fountain and some orchid fertilizer is the extent of my orchid culture repertoire. So now I’ve got all these plants that I’m afraid I’ll kill.  I already killed an Oncidium (Milt. (Zorro ‘yarrow bay’ x soquel ‘91)).   I’m really getting nervous.  I just realized that my old Denrobium (Singapore White) has brownish roots and sort of shriveled pseudopods.  So does that mean I have root rot?  Is there really any chance I can save it if I do? Why did these orchids come in lava rock stuff instead of the bark? Should I repot them all after the flowers are gone?  Do I use the rock stuff? Does it depend on what type of orchid they are?  They’re all lovely, but I assume fairly common – milts, bertha chong, white fairy, sherry baby, etc. Please, please, please don’t send me over to the orchid group.   jane There’s nothing too terribly out of the ordinary, I’m sure.  

Response:

 >Okay, I’ve got another crisis.  Again, you’re the  >only person I can think of who can help. Let’s see, Tracey’s areas of expertise: life in the military and orchids. Something’s not…quite…syncing on this.  >I won an orchid arrangement.  It was lovely.  But you  >know that a table fountain and some orchid fertilizer  >is the extent of my orchid culture repertoire. A live orchid arrangement? What a prize!  >So now I’ve got all these plants that I’m afraid I’ll  >kill.  I already killed an Oncidium (Milt. (Zorro  >’yarrow bay’ x soquel ‘91)). Hmmm, hint on the Miltonias? From a man who grows a lot of them, he uses only bottled water. (He lives in LA, I think.) He says the city water kills them quick. I’m not having a problem with the water here, but Hawaii water doesn’t have fluoride (or not as much as other places) in it.  >I’m really getting nervous.  I just realized that my  >old Denrobium (Singapore White) has brownish roots and  >sort of shriveled pseudopods.  So does that mean  >I have root rot? Not necessarily. Take it out of the pot and feel the roots. If some of the roots are mushy, it’s root rot. Cut off the mushy ones, dust the cuts with cinnamon and repot in fresh medium. I always figure that shriveled pseudopods means it’s not getting enough water. If the roots aren’t mushy and slimy, maybe you’re having an especially dry winter and just need to up the humidity or watering a bit.  >Is there really any chance I can save it if I do? Yep. Try the above. If that doesn’t work, you’re going to have to hit the orchid newsgroup.  >Why did these orchids come in lava rock stuff instead of the  >bark? There are tons of things they plant these things in. I’ve got plants in big chunks of gravel, red lava rock, black cinder, coconut fiber, things I can’t even begin to identify. Since it’s an arrangement, it’s probably because the lava rock looks ‘neater’ than bark. And easier to handle. Lava rock is fine to keep them in, but I think orchids in it tend to need a little more frequent watering because it doesn’t tend to hold water like the bark does. People get used to a medium and use it exclusively. There’s nothing really to look at that says one is preferred over the other, just your own particular likes. Lava rock or cinder or gravel is suggested if you have a tendency to overwater the plants since it drains quickly and doesn’t hold the water.  >Should I repot them all after the flowers are gone? They’re all in one big pot/container? Then I would. I’ve seen people recommend it. Orchids tend to want their roots ‘bound’ a little bit. That encourages flowering and leaf growth. Room in the pot would probably mean root production instead. With more than one in the same container, you would then end up with the roots all entertwined and hard to separate later. Also, if one of the plants ends up doing poorly or getting a virus or root rot or crown rot, all of them would end up getting it.  >Do I use the rock stuff? Like I said, it’s more of a personal preference thing. The thing with the rock/cinder/gravel is that you don’t have to worry about the medium decaying like you do with bark/fiber.  >Does it depend on what type of orchid they are? Not that I can see or have heard. Sure, you have people who have their ‘dens in this medium, paphs in this medium, phals in this’ rules (for themselves) but I’ve never been all that worried about getting plants that are ’show quality’ or even looking for the most scientifically optimum medium for the plant. The *big* things that I’ve found that make a difference are the size of the pot, the humidity, and air flow around the roots. Not enough air flow is what seems to cause root rot because the roots never really dry out between waterings.  >They’re all lovely, but I assume fairly common – milts, I love the milts.  >bertha chong, white fairy, sherry baby, etc. Sherry Baby is cute, but nothing earth-shattering, AFAIC, but I *love* the fragrance. I just went to an orchid show a couple of weeks ago and bought twelve new orchids. I’m in heaven.  >Please, please, please don’t send me over to the orchid group. Why not? They’re a nice group of people. Tracey

Response:

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