Christie darling...

[Tocqueville3]

How did you get that lovely orchid to bloom again? I read the story behind it and was just wondering.

I have an orchid that looks like it is on its last legs. David got it for me when I was diagnosed with Bells Palsy. I usually don't kill plants but this orchid is kinda pathetic looking.

Help me, baby!

[christie1111]

You may be at the point where the orchid will now turn around and bloom again....

Orchids like a dormant period where they need to rest after blooming, often as much as a year. Sounds like yours has done that. Then by putting it somewhere with bright light (not direct = outside in the sun) and feeding and watering it regularly, it will then go into a growth/blooming cycle.

Do not replant it if it is on woodchip/moss kind of growing medium and the roots look okay, i.e. not squishy or rotten looking. They grow on trees and things and don't need soil in the traditional sense. Their roots don't like to be disturbed.

I use Schultz orchid food that I got at the grocery store. I prepare it as it says on the container, 1/4 tsp in a gallon of water. I use it everytime I water the plant when it is in the growing phase.

Do you have a tag with a name on it? If you Google the name, they sometimes have specific info on the variety and any special needs.

When did it last bloom? Are the leaves squishy or discolored? Any signs of creatures like aphids?

I would be happy to answer with any other help.



I have mine in a shallow dish that usually has a little water. Pebble or rocks are good as they need high humidity.

[Tocqueville3]

You may be at the point where the orchid will now turn around and bloom again....

Orchids like a dormant period where they need to rest after blooming, often as much as a year. Sounds like yours has done that. Then by putting it somewhere with bright light (not direct = outside in the sun) and feeding and watering it regularly, it will then go into a growth/blooming cycle.

Do not replant it if it is on woodchip/moss kind of growing medium and the roots look okay, i.e. not squishy or rotten looking. They grow on trees and things and don't need soil in the traditional sense. Their roots don't like to be disturbed.

I use Schultz orchid food that I got at the grocery store. I prepare it as it says on the container, 1/4 tsp in a gallon of water. I use it everytime I water the plant when it is in the growing phase.

Do you have a tag with a name on it? If you Google the name, they sometimes have specific info on the variety and any special needs.

When did it last bloom? Are the leaves squishy or discolored? Any signs of creatures like aphids?

I would be happy to answer with any other help.



I have mine in a shallow dish that usually has a little water. Pebble or rocks are good as they need high humidity.

My orchid is finished blooming so it might stay dormant for a while.


What do I do with the stem? Where do i trim it? Do I need to trim it at all?

From what I can tell the roots look fine--greenish and firm. I don't think it has any pests like aphids. The leaves are green and shiny.

My biggest problem is finding a place in the house with bright enough light where Olivia the Plant Destroyer can't get to it. I might have to put it up in Madeleine's room by her window out of Olivia's reach. It is a deep pink so Madeleine will like that. The rest of the windows have tables or counter ledges where she can reach.

On my next trip to Lowes I will look for said plant food.

Thanks so much.

[cindy.wellman]

You may be at the point where the orchid will now turn around and bloom again....

Orchids like a dormant period where they need to rest after blooming, often as much as a year. Sounds like yours has done that. Then by putting it somewhere with bright light (not direct = outside in the sun) and feeding and watering it regularly, it will then go into a growth/blooming cycle.

Do not replant it if it is on woodchip/moss kind of growing medium and the roots look okay, i.e. not squishy or rotten looking. They grow on trees and things and don't need soil in the traditional sense. Their roots don't like to be disturbed.

I use Schultz orchid food that I got at the grocery store. I prepare it as it says on the container, 1/4 tsp in a gallon of water. I use it everytime I water the plant when it is in the growing phase.

Do you have a tag with a name on it? If you Google the name, they sometimes have specific info on the variety and any special needs.

When did it last bloom? Are the leaves squishy or discolored? Any signs of creatures like aphids?

I would be happy to answer with any other help.



I have mine in a shallow dish that usually has a little water. Pebble or rocks are good as they need high humidity.

My orchid is finished blooming so it might stay dormant for a while.


What do I do with the stem? Where do i trim it? Do I need to trim it at all?

From what I can tell the roots look fine--greenish and firm. I don't think it has any pests like aphids. The leaves are green and shiny.

My biggest problem is finding a place in the house with bright enough light where Olivia the Plant Destroyer can't get to it. I might have to put it up in Madeleine's room by her window out of Olivia's reach. It is a deep pink so Madeleine will like that. The rest of the windows have tables or counter ledges where she can reach.

On my next trip to Lowes I will look for said plant food.

Thanks so much.

My biggest problem with orchids was that I couldn't figure out how much water the thing wanted. A co-worker of Eric's told us about these gauges that completely took the guesswork out of watering for me. I doubt you have this problem, but for me, it was a huge help!

http://www.hydro-orchids-store.com/7watergauge.html

[christie1111]

You may be at the point where the orchid will now turn around and bloom again....

Orchids like a dormant period where they need to rest after blooming, often as much as a year. Sounds like yours has done that. Then by putting it somewhere with bright light (not direct = outside in the sun) and feeding and watering it regularly, it will then go into a growth/blooming cycle.

Do not replant it if it is on woodchip/moss kind of growing medium and the roots look okay, i.e. not squishy or rotten looking. They grow on trees and things and don't need soil in the traditional sense. Their roots don't like to be disturbed.

I use Schultz orchid food that I got at the grocery store. I prepare it as it says on the container, 1/4 tsp in a gallon of water. I use it everytime I water the plant when it is in the growing phase.

Do you have a tag with a name on it? If you Google the name, they sometimes have specific info on the variety and any special needs.

When did it last bloom? Are the leaves squishy or discolored? Any signs of creatures like aphids?

I would be happy to answer with any other help.



I have mine in a shallow dish that usually has a little water. Pebble or rocks are good as they need high humidity.

My orchid is finished blooming so it might stay dormant for a while.


What do I do with the stem? Where do i trim it? Do I need to trim it at all?

From what I can tell the roots look fine--greenish and firm. I don't think it has any pests like aphids. The leaves are green and shiny.

My biggest problem is finding a place in the house with bright enough light where Olivia the Plant Destroyer can't get to it. I might have to put it up in Madeleine's room by her window out of Olivia's reach. It is a deep pink so Madeleine will like that. The rest of the windows have tables or counter ledges where she can reach.

On my next trip to Lowes I will look for said plant food.

Thanks so much.

If it just finished, yes, it needs to go dormant. I would hold off feeding it for a bit also. Just water unless you see a change in the foliage. It can also go in a less bright location for 3 months or so.

If you mean the stalk the flowers were on, then you can just cut that off at the base. The leaves should just stay as is. If they are green and shiny, you are prolly just fine.

In about 3 monts you can start feeding it with that dilute food and patiently wait!

Glad to have been any small assistance.