Still learning :)

Hello everyone. My name is Dena. I am one of those who love orchids but can't seem to figure out how to keep them alive for long. I have tried multiple times over several decades and every attempt has been short lived. In 2012 less than a month

My current attempt began December 2013 when a friend convinced me to purchase a couple of unmarked orchids off a sale rack. They both came in nice ceramic containers so I figured I would have them if/when the plants died.

Came home with my purchases and immediately one plant fell out of the container. I figured this was my curse. Dead plants.

Started doing research and found orchids needed repotting due to being packed in moss most of the time. Bought a bag of orchid bark and began to repot.

The one that fell out had bugs in its pot and most of its roots were shriveled and dried. Had to stake it for stability as it was in bad shape. While nearly everyone tells me to toss this plant I figured why not try? It would die anyway with my track record. Maybe I could learn something along this path of discovery.

The other plant was labeled simply as a phalaenopsis. No name. But it looked much better....or so I thought. Began to repot it and found black roots. More research. And decided to cut those off. Again I knew this was another omen. Orchids and I do not mix.

A month later my birthday came around and the same friend who talked me into making the last purchase gave me a Phal Sogo Yukidian v3 White orchid. She told me it was my reward for keeping the other 2 plants alive for a month.

Well I am happy to say that 9 months later these plants are all alive. And I have acquired a few more along the way as well. All plants have spent the summer outside and are growing well. The phals produced 2 new leaves each. And that plant that fell out...well it apparently is a Catt Alliance type. The catt hasn't done much but it is working on a new lead and several new roots. So I am happy.

Never seen a bloom yet. But that is fine. I have living and growing orchids and that's just fine for now

 

Thanks for the info Kelly!

The one thing I've figured out this year is that I tend to over water. My other house plants love this fact, but obviously not orchids. With my plants being outside for the summer I removed the saucers and they have done very well.

I am hopeful I will see blooms starting soon as I understand phals start sending out bloom spikes in the fall when the weather begins to cool off.

 

Had a bit of trouble over the summer as something got into the backyard and knocked over many of my plants. At first I couldn't find my largest phals, but kept searching. It took me an hour before I finally spotted them.....sitting at the bottom of the aquarium, fully submerged under water! Both plants lost several leaves and immediately went into shock, and just sat there the rest of the summer.

All my temperature sensitive plants are now indoors for winter. And to my surprise these 2 phals are starting to work on a flower stock. Almost makes me feel like a graduate! A flower in my future is my prize

Phalaenopsis Sogo Yukidian v3 White is down to just 3 leaves. The others had to be sacrificed due to the suffered damage. Definitely did not expect this plant to decide to flower!


The NOID Phalaenopsis ended up with 4 leaves, one has a deep split down the middle a couple of inches. But it is also going to flower.