Question
my wilting orchid
Hi, my name is Christina, I live in Maine and own 2 Phals. I got the first one in july and undoubtly killed it by overwatering it. the second one I just got and am nervious Im going to overwater this one too. I've only had it for about a week and the back blooms are wilting. Im not a smoker and its in my bedroom away from any fumes. I have watered it twice, the first time using 3 small ice cubes and the second using a spray bottle. I love orchids so much and I just want to keep one alive! do you have any advice for me?
AnswerChristina, as soon as your last flowers drop you need to repot your plant in a fresh orchid potting mix. In the meantime, ease up on the watering and let the mix dry out. Since you just got this plant, it has likely been in flower for a while and the flowers are just naturally folding due to old age. Another possibility is that the plant got chilled when you had it outside.
Phalaenopsis orchids are houseplants and prefer temperatures between 65-85 degrees. Similarly, they should be watered only with room temperature water. Unlike most house plants, these orchids grow naturally in the tropics, often in trees with their root exposed to the air. Thus, they need a potting mix that is well drained and allows air movement through the potting mix. Orchid potting mixes are spewcifically designed to do that. Unfortunately, orchid potting mixes decay and/or compact over time reducing the flow of air and retaining too much moisture. Under the latter conditions, roots will die and leaves will begin to shrivel. Your plant needs to ne repotted in an orchid potting mix after each flowering. You can find phalaenopsis orchid potting mixes at Lowes and Home Depot and other garden centers. The preferred kind has fir bark as one of its ingredients. Obtain a bag of orchid potting mix at your convenience and let me know when you are ready to repot and I'll offer step-by-step procedures for repotting.
