Question
Hi. One of my orchids is a Phalen-something-or-other. I have NO IDEA what the other is, except it has star-shaped flowers with long trailing petals. My questions are:
1. Are they still alive? The star one was good at home for about a week, then the flowers started drooping and dying. I mist it almost daily and water it every other day by soaking the matrix then putting it back in its plastic holder (with rocks on the bottom so it's not sitting in water.) Just recently I noticed that one of the outside leaves is turning yellow and the fleshy bulbous part is all wrinkly.
2. The phalen's flower spike lasted about 3 weeks, then I made the terrible mistake of leaving it in a window and it burned. The rest of the flowers kind of fell off after that, but the plant itself survived. It gets the same treatment as the other one but it's in a north facing window (bright indirect light, no direct sun.) It has a new leaf appearing. Is it OK? Since it's not flowering, should I fertilize it?
We live in Southern CA, in Ventura County, about 14 m from the ocean. It's been averaging 60+ during the days and down to 40 or so at night. I've had really good luck with cyclamen, ferns, and various other things (these are all outside) but the orchids are very demanding! They are kept inside and I hope they are doing OK...they are so spectacular when they bloom. Thanks for your help.

Answer
Hi Rita,

Living in Ventura, Ca., you live in an area where you can grow quite a few different orchids both indoors and outdoors depending upon what type of orchids you want to grow.  

I'm not quite sure what kind of orchid the star shaped flower is as there are quite a few that fit that description.  One thing though, watering every other day is probably too often as most orchids prefer slightly drying out between waterings.  The bulb becoming wrinkly could be due to the roots having all rotted from constant wetness, no live roots means no water being taken up to keep them nice and plump.  The only way to know for sure is to unpot it and check the roots.  

The phalaenopsis orchid sounds like it is in better shape, keep it in the north window in bright indirect light, warm temperatures, humidity above 50% with some light air movement.  Water it when the potting mix becomes barely moist, in winter this can be from 7 to 10 days or more while in summer it can be every 3 to 7 days.  It would be a good idea to feed it some fertilizer from late winter through mid fall to help it grow and preparation for blooming.  

The problem many people have with orchids is watering, usually watering too often.  Orchids are not that difficult to grow if you select ones that can grow in your environment both indoors and outdoors.  Phalaenopsis are definitely indoor orchids unless you live in the tropics.  There are quite a few orchids that can be grown outdoors there in Ventura.  If you have a few hours you might take a drive up 101 to Goleta and visit Santa Barbara Orchid Estates which is located near the ocean.  Take Patterson Rd, then head towards the ocean, it becomes Orchid Dr. after about a mile, SBOE is at 1250 Orchid Dr.  All of their orchids are grown outdoors.  I believe they are closed Sunday and Monday.  

Also, there is a big orchid show and sale in Santa Barbara February 29 through March 3, 2008.  All of the local orchid nurseries are open that weekend plus many other nurseries from around the world attending and selling plants.  If you go, plan on allowing a full day to see the show and check out all the orchid sales.  

Hope this has been of some help.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.