Question
I have an asoscenda (I have forgetten name - it has orange flowers). I purchased it last winter in bloom. In the past I have had difficulty getting them to rebloom. Also, the roots look very thin and wiry - are they dead. I am in the northeast - zone 5. Any tips?

Answer
Hello Suzanne,

Living in the northeast in zone 5, you may have a difficult time getting the ascoscenda to bloom.  Ascoscendas require quite a bit of light, humidity and warmth to grow and bloom well.  If you can give it lots of light and keep the temperature above 65F along with humidity above 50%, you might be able to get it to bloom for you.  While it is actively growing from spring through early fall, keep it moist but not soaking wet along with feeding it a balance type orchid fertilizer at 1/2 the suggested amount every other watering.  From mid fall through winter, keep it slightly moist and feed it quarter strength fertilizer.  

Without actually seeing the roots, I cannot say if they are alive or dead.  Try soaking the roots in lukewarm water for about 15 minutes to see if they plump up a little.  Also, dead roots will usually become soft, so if yours are somewhat firm when squeezed, they probably are okay.  

Hope this helped.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.