Question
QUESTION: I was given a peace orchid and it was doing fine. Now all of a sudden the blooms are shriveling and falling off. Is it dying or what. I do not want to lose it what can I do?

ANSWER: Hello Krista,

I am not quite sure what type of orchid plant your peace orchid is.  I found two orchids referred to as Peace Orchid, one is a phalaenopsis and the other could either be a miltonia or a miltoniopiss.  Do you know which yours is?  Phalaenopsis have leaves that are somewhat oval in shape and are very thick with no bulb at the base of the leaves.  Both Miltonia and miltoniopsis have rather wide thin leaves that come to a point, they also have a small bulbous growth at the base of the leaves.  Do any of these describe your orchid?  

Waiting to hear from you. It also would help to know where and how you are growing it, temperature, light exposure, etc.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: It looks like to phalaenopsis you have described. I have it in my kitchen window, above my sink, which is on the west side of my house and there is a covered porch just outside so it is not in direct sunlight. I would guess the room temperature to be between 70 75 .
I may have overwatered it. The leaves still look green and it appears another bloom is coming on. It also appears another stalk is coming up out of the soil; is this possible? I don't know whether to cut it back or let it go. I just thought is was strange that all of the blooms fell off within a couple of days. One of the blooms was fairly new.

I hope this helps.

Thank you,
Krista

Answer
Hello Krista,

Phalaenopsis blooms will usually last for several months and longer, that one of the newer ones wilted and fell off so soon might indicate a problem with where or how it is growing.  

Placed on the kitchen window might be the cause.  You did not say where you live but if the night temperatures drop much below 60F, although the house temperature might be 70F the temperature right next to the window could be much lower.  Also, being in the kitchen, are there any fruits within 6 feet of it?  Fruits emit ethylene gas as they ripen and it can be deadly to blooms and buds.  

That would be great if the new growth you see is a bloom stalk but I believe it may be a root.  New roots will have a green tip and the root body is grey or whitish grey in color.  New stalks are usually green to reddish green in color.  

Hope this helped.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.