Question
Hello,

I have 4 phalaenopsis orchids.  One is doing well....lot's of new leaves growing.  Hasn't rebloomed yet.  Lives in a clay pot without moss-like stuff on top.  The second I cut back after it bloomed.  My friend said to do that.  It turned brown, lost all leaves, and appears dead.  Lives in a clay pot with moss-like stuff on top.  That moss stuff dries and gets hard as rock when dry.  The third was doing well.  I didn't cut it back after blooming.  It was growing new leaves, but recently has lost all of it's leaves.  It lost all it's mature leaves, started to grow a new one, and that shriveled up and died on the plant.  It's stalk where it originally bloomed from is greenish-brown.  It even has a small green off-shoot from that stalk that is vivid green.  The off-shoot is about 1.5 inches long.  Lives in a clay pot with moss-like stuff on top.  The fourth one is strange.  It is growing leaves up at the top of the stalks where it used to have flowers.  I really mean leaves and roots...up at the top.  The leaves and roots up there are very green and healthy.  It never rebloomed after I got it.  One of the 4 tried to rebloom...I can't remember which one.  It formed 3 buds, but they shriveled up, died, and fell off.

They all live in the same area of the house.  Why do they all act differently when they are the same species?  What can I do to save the one that's lost it's leaves?  What about the one I cut back - the stalk.  I cut it back so about 2.5 inches is left.  Is it dead?  Is the fourth one trying to propagate?  Should I cut the leaf/root formations off and start new plants?  Why did the one that tried to bloom end up failing?

I live in CO.  It is very dry where I live.  In addition, I keep them in a shady corner of the house...no direct sun and not much light at all.  I try not to water them much at all b/c I read over-watering is the number one killer.  I think I've only fertilized them twice since I've had them...I have had the fourth one for 2 years.  The other 3 I've had for about 1 year.

Thanks,
Sarah

Answer
Hi again Sarah,

Ah, now we are going on to the phalaenopsis orchids!  (grin)  With four different phals having different or slightly different problems, this answer may get complicated, taking some twists and turns along the way.  So bear with me.  

Let's start with the one doing well but has not rebloomed yet.  Most phals bloom once a year and usually in late winter through spring.  That it is growing new leaves is promising.  Are the new leaves growing as large or larger than the older leaves?  If not, that could be an indication there may be a problem with the roots and/or potting mix breaking down.  

The one that lost all of the leaves, I'm afraid it is a goner and headed for the trash can.  Sorry.  

The one that had been doing well but suddenly lost all of its leaves including the new leaf starting, I'm afraid it is a gone too.  

The one with the offshoot growing on the flower stalk sounds like it is still alive, hope it continues.  The new growth could be a secondary bloom stalk growing, I hope it is.  If it is, it will take from 2 to 4 months before it is in bloom.  I would suggest removing the moss covering the top of the pot, it can lead to problems later.  

Lastly, the one with the new growth with leaves and roots is known as a keiki or baby plantlet.  Once the roots are over 2 inches long, you can remove it by twisting and pulling it away from the stalk.  If it will not easily break off, cut the connecting tissue that attached it to the stalk.  Put it in a small pot, no more than 3 inches wide along with some potting mix.  Grow it along side the others.  If all goes well, it may produce blooms in a year or so.  

Buds falling off without opening is usually caused by a lack of humidity or possibly having some fruits near by.  Also, exposure to a sudden cold draft (a/c vent nearby?) can cause this or even exposure to hot temperatures above 90F.  

As long as a phal has leaves and a healthy root system, they will continue to grow and should produce blooms each winter through spring.  

One of the reasons they are not doing well could be where you are growing them.  Corners are not the best place to grow any orchid due to the lack of air movement.  If you have an area that is more open along with bright shade, that would be ideal.  With air movement, the potting mix will dry sooner which may mean watering them every 3 to 5 days in summer and every 7 to 10 days in winter.  Just remember to wait until the potting mix becomes barely moist before watering again.  When watering, try to not get water on the leaves.  The best time to water is early morning to allow enough time for any water on the leaves to evaporate before nightfall.  This may be the reason the first two died, there was water on the leaves and a fungus infected them.  

Although phals do not need lots of fertilizer, they do need a little on a somewhat regular basis.  

With your dry weather there, it might be advantageous to place the pots on top of plastic trays filled with small pebbles and water to create a little added humidity.  Just be sure the bottom of the pot does not sit in water.  

Well, I hope I covered all of your question and that I was able to help.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.