Question
Hi,  I thought I killed my orchid, phalynopsis. It bloomed for a few months, thn lost its flowers one by one. The large broad base leaves remained, as well as a lonely bare stalk. I moved the plant to a backroom and now it has grown a new leaf! Is there a hope of revival here. How can I try to save it. How should I care properly for an orchid in the future?  

I have some perelite and aeroponic soiless mix, will this help, how do I use it properly?

Thank you for your time.

Kristen from salmon arm, bc, canada  

Answer
Hi Kristen,

Sorry for taking so long to respond to your question but I've been without electricity for 4 days!!!  Don't know if you've been experiencing hot weather up in B.C. but it has been over 95?F for 2 weeks with the last 4 days above 110?F!!!!  The local electric company blames the power outages on transformers blowing up!  They were not designed to withstand such sustained high temperatures.  

Now on to your question!  

If your phalaenopsis orchid has made a new leaf, things are going pretty good with it.  Keep an eye on it to see if the new leaf grows as large or larger than the other older leaves, if it is happy it should do just that.  As for the bare stalk, you can remove it or leave it, the choice is yours.  If the top of the stalk is dying and turning brown, it would be best to remove it by cutting it down as low as you safely can without injuring the plant.  

Perlite can be a very good additive to any orchid mix.  I am not familiar with aeroponic soiless mixes so can't say much about it.  The main thing to consider before using any mix for your phalaenopsis orchid is whether it is open enough to allow air to circulate through it and thus around the roots.  Phal. roots need a little air around them along with some moisture for the plant to grow well.  Is there a nursery or garden center near you that carries orchid bark mixes?  If they do, look for a medium grade bark mix, your phal. will love it.  You can mix about 10% perlite by volume to the bark if you wish.  

Phalaenopsis orchids need bright but indirect sunlight with humidity above 50%.  Some light air movement around it plus some water and food.  Be careful of watering, wait until the mix becomes barely moist before watering again.  Feed it a balance type orchid fertilizer but at 1/4 the amount suggested on the package as phals. do not need lots of it.  

Hope this helps.  Good luck and good growing.  

By the way, I've been up to B.C. several times but never heard of Salmon Arm.  Of course, I spent most of my time in Vancouver, Whistler, and Victoria while on vacation.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.