What to do with a Phalaenopsis Orchid

altojack

Hi there, I'm hoping someone can offer me some help with my orchid. This is the 3rd one I've had, the other 2 died.
I have had lovely flowers on this and they have died off, which I expected. The stem has turned brown from the top down to the old dead flowering branch.
Do I cut the dead top off the plant please? It has two branches sprouted out of the main stem which have the beginings of flowers on them both, so if possible I want to try and keep the plant going.

floss2

Yes, cut the old stem off to above the new stems - if you are lucky & the plant is happy (which it seems to be if it is throwing out new flower spikes!) it may keep on producing more flowers on the end of the stems.

Keep it in a light place, a window sill is ideal (i have mine on both south & north facing windowsills & they are very happy) and water sparingly, I do mine about once every week. Mine each sit on a layer of gravel inside an outer pot that holds the water, which gives them a humid atmosphere which they like.

altojack

Thank you floss, I've cut the stem off and left the plant on the windowsill. I have been watering every 2 weeks by standing the plant in a mixture of lukewarm water and Baby Bio Orchid Food for about an hour. Am so surprised that it now has 2 more branches which both have buds on. Thanks again for your help floss.

alm721

Orchids don't like to sit in water even for an hour, on a programme the other week, (think it was gardeners world) they said to water them by pouring water through the pot and allowing it to run straight out the bottom. Also I think baby bio may be too much for them as they grow and flower best in nutrient poor soil. I think you can buy orchid plant 'food' though although I'm not sure how often you should use this?

floss2

alm721 wrote: »

Orchids don't like to sit in water even for an hour, on a programme the other week, (think it was gardeners world) they said to water them by pouring water through the pot and allowing it to run straight out the bottom. Also I think baby bio may be too much for them as they grow and flower best in nutrient poor soil. I think you can buy orchid plant 'food' though although I'm not sure how often you should use this?

TBH, I have always stood mine on gravel & watered that way and also have always used a few drops of original Baby Bio to feed them, neither seems to have done them any harm over the last 25+ years! I know my dad used to do the same too, as he started growing them in the early 1980's and gave me my love of orchids.

Mine also live on windowsills that are allegedly "wrong" for them, but they seem to thrive - I always have at least 2 out of the 7 in flower at any one time, often for months on end.

OP, To me it sounds as though your plant is happy with its treatment & the orchid food as it is sending out more flower stems - I would carry on until it is obviously unhappy!!

spiritus

alm721 wrote: »

Orchids don't like to sit in water even for an hour, on a programme the other week, (think it was gardeners world) they said to water them by pouring water through the pot and allowing it to run straight out the bottom. Also I think baby bio may be too much for them as they grow and flower best in nutrient poor soil. I think you can buy orchid plant 'food' though although I'm not sure how often you should use this?

I saw this programme and can only come to the conclusion that there is more than one way to water an orchid.

I have seen people place the plant pot in a bowl of luke warm water and let it stand overnight and their plants look extemely healthy.

altojack

Yes, I remember seeing a programme that said to stand them in water over night. I feel that would be far too long lol.
I have snipped the top off the stem that was brown and going to carry on as before (thank you floss2).
I'll report back later this year and let you all know how it gets on.

Moomin

I bought 3 orchid plants from ikea last year and they are still alive, but only 2 of the 3 are flowering at the moment. I sit them on the windowsill in my bathroom and give them a 5min 'soak' every 3-4 weeks, although they get most of the water they need from the humidity in the bathroom. Also my bathroom window is frosted so they get enough light. I read somewhere that they don't like a lot of sunlight

floss2

Moomin wrote: »

... I read somewhere that they don't like a lot of sunlight

Mine get sunlight first thing when in the East facing window, and late afternoon when in the West facing windows.... they get rotated according to whether they are in flower or not, but now I have seven, there always seems to be a few in flower all through the year!

Correction: I have eight - forgot the big one in the kitchen!

altojack

Well, so far so good. The flowers on the top stem are coming into bloom. I cut off the top of the main stem the other day and have had my fingers crossed that all will be well.
I'm trying to work out how to put a photo on here so you can see lol

System

A professional orchid grower once told me not to wait until the flowering top was completely dead before trimming back. It gives the stem a better chance of resprouting. When you cut allow an inch above the node. This allows for a little bit of die back.
If the stem is straggly and not looking good any more I cut mine back. This is after all creative work with a cane and clips has been exhausted. The cut piece lasts well in water.