Please help me with my new orchid

wallbash

Cut more and water less.

I would still cut very low. And water even less,
Post #8 ........... just leave the poor thing alone.

TELLIT01

If the 'roots' are fat and green it doesn't need watering. Once they start to look a bit shrivelled ( but not too far gone), dunk the plant pot into water for about 10 minutes and then let it stand and drain. That's about all the care they need apart from making sure they don't get too hot and keep them out of direct sun which will scorch the leaves.
I cut the flower stem back to a couple of nodes above the plant base and that works for me. Different folk seem to prefer different methods but they all seem to work.
Be aware that the growing tip of the flower stem is pretty delicate and can easily be knocked off as I discovered last year :-(

maman

Just came on to say a big thank you to everyone who gave orchid advice. I followed instructions, new stem has grown and lovely flowers just coming out.:)


Spurred on by this success I have nurtured a Christmas cactus I got as a gift last year. That too s just coming into glorious flower. OK so that's a few weeks early but I'm pleased.:D

wellused

Christmas cacti are brilliant plants they require minimum care and give fantastic flowering display but mine never flower at christmas, it's something to do with light levels and the growers must use artificial light to get them into flower at the desired time. I have a christmas cacti which I left outside undercover a few years ago the temperature dropped to something like minus 6 degrees one night and the poor thing got frozen, I salvaged three leaf nodes and planted them up and luckily one eventually grew into a fine plant which is now in flower these plants are tough.

maman

wellused wrote: »

Christmas cacti are brilliant plants they require minimum care and give fantastic flowering display but mine never flower at christmas, it's something to do with light levels and the growers must use artificial light to get them into flower at the desired time. I have a christmas cacti which I left outside undercover a few years ago the temperature dropped to something like minus 6 degrees one night and the poor thing got frozen, I salvaged three leaf nodes and planted them up and luckily one eventually grew into a fine plant which is now in flower these plants are tough.

Thanks for that.


I've put mine in the sitting room, mainly so I can look at it.:) The flowers are looking a bit withery. Is it the heat? Should I water more? Any advice welcome. TIA

wellused

Has it been in full flower yet as they don't last very long? Mine sit on a windowsill out of the sun I have heard say that when they are in flower they shouldn't be moved I don't know if this is correct.

maman

wellused wrote: »

Has it been in full flower yet as they don't last very long? Mine sit on a windowsill out of the sun I have heard say that when they are in flower they shouldn't be moved I don't know if this is correct.

Thanks for getting back to me. Yes, it's been in flower for a week or more but many buds still to come out. You're probably right and it's just the earliest flowers dying off. I think I'll risk moving it to the window sill as it'll be a bit cooler there. It's north facing anyway but we haven't seen much sun lately.:(

DaftyDuck

Cool and bright light is best. They don't like warm & dry indoors, and they'll lose flowers much faster if they get hot. I, too, have heard not to move them once in flower, but I'm afraid I ignore that, and plant trundles around where I can enjoy it best.

Once flowering is over, remove the dead flowers with a little twist, keeps new flowers coming. You can break off a leaf and pot it on as a cutting for further plants.

Mojisola

wellused wrote: »

Christmas cacti are brilliant plants they require minimum care and give fantastic flowering display but mine never flower at christmas, it's something to do with light levels and the growers must use artificial light to get them into flower at the desired time.

There's a range of varieties which flower at different times. My Mum had a big collection and there was usually at least one in flower from December to May.

maman

My orchid has been in flower all over the Christmas period but just lost it's last petals.


Having been successful last year, I assume I'll cut it back and hope I get the same success.


Quick question: Is there a season for orchids? Last year I received it in March in flower, and cut it back late May when the final petals dropped. Is it OK to cut it back at this time of the year?