Orchids

I have been given a lovely orchid. The leaves are gradually turning yellow and have to be removed.  Any ideas for best treatment please
«1

Comments

  • twopenny
    twopenny Forumite Posts: 4,609
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Forumite
    Are you watering it too much?
    Only once a week at most. I do once a fortnight. Drench with boiled water and drain throughly.
    Away from direct sunlight.
    They also like to be in a clear pot as the roots photosynthise.

    The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well

  • poppy811
    poppy811 Forumite Posts: 540
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    Thank you for your help. Watered once a week and in a clear pot but have moved the plant to a cooler spot ( was in the conservatory)
  • RAS
    RAS Forumite Posts: 31,934
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Forumite
    East facing or even north at this time of year. 
    The person who has not made a mistake, has made nothing
  • MSE_Molly
    MSE_Molly MSE Staff Posts: 84
    Tenth Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper Xmas Saver!
    MSE Staff
    I'm not sure where I learnt this hack, but apparently an ice cube at the roots every few days in the summer, and once a week in winter, will keep it healthy! It's worked for me so far!
    9pq8rzqiakm0.png MSE's Academy of Money digital badge

    Follow MSE on other Social Media:
    MSE Facebook, MSE Twitter,MSE Deals Twitter, Instagram
    Join the MSE Forum
    Get the Free MoneySavingExpert Money Tips E-mail
    To report inappropriate posts: click the report button
    Point out a rate/product change
    Flag a news story: [email protected]
  • poppy811
    poppy811 Forumite Posts: 540
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    Thanks so much for all the help
  • droopsnoot
    droopsnoot Forumite Posts: 1,694
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Forumite
    twopenny said:
    Are you watering it too much?
    Only once a week at most. I do once a fortnight. Drench with boiled water and drain throughly.
    Away from direct sunlight.
    They also like to be in a clear pot as the roots photosynthise.
    Interesting stuff. I heard someone on the TV suggesting watering once a week and thought "really? I do mine once a day" and until recently they've had a decent crop of flowers on them. And they sit on the window sills to the rear of the house, so pretty much in direct sunlight. They're in the pots they came in, but those are inside pottery jars.

    I wonder how much better they'll get when I address these issues, though I'm not sure where I can stick them that's outside of direct sunlight. I'll give it a go and see what happens.

    I do have a lot of "tendrils" on them that make them look quite untidy, I cropped them back on one but it's struggled to flower since I did that, just a couple of half-hearted ones. Still, if I'm over-watering, that won't have helped.

  • sammynunes
    sammynunes Forumite Posts: 66
    10 Posts First Anniversary
    Forumite
    edited 24 June 2022 at 10:59AM
    You need to water orchids every fortnight by pouring a litre and a half through the pot. Drain well after watering.

    Ideally use rainwater or better still deionised water with an added orchid feed (use Rainmix or 1/10th of a normal feed). Don't use boiled water as advised above, but boiling you do nothing but make the water harder and hard water kills orchids.

    We've got 90 orchids in the house and they all get this treatment.
  • CapricornLass
    CapricornLass Forumite Posts: 604
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Debt-free and Proud!
    Forumite
    It really depends on what sort of orchid you have.  I have native orchids in my lawn, and they are in sunshine most of the day. and only get watered when it rains here.  The one someone gave me that was from a supermarket seems to be happy in good but indirect light, and I spray the roots every day, and every once in a while, run water through the pot and letting it drain.  My dracula orchid however, sits with its feet in a bowl of rainwater in one of the dark corners of my bathroom as per the grower's instructions, and so far it seems quite happy....

    Did your orchid come with a label?  Or does the person who gave it to you know what sort it is?
    Sealed Pot Challenge no 035. Fashion on the Ration: 36/66 coupons spent.
  • Floss
    Floss Forumite Posts: 7,584
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Forumite

    I do have a lot of "tendrils" on them that make them look quite untidy, I cropped them back on one but it's struggled to flower since I did that, just a couple of half-hearted ones. Still, if I'm over-watering, that won't have helped.
    The 'tendrils' are air roots, it's probably best to leave them rather than cut them.
    2021 Decluttering Awards: ⭐⭐🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 2022 Decluttering Awards: 🥇
    2023 Decluttering Awards: 🥇 🥇 🥇
  • poppy811
    poppy811 Forumite Posts: 540
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    Phaleanopsis Capricorn lass.  Already looking a bit better as I have moved it to a cooler spot
Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 338.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 248.7K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 447.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 230.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 601K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 171.1K Life & Family
  • 244.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 15.9K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards