My orchid appeared healthy, then suddenly the flower fell off. The plant has continued to turn brown from top to bottom. I had been watering every three days with an ice cube. After the bloom fell off, I started using an ice cube every other day. I’ve been giving it orchid food once a week. Given the color, I assumed it’s not getting enough water, but it’s only gotten worse since I upped the water. Any advice?
It looks like the inflorescence is dying back but that’s just part of the natural lifecycle. Just cut it back to the base of the plant. Orchids don’t stay in bloom indefinitely. With proper care, you should have new blooms in a year or so. I wouldn’t water with ice cubes. It’s a great marketing ploy but terrible care advice. Orchid roots like to dry out. The best way to tell a phalaenopsis is ready for water is to look at the roots. Green roots = don’t water. Silver roots = watering time. The type of media dictates how I water. I grow most of my Phalanopsis in bark so they dry out reasonably fast in my growing conditions. When the phal is ready for some water, I soak the pot for 10-15 minutes. Each time I water, I use fertilizer at 1/4 strength. Wait until the media dries out (look for silver roots) before watering again. For my setup, that works out to roughly once a week. For plants in sphagnum, I top water only because soaking causes the sphagnum to take in too much water. These orchids usually are ready for water every second week. Again this is based on my growing conditions so watch your plant to determine when it wants water. Once a month flush with pure water to reduce salt buildup (this is especially important if you are using synthetic fertilizer or have hard water). You might consider posting on the Orchid Oasis forum. There are a lot of helpful people that actively reply to posts. Good luck!
7 likesThank you so much! I was so worried that I killed it already…. I soaked it and have purchased an orchid pot. I really appreciate all the helpful information.
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The ice cube thing is not it. I know they sell them with those instructions so not your fault but I would stop doing that. Mine are in sphagnum moss and fir bark. I soak it for 15 minutes once a week in the warmer months. All is not lost! Cut the flower spike off and try repotting in a specialized orchid pot (lots of holes for air flow)
omg just read Measomer’s response 👏 yes yes! Know YOUR conditions and pay attention to those roots
0 likesThanks for the encouragement and advice!! I purchased an orchid pot so hopefully that helps it survive - didn’t even know that was a thing.
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The flowers aren’t meant to last forever, you can cut the stem all the way down to the leaves and let a new one grow. It’s slow but it happens
0 likesGood to know, I’m learning that orchids are pretty unique. Thanks!
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