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Orchids/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Wilted Orchid Flowers | 2/7/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: I purchased an orchid at a deep discount from a grocery store. The reason it was so discounted is ... A: Karen, bear in mind that there is no one at the grocery store that knows how to care for orchids. ... | ||
| Growing New Leaves | 2/7/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: Our orchid is growing a new leaf at the top of the plant instead of the bottom. Is that a problem? A: Kelly, if you have a phalaenopsis orchid, and the new leaf is on the old flower spike, this is not ... | ||
| reading material regarding orchids | 2/7/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: I am new to orchid horticulture...can you recommend or suggest a book or two regarding ... A: The best beginner's book on orchid culture (my opinion) was written by the late Rebecca Tyson ... | ||
| How to get phalaenopsis to bloom | 2/4/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: I have about 2 dozen orchids, mostly Phalaenopsis of various sizes planted in bark and kept indoors. ... A: Jeanine, Phalaenopsis usually bloom only once per year so let's address the plants that haven't ... | ||
| dendrobium orchid | 2/2/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: My dendrobium is in full bloom with about 20 blooms but the canes are about two feet long with no ... A: Estelle, unfortunately it is in the nature of many dendrobiums to have long canes. There also is a ... | ||
| Living in a humid dorm room | 1/25/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: I am looking to add a plant to my shared dorm room in San Jose, CA. The dormitory room faces north ... A: Jacob, thanks for sharing info about your growing environment. I think a phalaenopsis (moth orchid) ... | ||
| baseofleavesonorchisdareyellowing | 1/23/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: i have had my orchids since 11/5/2011, i have one that has finished its bloom, i have cut it back ... A: Denise, the surest way to kill an orchid is to ice it. I realize that this is an idea that is being ... | ||
| Plastic pots | 1/23/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: Why are plastic pots used for orchids? A: Mary Ellen, thanks for your question. Plastic pots have a number of features not possessed by clay ... | ||
| Help with new orchid | 1/20/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: My sister just sent the orchid attached, it is from FTD. I've always loved orchids but have no ... A: As to the name of the phalaenopsis, I could only guess and would probabky be wrong. I wish that the ... | ||
| Air Roots | 1/19/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: I have several phalaenopsis orchids that have grown long air roots. I want and need to repot them ... A: Linda, when you unpot a plant with air roots you should soak it for at least an hour prior to ... | ||
| Orchid-Frostbitten | 1/19/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: I left my phal orchid outside while I went away for the weekend and the temperatures got very chilly ... A: Jaclyn, I can't say there is no hope, but, I would characterize it as slim hope. Phalaenopsis need ... | ||
| flowering | 1/17/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: ...many thanks. Michael A: Michael, light which provides a slightly yellow appearance to the leaves is an indicator of light ... | ||
| Novelty Phalaenopsis Help | 1/14/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: May I know why are the lower leaves of novelty phalaenopsis turning yellow? I watered it moderately, ... A: Alfredo, it could be root rot, but, to be sure, you will need to unpot and check roots to see if ... | ||
| Orchid hasn't flowers in 3 years | 1/13/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: I have 2 orchids, both Phalaenopsis. One hasn't flowered in 4 years although it's leaves are green. ... A: Yes, I would assume that. Once you achieve sufficient light levels, it will still take the plant at ... | ||
| Orchid hasn't flowers in 3 years | 1/13/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: I have 2 orchids, both Phalaenopsis. One hasn't flowered in 4 years although it's leaves are green. ... A: Gil, the usual reason for reluctance to flower is insufficient light. If the leaves are dark green, ... | ||
| yellow and black spots on oncidium | 1/12/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: I'm attaching a picture of a problem that is starting with my oncidium. Leaves are starting to turn ... A: Grace, this is a common problem with oncidiums. While it is unsightly, it will not cause the orchid ... | ||
| liparis grossa care | 1/11/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: I just purchased a pot of liparis grossa. I searched the web for the care of this orchid and so far ... A: While I have not grown this miniature species (there are 200 species of Liparis), it probably would ... | ||
| 2 inflorescences on my orchid | 1/7/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: I'm new to orchids and I feel that I'm dangerously close to having my phalaenopsis rebloom ... A: I would cut the old flower spike off just above the second node (ie joint). Normally this should be ... | ||
| my orchid is dying | 1/5/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: I have nine orchids and most seem to be doing quite well. I have three that arent though. I did ... A: Al, we have a couple of unrelated issues here. The first issue deals with the flower spikes. ... | ||
| Phal budding four spikes | 1/5/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: I live in Jacksonville, FL and I received my white phal in early September at my mother-in-law's ... A: Cathryn, I would stay away from the moss as it compacts over time and tends to remain too wet or too ... | ||
| Vanda bloom Spike Dried up | 1/4/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: A friend of mine has many many orchids, but recently she has been having a problem with her vandas. ... A: Marita, there are many factors involved here. Some vandas, especially Vanda coerulea and its ... | ||
| Phalaenopsis potting | 1/3/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: Another photo showing interior of basket. @@@@@IMAGE:92294:Orchids-727/2012/01/orchid_53.jpg##### ... A: Great question Ted. You remind me of so many other orchid growing friends who have been growing for ... | ||
| Phalaenopsis potting | 1/1/2012 | Wayne King |
| Q: I have been growing orchids for over 40 years now. Previously, I have always potted my Phalies in ... A: Ted, phalaenopsis are part of the Vandaceous alliance and I see no reason that you can't grow them ... | ||
| Orchid dormancy | 12/27/2011 | Wayne King |
| Q: My mother has dementia but still loves to look after her 2 orchids - however she is now struggling ... A: Phalaenopsis do not require a rest period. It is not unusual for a phal to bloom repeatedly. It ... | ||
| Phal budding four spikes | 12/24/2011 | Wayne King |
| Q: I live in Jacksonville, FL and I received my white phal in early September at my mother-in-law's ... A: Hope you had a good Christmas and have a special new year. Clearly, your potting mix is not in the ... | ||
| Phal budding four spikes | 12/24/2011 | Wayne King |
| Q: I live in Jacksonville, FL and I received my white phal in early September at my mother-in-law's ... A: Cathryn, the picture is very helpful. Thanks. The plant is in reasonably good shape. The motto ... | ||
| Phal budding four spikes | 12/21/2011 | Wayne King |
| Q: I live in Jacksonville, FL and I received my white phal in early September at my mother-in-law's ... A: Cathryn, thank you for the opportunity for me to comment on your plant. You mentioned that the ... | ||
| Planting very small orchid plants | 12/20/2011 | Wayne King |
| Q: I purchased very small orchid plants; sold immersed in small bottles with paraffin wax and water. ... A: Purnima, with 3-4 inch roots I would remove them from the bottle. In the process of doing this be ... | ||
| repot of phal | 12/18/2011 | Wayne King |
| Q: Is this the time for me to repot to a bigger pot(right now it is only in 4 inches pot and they have ... A: Yes, this would be a good time to repot. You should be able to locate a small bag of fir-bark based ... | ||
| Cattleya leaves problem | 12/17/2011 | Wayne King |
| Q: Attached is my cattleya photo. I notice some circle like sucking spot on new leaf of new shoot. ... A: Nwe, thanks for the enlarged picture. The pattern of spots suggests that this damage was done ... | ||
| Anosmum care during overwintering | 12/16/2011 | Wayne King |
| Q: I believe I have several anosmum (hono hono) that I brought back from Hawaii in 2008. I am guessing ... A: Corinne, it sounds like you have deciduous dendrobiums. Like deciduous trees which lose their ... | ||
| a mini catt-drobie hybrid is ill | 12/13/2011 | Wayne King |
| Q: I have a beautiful hanging basket with three spikes and eleven different faded purple with darker ... A: BoDean, you didn't mention whether, and when, you last repotted. You also didn't mention what type ... | ||
| Cattleya leaves problem | 12/11/2011 | Wayne King |
| Q: Attached is my cattleya photo. I notice some circle like sucking spot on new leaf of new shoot. ... A: To begin to assess this, I would need a magnified view of the leaf showing the spotting. For example ... | ||
| B.Nodosa | 12/11/2011 | Wayne King |
| Q: I bought a B.Nodosa cutting in Aug 2011. It has now two new shoots but before these two mature( ... A: I see a dark growth (ie shoot) emerging from an "eye" at the base of one old growth (right most ... | ||
| Orchid Fungus-Fusarium | 12/9/2011 | Wayne King |
| Q: When cutting off part of an orchid which has rotted, I cut it back to clear tissue with a sterilized ... A: The diagnostic marker for fusarium wilt is the presence of pink fibrovascular bundles (xylem and ... | ||
| B.Nodosa | 12/3/2011 | Wayne King |
| Q: I bought a B.Nodosa cutting in Aug 2011. It has now two new shoots but before these two mature( ... A: You were asking about the New shoot" at the base. B. nodosa is highly variable in its growth. The ... | ||
| pot. little fortune #15 | 11/28/2011 | Wayne King |
| Q: I purchased a pot. little fortune #15 earlier on in the summer. It grew well and put out lots of ... A: Theo, this is Brassavola nodosa x Brassavola Little Stars. My experience with B. nodosa is to grow ... | ||
| Parasites on Bourbon Vanilla? | 11/27/2011 | Wayne King |
| Q: I have had this Bourbon Vanilla for the last 5 years, it's actually three plants into one pot and ... A: Anna, I can't say for sure what it is but the damage appears similar to that caused by a leaf miner. ... | ||
| pot. little fortune #15 | 11/27/2011 | Wayne King |
| Q: I purchased a pot. little fortune #15 earlier on in the summer. It grew well and put out lots of ... A: Yes, Theo I think you have one of the more challenging types. It may be a cross between Pot Little ... | ||
| pot. little fortune #15 | 11/25/2011 | Wayne King |
| Q: I purchased a pot. little fortune #15 earlier on in the summer. It grew well and put out lots of ... A: Theo, my recollection is that this is a minicat, probably yellow with a red lip. Minicats can be ... | ||
Wayne King
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Any question about orchid culture. I have thirty+ yrs of growing experience,president 2x of our local Orchid Growers Guild,held a position in most all other offices associated with the Guild at one time or another. Head of Orchid judging team for local club meetings and some shows. Member of two Orchid Socities and local Rep.for Mid America Orchid Congress for several yrs.I have in my collection about 800 Orchid plants of all types.
Experience
Past/Present clients
Previously an expert on expertcentral.com.
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