AboutWayne King 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.
Expert: Wayne King Date: 7/2/2008 Subject: Possible problems w/ my Phalaenopsis Orchid
Question Hi! I have a Phalaenopsis Orchid. I have had it for a few months now. I purchased it with 4 flowers on it and 2 large leafs. I've had one bud bloom only. Not that I've had multiple buds and only one had bloomed...but I have only had on bud in total. I now have 6 healthy leafs, 2 flowers and NO buds. I am afraid that the last two flowers will be finished and I will have no buds. There are two stems. One stem is completely bare and the other stem has the two flowers on it. If my remaining flowers go...no buds are there...what happens next? Is this common? Also, since my purchase, the stems have grown. I will have to now purchase longer sticks to keep them up. Any incite?
Answer Christine, you are at or near the end of the annual flowering period for your phalaenopsis. While there still is a slight possibility that the green flower spikes could grow longer and produce new buds, that is not very common. As long as the old flower spikes are green you may either leave them on the plant or cut the off above a node (ie joint) on the flower spike. There still is a possibility that the old flower spikes could turn brown and die back-- that is normal for some hybrids.
Now, you need to conceentrate on growing your plant with strong new roots and leaves. It is desirable to repot it in fresh orchid potting mix following flowering. This fresh potting mix should better support the development of new roots. In unpotting you plant, check the roots for health and remove any that are mushy as they are dead.
