Too Much Water!
I think we all believe we can’t grow orchids in the beginning of our journey to orchid addiction. We lose one and are devastated, we lose two and we feel like a failure and if we dare by a third and lose it, we are convinced we cannot grow orchids. What I tell you now will change your mind about everything.
The orchids from big box stores or supermarkets are packed for mass shipping. This shipping is usually across an ocean, packed up in trucks when arriving to our shores, sent in different directions across the U.S. to orchid shops, greenhouses, and growers. It may shock you to know that most places you buy orchids from, buy other orchids from other vendors to have a more diversified collection. The point being, these orchids can be in a shipping move for 10 days - 2 weeks and they have to have water. So, they are packed in sphagnum moss that is soaking wet, to keep them hydrated while shipping. They are then put out on shelves and sold.
When you take them home and the top layer has dry media, you water. Deep down inside your pot is a soaking wet wade of sphagnum moss that will eventually kill the roots of your plant. The only solution is to pull (carefully) you orchid out and check the bottom of the pot. If the roots are wet, you must make immediate changes. One, take out of the cute pot it is in. They usually have no air flow. Buy an orchid net pot or an orchid pot with holes all over the sides. Order media, medium, orchiata. All these can be ordered online at Amazon or quite often your orchid growers website. Until those new things arrive, put your orchid (carefully) in a pot way too big for the roots so that the roots can dry out and get some air. Put the sphagnum moss in the garbage, or save it for the same plant and use it when the media comes. When the media arrives, you can put a little of the sphagnum moss around the roots to help the roots learn how to get water from media which is like bark pieces. You may need to use a little sphagnum moss for months or even years.
Now, with the new orchid in a new pot, with air, it will easily dry out. You need to pay attention to when it needs a drink of water. Outside, summertime, it could be every other day, or every three days, or more. It depends on where you live. How much humidity you have or how much heat you have, it is like any other plant except it is used to tropical forests. If you can make it feel like it is living in a tropical forest, you should do well with orchids. I advise people to hang them in the shower after you are done showering. The leaves will love absorbing the humidity. Be creative, make your area, forest like, with a small breeze, never direct air, humidity can be near the kitchen sink or just spray them with warm water once a day. They need warm water when watering. They need warmth year round so 60-80 degrees high will work, lower than 50 degrees is dangerous.
Have fun and enjoy your new tropical friend. We do not have a support group for “orchid addictions” yet, however, we should start one online. I certainly have the addiction. I run a business but often do not want to sell my favorite orchids. You can imagine how big my collections is! Colleen O’Dowd, O’Dowds Orchids
