Moth Orchid -very sickly
zandra.burcher
Posts: 2
I have been growing these lovely plants in my bathroom, successfully for 6years now. Recently I have been given another-set in the usual transparent plastic pot with bark compost but it has been sitting in a copper trough, I wonder if the copper may be causing the sickness? As a precaution I have placed it in a pottery cover, after a fortnight it is no worse but neither are there any signs of recovery. Any advice please?
0
Posts
Orchids need light around their roots so try moving it out of solid containers and let the light get to the roots through the clear plastic container. I have moved some of my larger orchid plants into tall glass vases, cheap in charity shops, as I do not like the plastic pots. I pot them in bark and they live on an internal window sill facing due North where the light is very diffused as there is a conservatory on the other side of the window where they are thriving happily.
It is always possible the change in temperature, light and humidity etc., has upset your new plant. Give it time to adjust.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Try taking the orchid out of the pot, shake off the bark and study the roots. Are they green and succulent or withered and dying? An orchid's problems often come from over watering, where the roots rot. If there is an extensive, healthy, succulent root system, you will not have to worry, your orchid will probably bounce back. How are the leaves looking? If very dark, they might need a brighter spot (out of direct sun). If very pale, they might be getting too much sun. If the flower spike is looking terrible, you could cut it off, put the plant in a cool indoor spot and wait for another to regrow, though it might take a year.
This is a GW vid on orchid advice. There are loads of great "how to save your orchid" vids on You tube. Look for the ones made by professional orchid growers.