BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Orchids first time

I bought an orchid last summer and it did well for a few months when it suddenly began losing it's flowers and the leaves turned very yellow one by one and fell off. I stopped watering it and am wondering if there is a dormant season or have I simply killed it and should start over? Any advice would be much appreciated as I really loved this plant and it was one of the few I found that went well with the colors in my room. Thanks!

Your orchid may be dormant...you can take it out of the pot and look at the roots. They should be plump and healthy looking. If they are shriveled and dark then your plant is probably dead. I kept mine on a saucer filled with pebbles and kept water in it but set the pot on the pebbles so that it did not stand in water. They do like weak fertilizer every so often...I used to raise fish and would use the fish water to water my plants every other week.

Thanks for your help! I looked at the roots and they are neither healthy looking or dark. I added some water to the pot. Should I just wait and see now or is there anything else I can do? How long before I will notice any difference?

I would keep watering it. Try not to let it dry out. It may be this spring before it starts any new growth since the days are shorter now.

Thank you again for your help!!

Your welcome, I miss my orchids. I had gotten several at Home Depot for about $1 each because they were not blooming. It was fun to see what kind of flowers they made when they bloomed again.

Hi,

I think I did kill mine, first time trying to grow them, but always have liked them, especially, the deep purple colored ones. I really fell in love with them them hubby surprised me a school with what I thought was a sheet cake covered in them, purple naturally.
I would like to buy some more and give growing them another try, what is the best way to take care of them?
Thanks for any answers.

Vanessa

When I had orchids I liked to fill the saucer with gravel or small rocks and then keep it full of water and place the pot on top of the rocks where it sat out of the water. I also used a soil mix that was made just for orchids and make sure it didn't dry out. If you have ever kept african violets before they like the same kinds of conditions as the violets do. Good luck!

Thanks for the reply, I'll make sure I follow your instructions and see if I can do better by my orchids!!

Vanessa

You are welcome, orchids are so beautiful. Just make sure not to let it totally dry out.