"David W.E. Roberts" wrote in message
...
Hi,

we bought an orchid at Homebase last year, and it flowered for ages.

When it eventually stopped flowering we put it to one side, assuming it
had
to die back over the winter to be revived next spring.

Come spring, I start looking for instructions on how to encourage it to
flower.

http://www.easyorchids.co.uk/phalaenopsis/index.html

Hopefully I may be just in time to save the poor little bugger, but it
looks
touch and go.

I had no idea you kept on feeding and watering them over winter and that
they should always be green.

I guess they just look like daffs. etc - although the lack of a bulb
should
be a dead giveaway.

Ooops!

Dave R

Update - it seems to be perking up a little - sign of some growth and the
roots have generally turned a healthy(?) green colour.
I understand the roots have to be exposed to sunlight to allow a beneficial
fungus to grow, which is why the orchids come in clear pots.
However the growing medium includes a lot of sponge rubber(!) which will
presumably hold moisture well, but is the very devil to wet once it is dry.
Trying the 'plunge then drain' method to see if this works O.K.
Is sponge rubber a normal addition to the growing medium, or is this a mass
market 'budget' idea.

TIA
Dave R