You've got some great advice here. Unfortunately, you've chosen (or someone
chose for you) for your first orchid one that is not the easiest for a
beginner. Follow the advice given, and if you succeed, you know you can grow
a wide range of orchids successfully. If you don't succeed, don't give up as
there are many beautiful, and more easily grown orchids for the beginner.
Ask here again before your next purchase for excellent advice. Best of luck.
Gary

wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello,

I purchased a beautiful, mounted, Laelia Gouldiana a few
months ago\. It was doing beautifully, and bloomed
just before thanksgiving. I took it back to pittsburgh (I live in NY)
with me for the holiday and shortly after I brought it back, the bloom
fell off (I imagine bc of the rapid temperature change).

Now, however, it looks like there is a problem with the pseudobulbs! 2
of the 4 (the two that do not have leaves growing from them) are
turning yellow/ orange and it looks like they are dying. the tips are
also developing a dry, crusty looking bits, and on one of them, it is
developing dry, crusty patches along it's surface. Any ideas??

Also, after the bloom is finished, do I cut it off? At what point? (the
stem is now brown as well... is that supposed to happen?

I have attached some pictures...

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...LG-sick-09.jpg

This is my first orchid, I really appreciate the help!

thanks
Sarah

Also, some of the orchid care resources say that Laelia Gouldianas do
best when they are watered less in the winter... is this the case? I
have also heard that it is virtually impossible to over water a mounted
plant... am I safer to err on the side of too much water in this case?
Should it be fertilized? If so, how often?