Hi,

I was bought a lovely orchid for my birthday in july which stayed in
beautiful bloom for months. Unfortunately all the flowers dropped off and
now the stem they were on have dried up and gone all shriveled up like
little twigs. The leaves at the bottom are still bright green, long and look
quite healthy.
Does this mean that my plant is still alive or has it gone to plant heaven?
I have had no previous experience with Orchids so was hoping someone here
could help. If its still alive and will reflower do I have to cut the stems
down to the base so they grow again?
Thanks in advance for any possible help

Cheryl

"Cheryl" wrote
I was bought a lovely orchid for my birthday in july which stayed in
beautiful bloom for months. Unfortunately all the flowers dropped off and
now the stem they were on have dried up and gone all shriveled up like
little twigs. The leaves at the bottom are still bright green, long and
look quite healthy.
Does this mean that my plant is still alive or has it gone to plant
heaven? I have had no previous experience with Orchids so was hoping
someone here could help. If its still alive and will reflower do I have to
cut the stems down to the base so they grow again?
Thanks in advance for any possible help


Your first task is to ID the plant as there are so many orchids with so
many different needs it would be impossible to give advice on culture
without an ID.

However, from your description I am guessing it is a Phaelonopsis hybrid
often called a Moth orchid (the Butterfly Orchid is something else) but I
might be wrong.
Large leathery strap shaped leaves grow flat just above the growing medium
and throw up flowering stalks from the short stem on which appear numerous
long lived flowers. Roots are thick and grey with a green tip (if growing
well) and tend to grow outside the pot and cling on permanently to anything
they touch.
If the flowering stalks have died it's a shame as they often reflower, but
it's not the end of the plant, with the correct care it will throw up more
spikes with more flowers in a few months.
Cut the brown dead stems off as near the base as possible, and learn the
plants requirements.

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London

On 6/1/06 21:32, in article ,
"Cheryl" wrote:

Hi,

I was bought a lovely orchid for my birthday in july which stayed in
beautiful bloom for months. Unfortunately all the flowers dropped off and
now the stem they were on have dried up and gone all shriveled up like
little twigs. The leaves at the bottom are still bright green, long and look
quite healthy.
Does this mean that my plant is still alive or has it gone to plant heaven?
I have had no previous experience with Orchids so was hoping someone here
could help. If its still alive and will reflower do I have to cut the stems
down to the base so they grow again?
Thanks in advance for any possible help

It's still alive and will send up new stems and flowers if you keep it cool
and pretty dry. They thrive on neglect.

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

"Sacha" wrote in message
.uk...
On 6/1/06 21:32, in article
,
"Cheryl" wrote:

Hi,

I was bought a lovely orchid for my birthday in july which stayed in
beautiful bloom for months. Unfortunately all the flowers dropped off
and
now the stem they were on have dried up and gone all shriveled up like
little twigs. The leaves at the bottom are still bright green, long and
look
quite healthy.
Does this mean that my plant is still alive or has it gone to plant
heaven?
I have had no previous experience with Orchids so was hoping someone here
could help. If its still alive and will reflower do I have to cut the
stems
down to the base so they grow again?
Thanks in advance for any possible help

It's still alive and will send up new stems and flowers if you keep it
cool
and pretty dry. They thrive on neglect.

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

I dont know about cool, if it is phalaenopsis they like around 55/60f
min.Overwatering these is the biggest killer,water once every week or two in
winter and probably more in summer.Allow the water to drain from the pot
otherwise you will rot the roots then kill the plant.This is very important
if it is also kept inside a decorative pot!
Give it bright light,not direct sun.And try not to pamper it too much just
because it is a orchid.
Thanks Keith

On 8/1/06 13:58, in article ,
"kenty" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
.uk...
On 6/1/06 21:32, in article
,
"Cheryl" wrote:

Hi,

I was bought a lovely orchid for my birthday in july which stayed in
beautiful bloom for months. Unfortunately all the flowers dropped off
and
now the stem they were on have dried up and gone all shriveled up like
little twigs. The leaves at the bottom are still bright green, long and
look
quite healthy.
Does this mean that my plant is still alive or has it gone to plant
heaven?
I have had no previous experience with Orchids so was hoping someone here
could help. If its still alive and will reflower do I have to cut the
stems
down to the base so they grow again?
Thanks in advance for any possible help

It's still alive and will send up new stems and flowers if you keep it
cool
and pretty dry. They thrive on neglect.

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

I dont know about cool, if it is phalaenopsis they like around 55/60f
min.Overwatering these is the biggest killer,water once every week or two in
winter and probably more in summer.Allow the water to drain from the pot
otherwise you will rot the roots then kill the plant.This is very important
if it is also kept inside a decorative pot!
Give it bright light,not direct sun.And try not to pamper it too much just
because it is a orchid.


Ahem. I'd call 55 to 60F 'cool' as in not 70F which is about where I prefer
house temps to be! Absolutely agree with you on the watering and not
pampering because it's an orchid - guaranteed killers for all too many
plants.

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

"Sacha" wrote in message
.uk...
On 8/1/06 13:58, in article ,
"kenty" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
.uk...
On 6/1/06 21:32, in article
,
"Cheryl" wrote:

Hi,

I was bought a lovely orchid for my birthday in july which stayed in
beautiful bloom for months. Unfortunately all the flowers dropped off
and
now the stem they were on have dried up and gone all shriveled up like
little twigs. The leaves at the bottom are still bright green, long and
look
quite healthy.
Does this mean that my plant is still alive or has it gone to plant
heaven?
I have had no previous experience with Orchids so was hoping someone
here
could help. If its still alive and will reflower do I have to cut the
stems
down to the base so they grow again?
Thanks in advance for any possible help

It's still alive and will send up new stems and flowers if you keep it
cool
and pretty dry. They thrive on neglect.

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

I dont know about cool, if it is phalaenopsis they like around 55/60f
min.Overwatering these is the biggest killer,water once every week or two
in
winter and probably more in summer.Allow the water to drain from the pot
otherwise you will rot the roots then kill the plant.This is very
important
if it is also kept inside a decorative pot!
Give it bright light,not direct sun.And try not to pamper it too much
just
because it is a orchid.


Ahem. I'd call 55 to 60F 'cool' as in not 70F which is about where I
prefer
house temps to be! Absolutely agree with you on the watering and not
pampering because it's an orchid - guaranteed killers for all too many
plants.

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

Yeh, but we are talking about a orchid?Not a human being.
Cheers Keith

"Bob Hobden" wrote

"Cheryl" wrote
I was bought a lovely orchid for my birthday in july which stayed in
beautiful bloom for months. Unfortunately all the flowers dropped off
and now the stem they were on have dried up and gone all shriveled up
like little twigs. The leaves at the bottom are still bright green, long
and look quite healthy.
Does this mean that my plant is still alive or has it gone to plant
heaven? I have had no previous experience with Orchids so was hoping
someone here could help. If its still alive and will reflower do I have
to cut the stems down to the base so they grow again?
Thanks in advance for any possible help

Your first task is to ID the plant as there are so many orchids with so
many different needs it would be impossible to give advice on culture
without an ID.

However, from your description I am guessing it is a Phaelonopsis hybrid
often called a Moth orchid (the Butterfly Orchid is something else) but I
might be wrong.
Large leathery strap shaped leaves grow flat just above the growing medium
and throw up flowering stalks from the short stem on which appear numerous
long lived flowers. Roots are thick and grey with a green tip (if growing
well) and tend to grow outside the pot and cling on permanently to
anything they touch.
If the flowering stalks have died it's a shame as they often reflower, but
it's not the end of the plant, with the correct care it will throw up more
spikes with more flowers in a few months.
Cut the brown dead stems off as near the base as possible, and learn the
plants requirements.

Some links you may find interesting...
http://www.cedar-lodge.co.uk/ ... just a warning in case you get the bug
too. :-)
http://orchidlady.com/stories/moths1.html .. good cultural instructions
http://aos.org/aos/uploadedfiles/doc...termedphal.pdf a pdf of
cultural instructions.


--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London