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Post by Cathrin on Jun 10, 2009 18:40:18 GMT
Hi Ann, Looking good  good idea with the mini pot too  Just a quick tip, take some of the bark away from the center/crown of the baby plant so that it sits a little above the compost and it will be perfect. This is so that it doesn't get over damp and air can circulate around it a bit. |
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Post by Ann on Jun 10, 2009 19:18:58 GMT
Right, I've removed some bark, so fingers crossed it'll take to its new surroundings. As for the little pot, I read somewhere that orchids like to be in a confined space. The pot my original one came in was about the same size as my improvised one. I'm doing my best!
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Post by Cathrin on Jun 12, 2009 11:11:12 GMT
No, thats good  Orchids seem to do best if a little pot bound and you only need to re-pot when the old compost starts to break down (every couple of years or so) Once it has settled and you know it is growing you can move it to another window with the same aspect, do not use a window that gets full sun though as it will be too much heat. Net curtains help to shade a plant quite nicely. |
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Post by Ann on Jun 15, 2009 15:42:41 GMT
The main leaf on the baby is beginning to get a few little wrinkles around the end. I'm hoping it's just temporary until the roots get bedded in and start doing their work. Presumably it was feeding mostly off the mother before?
Mum is producing a new leaf, so she seems to be OK. I notice now I've repotted her into a clear container, the visible roots are getting a tinge of green to them. Must be the photosynthesis in action!
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Post by Cathrin on Jun 16, 2009 10:57:51 GMT
Hi Ann, sorry I didn't notice this post before Yes your right the baby was feeding off mum, don't be tempted to overwater (this is most peoples reaction to this problem) it should settle down and firm up in a little while. The green on the roots is in part algae growing in the compost and roots (where you have watered the plant and not a problem) and photosynthesis. |
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Post by Ann on Jun 28, 2009 12:06:04 GMT
It's taken longer than I expected, but the leaf on the baby has finally plumped up again. It happened almost overnight as the first signs only came yesterday. Today it's virtually back to normal and looking quite happy with life independent of Mum. Meanwhile Mum herself is producing what looks like it might be a new flower stem.
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Post by Cathrin on Jun 29, 2009 10:01:57 GMT
Phew ... very tempting to add more water to the pot isn't it? :lol: just to make the plant respond quicker and get that leaf to firm up ... It doesn't work with orchids the way it does with other plants and succulents. I'm pleased you resisted and now you will have a contented baby plant and a new flower spike on mum too! It may take the little one about a year to produce its first flowers, but be patient and it will happen |
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Post by Ann on Nov 27, 2009 20:29:22 GMT
Just to add an update. Mum must really love the kitchen window sill. The first flower spike has nearly finished now, but a new spike has already started to grow out of the old one. It's already about 3½" long. Baby is still doing well. No real change although I've just noticed a tiny new root beginning to emerge.
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Post by Cathrin on Nov 30, 2009 12:53:56 GMT
Ann,
As long as the old flower stem on Mum stays green, don't cut it off.
There is always a chance for more flowers on the same stem as Phals are sequential flowering orchids, or a chance of a new baby growing form a node.
If the stem does start to go brown then cut it back down to just above the second node and let it die back naturally.
I'm pleased to hear the baby is putting out more roots, that means it's happy, roots are good in winter, leaves should come in spring or summer.
Cat
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Post by gill on Jan 23, 2010 20:40:50 GMT
How is your orchid family doing now Ann? I've found this thread SO informative and fascinating It just goes to show that you learn FAR more from folks first-hand who have actually grown a certain plant than you could probably ever learn from a book I love houseplants but I've never dared try an orchid yet  I have a feeling our flat may be too dry as we have night-storage heaters and the plants that I DO have are misted frequently to keep the humidity ok Perhaps when we move to somewhere with 'normal' heating I may treat myself to an orchid or three |
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Post by Ann on Jan 23, 2010 21:47:05 GMT
The first flower on the new spike is just about to come out, but sadly I think I'll only get 2 flowers. Presumably due to the extreme weather we've had here, 4 of the buds havent' made it. Even to get 2 flowers so soon after the previous ones is a bonus though.
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Post by Cathrin on Jan 25, 2010 11:14:42 GMT
Ann, Sorry about the buds turning over it's known as 'Bud Blast' (I really think it should be written as 'Bud? Blast!!') normally caused by cold or drafts as you thought, with luck a few more will come from the same stem, I have just lost a whole stem of flowers (8) for the same reason (cold draft)  Gill, Orchids are not as difficult as most people think (and most don't need to be misted) take Phals, you can get them in any supermarket (Tescos are doing big flowered plants for £5 each at the moment) as long as the roots are green and the flowers and buds haven't fallen off it's worth trying 1 at that price as a starter plant. I use rain water or fish tank water and I water once a week if the compost has dried out or more often if needed. I pour the water through the bark/compost avoiding getting any on the leaves or crown of the plant (which can cause rot and kill the plant) Some people dunk the plant in water for a couple of minutes, again as long as the water doesn't get in the leaf joints or crown that is a good method too. (if you can't get rain water let ordinary tap water stand for a couple of days to help get rid of the chemicals) Phals are good plants to start with as they will sit happily on a window sill with either shaded sun or just good light (south facing with net curtain in the way or any other window without curtain) Go on Gill give one a try ;D |
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Post by Ann on Sept 25, 2010 22:03:39 GMT
There are definitely 2 new flower stems on Mum and guess what, I think the baby's producing one too! There's something appearing that I thought at first was a new root, but, as it grows, the colour and shape look more like a small flower stem. My baby's growing up!!
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Post by Cathrin on Sept 26, 2010 10:47:12 GMT
If it looks like it is wearing a mitten and hasn't gone silvery then yes it is a new flower stem on the baby So 2 spikes on mum and 1 on the baby, that will be a photo I think Ann when you have flowers, I said it would take about a year for a spike to grow on the baby LOL, ok so that was late June last year so 14 months, that is not bad going for a Kieki. Has the other node on the old spike started to shape up into a flower spike or kieki leaves yet? |
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Post by Ann on Sept 26, 2010 11:37:24 GMT
It's definitely a flower stem on the baby. No, the other node on the old spike isn't doing anything at all, but with 2 flower stems, I think Mum has enough on her plate!
I'll have to keep an eye on things as by the time the spikes are ready to flower, it'll be well into autumn/winter and I don't want to lose them like I did last year. Presumably, when the time comes, if I just move them a little further away from the window, but still in light, that will protect them from any extremes of temperature.
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good idea with the mini pot too 
Orchids seem to do best if a little pot bound and you only need to re-pot when the old compost starts to break down (every couple of years or so)
I have a feeling our flat may be too dry as we have night-storage heaters and the plants that I DO have are misted frequently to keep the humidity ok 