How to keep an orchid alive?

I don't know what type it is. We repotted it and put it in orchid mix but its leaves don't look healthy and it won't bloom. Any ideas?

How to keep an orchid alive?
Ah Orchids..my great love....


Orchids are not really like any other plants


Orchids grow in forests in the branching of large trees and they are semi-ephyetic (obtain moisture from leaves and roots don't really act like roots of other plants) The roots of most orchids are designed to hold the Orchid on for dear life and their soil is rotting organic matter that collects in those branches in the trees. You want to see many large roots growing outside of the pots, these are the air roots....they take moisture from the air (mist these).





Most people over water orchids and root the roots...most orchids want a very good soaking but only when the plant really starts to dry out. I put indoor Orchids in sink after feeling down in pot to be sure it is rather dry.


Orchids need to be sprayed (misted daily) leaves and top of orchid mix. Orchids also hate stale air and need a bit of a breeze. (Hence high humidity and breezes, just what they got in the wild).


Some, in fact many orchids will die if you put them in direct sunlight.


If your Orchid his big wide leaves down near the soil..The it a Phalaenopsis and wants 50% sun, must be shaded...


If the leaves are growing off what looks like stalks it may be a Dendrobium (these 2 species are sold more than all others combined). If Dendrobium it needs bright filtered light...





If leaves are turning yellow-that indicates too much sun


If going limp and brownish too much water


Everything healthy but will not bloom needs occasionally feeding and more sun.





Take the orchid out and look at roots..if some or many are black and dead, then that's root rot. Cut off rotten leaves, roots, and re-pot and stop watering so much.


Orchids need to be feed special orchid fertilizer.


Do not feed after cutting rotten roots or reporting for about a month.


Don't give up on orchids a good healthy Phalaenopsis (this species makes the best house plant) will give flowers for months out of the year and their flowers can last for a month or more...If this one dies (give it a nice burial) and go get a Phalaenopsis (and then go to the library and do some research.)


Orchids can be finicky but once situated they are the most rewarding plants in GOD'S arsenal of delight!





Good luck


Master Quark
Reply:The commonly sold one are phalenopsis orchids. The orchid mixes will work with this type. Orchids don't grow real fast. They often put on quite a show for a while, then rest. Phalenopsis usually like normal house temps. Mine love to go outside for summer...if you DO decide to do this, only put them in the shade, or you might sunburn the leaves. Give them a good watering once a week, fully saturating the mix - but make sure the plant NEVER sits in water, or the roots will rot very quickly. Rotted roots are dark brown and mushy, and should be cut off with a sharp scissors...preferably dipped in alcohol to stop any spread of disease. Healthy orchid roots are firm and white or whitish-green. If you do fertilize, do so sparingly (not with every watering, not full strength) with an acidifying fertilizer (often sold for azaleas, pines; there are also special ones for orchids; or use fish emulsion (kinda smelly, but not too bad if they're outside for summer!)
Reply:You should check out this site http://www.orchids.com/support/supportCa...





I went there when I was having problems - when you click on the different names it shows a picture of the flower so you can find your orchid and then tells you how to take care of it.





Orchids can be tricky but you will find some great tips on the site.


Good luck!
Reply:Orchids take some getting use to.





The best I have done is keeping a Phalaenopsis (sp?) alive for about 5 years %26amp; it is one of the easist types.
Reply:There are many kinds of orchids so i can't give you a specific answer. Find out exactly what kind of orchid you're nursing and then reearch it's preffered climate conditions. it could merely me the temperature of it's surrounding area that's got it so shy. there are ways to fix the problem without adjustng your thermostat. not sure what those are, but i hope this puts you on the right track.
Reply:Ooooh! I have a facinating idea! Give it water..... haha
Reply:Orchids Alive





Singapore's latest contribution to science is a flower that glows in the dark. Scientists at the National Institute of Education who developed this hybrid showed it off for the first time this morning. Angelene Lim tells us more:





They look perfectly normal, but they emit a soft green glow in the dark.





That's because they're orchids with firefly genes.





It took Professor Chia Tet Fatt and his team 9 years of persistence, to engineer this bioluminescent orchid. One which creates light using its own energy. This is different from "flourescence" where the plants absorbs light from other sources. White orchids were chosen as they had better light-reflecting properties.





Proferssor Chia bombarded their cells with a firefly gene using a home-made particle gun. Those cells that were fused with firefly gene were then isolated and cloned.





With enough genetifically modified cells, and a lot of patience, Prof. Chia had his first young glowing orchid plants.





Prof. Chia: "Everytime I have to repeat the experiment when it goes wrong, it's another 3 year wait. And then this is the result. I've done it in fact, 3 times before I perfected the system. That took me nearly a decade."





The rights to the world's first glowing orchids are ready for sale. It will be put up for online auction on the Internet.





Bidding at http://www.hybridorchid.com/ will start on the 1st of next month.