My orchid

[MIA]

Hi!
I have a white Phalaenopsis orchid. My room is fairly dark so it
doesn't get too much light exposure and I water it once every eight
days. Recently my orchid dropped all of it flowers and the stem began
turning yellow. Three of if the top leaves also began falling off, but
before they fell off they looked like they had water in them. In the
light the color of the mushy part is like a dark yellow and they are
wrinkly. Is this normal?

Here is a link to a picture i took of it.
http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b293/babydoll9_/?action=view&current=utf-8BSU1HMDAxNDIuanBn.jpg

Sincerely

Lisseth Martinez

[orchid doctor]

Dear Lisseth:

Even the orchids referred to as "low light" orchids need considerably
more light than the ferns and philodendrons (and other aroids)people
grow in their houses. When deprived of this light, plants will slowly
starve and eventually become ill and die. They also require less water
than they would in optimal light, and water on the leaves and in the
leaf crown does not evaporate as quickly as it should.

Your Phalaenopsis has developed a bacterial infection, which is what
causes the dark watery areas and the leaf and flower drop. There is
nothing that can be done about it, and the plant should be discarded.
If you purchase these plants in the future, try and keep them in a
brighter location to enjoy their bloom as long as possible (in ideal
conditions individual flowers can last 8 to 10 weeks). Water only as
necessary (when the potting mix is practically dry, water well), and
leave the plant in a warm bright place until any water that has gotten
on the foliage has evaporated. Watering first thing in the morning is
ideal. If this dim light is all you have to offer, you may never be
able to get these plants to grow and bloom again. But they are grown
in great quantities to be used as we traditionally use mums and
azaleas.

Re-blooming your orchids is exciting, and often they bloom better as
they become more mature, but there should be no guilt about using
these plants for temporary color and then giving them away or
discarding them.

Sincerely,
Dennis