Orchid Doctor Google Group

Re: Help: Underwattered Phal.

denniswest...@aol.com (orchid doctor) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:16:26 UT

Dear Petal pusher:

It seems odd to me that two weeks without water would cause such
extreme desiccation in a Phalaenopsis. Some spongyness and wrinkling
certainly, but not the dire situation you describe. If perhaps the
location of your plant had very low humidity, that might account for
the limpness and wrinkling of the leaves. Or perhaps it was closer to

Help: Underwattered Phal.

mkalle...@yahoo.com (Petal Pusher) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:56:44 UT

Thanks so much for all your help! I need a little advice from you. I
started a new job and sort of forgot my orchids (phals). So they
didn't get watered for a while. Probably 2 weeks. The orchid in
question has a bloom spike on it. But the buds are not fully developed
yet. The problem I see is that all its loveley, formerly plump,

Re: The meaning of "polyploidy"

morita...@gmail.com (Morita Pagan) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:53:06 UT

wow, thanks for the info Dennis! I will be sure to pay more attention the
next time I am at an orchid show..... as an already mature 4N orchid would
be a good bloom investment.

The meaning of "polyploidy"

denniswest...@aol.com (orchid doctor) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:43:37 UT

[This came to my private e-mail from a friend and excellent grower. I
thought it was an excellent question to pass on. People are often
reticent to ask about terms they have not heard before, thinking it
betrays ignorance (we are all guilty of that). All it betrays is an
active desire to learn!]

Whiteflies on Cymbidium

denniswest...@aol.com (orchid doctor) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:19:01 UT

Hi Dennis:

I have a cymbidium that is infested with white fly. How
do I treat these pests? The only pesticides I have in my arsenal are
Rose Defense and a light horticultural oil. Would either of these
be
appropriate to use?

Thank you taking the time to answer my question,

Jean

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Re: dying phalaenopsis plants

denniswest...@aol.com (orchid doctor) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:41:50 UT

Dear Dorothy:

Rust disease can be found on orchids, but the spore cases are usually
very distinct (just like rust on roses, geraniums or snapdragons), and
you would never see an even dusting of red spores on the leaves. A
dusting of red powder is much more likely to be mite, or false spider
mite, of some sort. Some mites are barely visible to the naked eye,

Re: Angraecum sesquipedale

denniswest...@aol.com (orchid doctor) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:25:32 UT

Dear Sabine:

I cannot recall any San Francisco shows that take place in December,
but I do recall there were young Angraecum sesquipedale for sale at
our February show.

While there are a few similarities in culture to Cattleya, there are
also many differences which may account for a failure to bloom. This

Angraecum sesquipedale

sabine.g.vo...@gmail.com (zaphod) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:07:56 UT

Dear Orchid Doctor:

I read the care sheet on cattleyas so that I could understand what my
Darwin's orchid needs to bloom. I bought it last year (December) from
an orchid show in San Francisco and it was in bloom. This year it has
been living in three different homes but always inside. I currently

dying phalaenopsis plants

gram...@gmail.com (Dottie) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:29:28 UT

I grow under lights. I have lost some of my plants and some are
effected by the same thing. They seem to have a rust like dust on the
leaves and then the base starts to blacken. The leaves are also rough.
I don't think it is spider mites as I have not seen any webs or mites.
I have dendrobiums and they are not effected. Thank you for your

Re: phalenopsis with yellow leaves

denniswest...@aol.com (orchid doctor) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:13:29 UT

Dear Anna:

As I have said in previous posts: given the state of hybridization and
prevalence of good quality Phalaenopsis hybrids on the market (due to
cloning and the number of years these plants have been bred and
studied), there is little reason to struggle with an ailing/declining
plant other than for the experience, or because of emotional

phalenopsis with yellow leaves

anna.warr...@ihscera.com (Warrock, Anna) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:34:21 UT

Hello Orchid Doctor,
I work in an office - the cemetery of orchids, where the office plants are changed every two to three weeks, after two to three weeks of neglect. Occasionally some of us attempt an orchid rescue. I have a gorgeous purple phalenopsis (I believe), ruffled white edges, white center. Its leaves are streaked with yellow. This means, for most houseplants, a lack of some nutrient. Is it possible to feed this baby and bring her back? I've put her in a clay pot, but haven't changed the medium, and at this point am just watering.

Re: Help for Sick Phalaenopsis

denniswest...@aol.com (orchid doctor) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:26:20 UT

Dear Kathy:

Thanks for sending this second, and more detailed e-mail. The more
detail I have about a problem the better! You are correct in your
diagnosis of too much moisture, too little air at the roots. Although
Phalaenopsis do not like their roots to dry out too much, they do
appreciate a great deal of air movement around them, and resent

Help for Sick Phalaenopsis

kcole...@comcast.net (Kathy) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:07:35 UT

My sister received a gorgeous white phal with purple accents as a gift. Everything seemed to being going OK for about a year. Then the plants leaves started turning yellow and it dropped them all. At the same time a new plant started growing at the base of the original plant. Then one of the new leaves dried up, leaving only one small leaf. She asked me to see if I could save it.

Re: Brassia Rex Blooms

denniswest...@aol.com (orchid doctor) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:40:21 UT

And i forgot to mention that as a heat lover, your hot days in the
greenhouse probably don't hurt either.

Dennis

Re: Brassia Rex Blooms

denniswest...@aol.com (orchid doctor) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:36:10 UT

Dear Lily:

Please excuse the length of time it has taken me to get back to you! I
have been out of town, and not checking this site. I sounds to me like
the greenhouse has given the plant the optimal light level, not enough
to burn it, but enough to give the leaves the proper color (or so it
seems from the photograph). Also by "ignoring" it, you probably have