"Q. ... moth orchid... with buds bloomed for... a couple of weeks before the remaining buds dried up and fell off... ?
A.[Denise Corkery / Chicago Botanic Garden] phalaenopsis... discolored or dropping buds usually signal one or more problems with temperature or watering. Moving plants from one environment to another can create a houseplant version of transplant shock, especially in the winter when insufficiently protected plants are exposed to cold outdoor temperatures. Make sure newly purchased moth orchids are carefully wrapped for the trip home. Once there, avoid placing plants by windows where nighttime temperatures can drop suddenly and/or fall below 65 degrees. Moth orchids also require soil[!] that is evenly moist. Plants should be watered until excess moisture is dripping from the container's drainage hole. Use only room temperature water. Then allow the potting material to become slightly dry before watering thoroughly again. Moth orchids will not tolerate soggy roots, so do not allow containers to sit in saucers with standing water. When repotting, use a quick-drying terra-cotta pot and fast-draining, bark-based orchid mix. Moth orchids blossoms should last for two to three months." URL : http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/home/chi-0120qampa_orchidjan20,1,1168433.story?ctrack=1&cset=true ************* Regards, VB _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
