Orchid

I have taken an Orchid from a friend of mine as she was going to throw it away but I said I would see if anything could be done.
So I have it, the stem has been cut to the base, there are 3 big leaves on there, is this it for the plant, or do they regrow again, I don't really want to throw it away just in case it blooms again.Thanks Chrissy

 

Hi, Chrissy!
Orchids are perennial, so if you give it some TLC it will flower again for sure. From the sound of "three big leaves" it could well be a Moth Orchid, or Phalaenopsis. I've had ones that have flowered for long periods every year - and we have one which was a gift last September and still has the same flower spike and flowers. Getting on for nine months for one set of blooms - can't be bad!

As a general rule, keep it in bright light but NOT direct sunlight - they scorch very easily - and feed it either once a week or with every watering - depends on the fertiliser you buy, but get a special orchid one. The one I use just simply adds to the water so you don't have to remember if you fed the orchids or not!

If you can, stand the pot in a deep dish with a layer of pebbles in the bottom which keeps a bit of a moist atmosphere round the plant, and keep the compost just moist... But if those big leaves are long and pointed (instead of rather fat, round-ish and glossy) it's probably a Cymbidium and will need a sheltered spot in the garden over the summer.

Some orchids do have quite special needs, but the ones that are most often sold are pretty easy. So go on - have a go!!!

Good luck!

 

Think I read somewhere that they have to be kept in a transparent pot, so light can get to the roots... is that true, does anyone know?

 

Yes, Claire, I've been told that too - and one of our orchids came in a tall glass vase with expanded clay granules in the bottom, then a layer of compost with the plant growing in that. (The vase is 18" tall!! Worries the life out of us with the cats leaping around...)

But it doesn't seem to be doing any better than all the others that are in pots in a variety of colours from black to slightly opaque grey. So in my experience it hasn't made a lot of difference - but other people may give us chapter and verse as to why you should or shouldn't....

Have to say, though, that a friend who bred phalaenopsis stuck his in anything that came to hand!

 

I tend to pot them on into anything that comes to hand as well Hyla, and they grow and flower without any problem.
They always have a large amount of roots outside the pot anyway, I find.

 

I have had a few orchids in the past and I swear by "Drop by Drop" Orchid drip feeder. I water my orchids about once every two weeks with a small cup of water. The longest one that I have kept in flower lasted for about 9 months and it was only �£5 in Ikea in the first place! Beats a bunch of flowers anyday

 

:D Thanks for all your replys, I shall be moving out of the sun now :eek:
I don't know what sort it is, only that it had purple flowers and was from a supermarket as well.
will try and add these pics of it if it helps :D


It looks quite pot bound as well (and it has 5 leaves)


Thanks again for all the information, I knew you guys would know

 

That looks fine. You'll have a flower spike in no time if you follow the advice above. I always buy orchids when the flowers have finished and they sell them off cheap. I have 11 and they have all flowered again at least once.

When the flowers die, cut the spike back to about 3 buds and it will flower again maybe more than once from the same spike.

 

Oo arr, oo arr! A foine phalaenopsis to be sure!!

Looks in pretty good nick, too - give it a bit o' what it fancies (!) and you'll have it for years!!!