I am orchid sitting for Sarah @piximac while she is waiting for her new apartment to be finished. When she brought it to me it was in full flower and looked beautiful. I hoped that I would be returning it in the same condition. Within a few weeks all the flowers had dropped off although there were lots of buds on the stems. We soaked all our orchids before we went on holiday but I was anxious to check out Sarah's orchid as soon as we got home. What a delight six beautiful flowers!! Phew - relief!! I decided to take a photo of the orchid so that Sarah could see how happy it was. Orchids are very difficult to get a photo of as the stems have a mind of their own and the flowers were all pointing in the wrong direction. I decided it needed a little adjustment for the photo. Yes you guessed it I broke off the stem with all the flowers on it!! So sorry Sarah!! Anyway this is a shot with the stem perched on top of the plant looking perfect - oh dear!! Hopefully the plant will have more flowers on it by the time Sarah comes to take it to it's new home.
Best on black
Many thanks for visiting my project and leaving such lovely comments.
Oops, I am sure it will survive. I always dread having to look after friends plants and gardens when they are away. You can guarantee that I usually manage to kill something off in the process.
It's gorgeous on black -- at least you captured it beautifully before . . .
@pixiemac -- I had no idea you were such a green thumb. I need your help here -- I have received several orchid plants and my only solution when all the flowers drop off is to send the plant away with my daughter or someone else so I won't have to see the sad stem.
@jyokota no need to send your orchids away Junko! The flowers always come back again. They are very easy to keep ( until you carelessly break a stem) . At this time of year I put all my orchids into a sink full of water with little plant food. The water is over the top of the pot. Soak for about an hour and then drain all the water away. Tidy up the plants cut off any dead bits and put back on your shelf. My north facing window sill is perfect. The flowers come again and again with a little period between with no flowers. They really are easy to keep!
@pamknowler -- I have one left. Some of my husband's students sent them on his birthday last month. I am trying to keep them alive so if it stays alive, I will try that.
@jyokota just don’t overwater. I used to water from the top and didn’t realise the roots were sitting in water all the time. I killed off all my orchids. Then I talked to a lady at the garden centre and discovered how to water them properly. Plunge for and hour but then drain properly. Good luck but I am sure you will be successful! Xxx
@pamknowler -- they all come in ceramic pots without a drain on the bottom so I have to water from the top. I've been putting three ice cubes a week on the top?
This is the same as the 2 I am looking after for Sarah. I fill up the pot to the top with the water with plant food and stand for an hour. Then holding onto the plant I turn the pot upside down over the sink and empty all of the water out of the pot. It’s a pain when they come in pots with no drainage but I still follow the same process and have been very successful. I am sure there are other ways Junko but I can recommend following this procedure as I have been very successful since I have been doing it.
@jyokota Clearly orchids are much more "user friendly" than perhaps we've been led to believe over the years! I have a large-cube ice tray (the silicone type) and once a week I put one of those cubes on the top to melt. In 18 mo I never have looked into using orchid food. ...Mine, like this one of Pam's/Sarah's, has a drainage hole as I've got several huge roots spilling out of the top and the bottom! (Do you think they're looking for food?!) So it bears the question...has anyone tried starting another plant from the emerging roots?
@Weezilou I haven't looked into starting a new orchid from the roots but I have so many orchids already not sure I have anywhere to put any babies!! LOL!!
@rosiekind -- you're looking after some, too? @pamknowler -- thx for extra tip. @pixiemac -- you sure have a lot of orchid plants! @Weezilou -- my problem also, if I start traveling for longer than a week again.
It's gorgeous on black -- at least you captured it beautifully before . . .
@pixiemac -- I had no idea you were such a green thumb. I need your help here -- I have received several orchid plants and my only solution when all the flowers drop off is to send the plant away with my daughter or someone else so I won't have to see the sad stem.
very nice contrast black-white