Orchid Blooms

These are the ones that had bloomed in my garden.
At least once by themselves instead of buying them when they are still in bloom.

I had seen many in the case where they are used in replacement of a cut flower, where once the flowers are spend they are thrown and newer ones are bought. I wonder if they are exchanged by the florist or taken back by the nursery for a discount.
I also find that orchids are getting cheaper by the year, except the imported ones which has immaculate blooms which I doubt they will ever bloom here - and the whole trouble is - they might never bloom at all in the next round in the lowland hot climate regions like my place.

And so - for now, the simpler, easier and poor man's orchids for me.
I'm much contented with these kinds - cheap, easy and often blooms than the pricey rare ones which takes a lot to bloom.

Do share your orchids Joys or Woes you have/had with Orchids.
I'm pretty sure it is one great experience.

Till then - Enjoy my existing orchids that once bloomed in my garden.
(I still have the plant - whether if they bloom again is purely based on luck and hard work on fertilising them)

The Orchid Hangers

I'm pretty sure you had seen and read all my write up on Orchids.
For the record - none of these orchid died on my care.
I would say - it would had been almost a year now since I got them.
I'm hoping that they might soon to flower.
Again - its another discipline to constantly follow on the fertiliser regime.
I for one - rarely spray and if I do - it would be a monthly matter.

Regardless,
What is important for me is to see these plants survive and thrive.
And that's what they are doing.
These Phalaenopsis Orchids seemed to be happy with healthy roots and leaves
without any use of pesticide or fungicide - something that I prefer not to use at all.

My style
Is to wash down excess water and let them dry off.
The ones sold in the nursery tend to squeeze and cover up all those roots
which somehow tend to rot and cause the orchid to die.
Here - they are totally exposed.

Also there are other orchids here.
I'm just hoping the blooming time to come soon.
Its been awhile since many of these had bloomed.

Orchid Updates - Slow Growers

Let's face it.
Orchids are boring.
The only fact that make it interesting is that gorgeous beautiful flowers.
After that - its all boring leaves and protruding roots sprouting everywhere.
(If you are lucky at it)
Don't want to be mean - in reality, I had killed many orchids which getting better at it.
One simple mistake can kill them - these are merciless creatures,
they don't forgive you if you over-water them
and that's is one of the reason's I starve them.
Only keeping them wet for a day until they dry off till the next watering.

And if you do get everything right,
you got enemies who love to suck or chew on them.
Pest (aphids, scale insect, spider mite, grass-hoppers & what not)
which somehow just know where to find your tiny surviving plant
and attack that last two leaved plant.
Amazing isn't it.
All for the love of orchids.

No, I'm not going to paint the picture that a garden is all too beautiful...
Birds and bees, grace the lovely garden and its paradise on earth.
A season gardener will tell you that it can turn hell on earth when...
or especially your favourite all care one murdered...
Blood spilled everywhere and the evidence point to an intruder
who had been eyeing in your garden.

Ok.. reality check:
(A rat had been menacing my garden chewing upon my begonia leaves and some herbs in my garden)
And it is not biting the bait-trap I had been putting these few days - Darn!!!

Ok- Back to the Orchid Story...
(Hmmm.. where was I?)

If you have flowers to begin with.. there is some consolation..
but what if you are the adventurous few who bought a plant-let or few.
(In my case - some passed on to try my hands on them)
And they don't seemed to grow, least if one leaf dies,
another emerges in that order - without any progressive order...
Frustrating isn't it..

I guess Orchids are for the Strong Hearted.
To see them survive for many months only to die at the 12th..
Requires so much Strength and Patience.
The Perseverance to see it through that they might flower one day...
Out of the many - to see that few survive and thrive.

It would been easier for the rich..
They would buy the plant with the flowers..
enjoy them while they last and toss them once they are done.
(My guess is that the over-watering will eventually kill the plant when the roots slowly rots away without showing any signs until the crown rots appear & that is just too late to do anything)

Another factor:
I had seen fungus infestation (black circular marks on the leaves)
signs that tell the plant is going to die any-time soon within a month or so due to over-watering.
These orchids are sold in dirt cheap price - even when they are still flowering.
Many unsuspecting gardeners would buy these thinking they strike a bargain only to find them dying a quick fast death - even within a weeks time.
(The plant deteriorates quickly when there is a change of environment as it cannot cope with the new surroundings)

Personal Experience:
A nursery owner was pushing a Star Phalaenopsis Orchid plant with flower for RM15.
(Usual price around RM30 or more)
It had a fungus infection - not sure whether it can recover.

Even though these were mounted on coconut husk and wood fastened with sphagnum moss. Some died a sudden death without showing any signs or reason for its demise.

How can you make sure whether it is safe to say that the plant is out of danger zone?

Tips:
Watch out for the growth of new roots.
When you notice them - it means the plant is growing.
If you don't see them - it means don't count your eggs yet..
(or your orchid that it may be part of your garden family yet - or whatever you want to call it)

Sometimes - the roots may not be visible.
Watch for the growth of the new leaves - that is the sign to say that the plant had already came out of dormancy and its had passed the danger stage and its growing.
(For now)

Notice the growth of the new leaf - its bigger than the rest.
(pic below)

I love this one.
These roots seemed to be like claws sprouting out from the coconut husk which I tied around it.
These are the 5 Phalaenopsis Orchid which the flowers had already spend
(The plant passed to me by my friend)

I'm still waiting to see any signs of improvements from these orchids.
It would have been like few years and I have yet to see its blooms.

(Pic. Above: Eria)
(Pic. Below: Oncidium sp.)

My friend had bought this Dendrobium Orchid for RM7.00
(flowers and all) from Sg.Buloh.
After some time (a month or so) it started dying.
It had started to drop all the leaves but the bloom was still fresh.
I had no idea what had happened - he did watered it everyday.

Anyway - he had passed me to rescue it (I doubt it could survive)
Thank God - it started showing new improvements after few weeks.
There is this two new sprouts coming out from these bulbs.

These was with me for some time.
Been growing well..
Still waiting for the glorious bloom to appear.

These two were rescued.
Well - sort of.
The nursery owner sold them for a dirt-cheap price as most of them were dying.
Somehow these recovered from that slow death - they were neglected as the nursery was shut down for months.

Well all is not lost.
This is one of the success story where the rewards are perpetually endless.
This Ground Orchid had started to bloom and never fail blooming ever since after like 5 years or so..
And that is one of the things that gives you the drive not to give up.

This one's secret.
Placing it in the right location.

How to Reset a Phalaenopsis Orchid after its Prime?

I was hunting high & low for this.
Not that they were rare or difficult to purchase.
The catch: It's price.
With due respect this plant is actually expensive (or at least for me)
Easily costing about RM55 when full bloom and in some cases
about RM30 when the flowers were spend.
(A lady in Sg. Buloh nursery was trying to push off her after blooms)
In some places you can still get those spent ones for RM10 per pot or so.
(now I really can't remember - if you were lucky to get them in Orchid Garden in KL)

Sorry about the bad introduction above.
(Consider it my pre-thoughts before the intro)

A friend of mine who loves orchids, presented me 5 of these!!!
(I often mention him when it comes to orchids - he is more like a mentor to me.)
I'm so amazed at his generosity and kindness in sharing his wealth to me.
These were given to him by his neighbour from his work-place.
(Apparently these are use-throw flowers which were used as a decor piece in his work-place)

These are Phalaenopsis Orchids, more famously known as the Moth Orchid.
They are the in thing about orchids.
Very popular around the hotel lobbies or anywhere that are considered luxury & exclusive. And so these were adorned and very much appear to be like a "use & throw-away plant"
Once finished blooming - its discarded and a new batch is purchased from the new month order.

And so the catch:
This plants are meant not to last very long.
The medium is fashioned in such that they don't require watering or at least very minimum watering until they had finish blooming.
Fuss free and once when done finished blooming -its thrown away.
Consider it like cut flowers, only that cut flowers may last a week and prove more expensive if they were purchased regularly on a weekly basis.
Here these flowers can bloom and last for about a month and economically cheaper if compared to cut flowers.
(Of course - some cut flowers are dirt cheap - but they only last a day or two)

Its all about Condition.

How to convert an orchid that suppose to "self-destruct" to a long lasting plant?
Answer: Change the medium.

I thought that it is just an over-exaggeration that the sphagnum moss can cause root rot and they need utmost attention - I was wrong.

The emphasis proves more than true.
Failing to do so, dooms the plant like a time bomb.
Suddenly you realise the plant is dying and that you discover the whole root base is all but rotten. You thought you can save something but it is too late. The plant was dead weeks ago and only showing its sign when you notice the leaves turning yellow.

Another sign is that you might find black circular spots on the leaves.
Sometimes at the under-leaf appearing with different colouration. If you spot these in the nurseries - don't buy them. They are infected with fungus and most likely its too late to safe anything.
Worse - you don't want to infect any other healthy orchid plant in your current collection.

Deception:
This one cup of sphagnum moss look neat & well maintained.
Tucked & well behaved with nice thick roots filling in the nook & corners.
And to a unsuspecting over-zealous gardener (people like me) it would prove tempting that this plant needs water and you would want to pour a small cup of water to refresh this poor thirsty plant.



But these cups come with a vengeance.
I manage to dismantle 4 of them. All of them except one shows strong root rotting.
The three had roots rotten to the core where only the visible roots which are at the surface had escape the slaughter.

You may not notice anything suspicious by observing the outer rim.
They all are strongly rotting inside.
What appear to be a strong thick white roots going inside is just that..
The rest is a rotting mess.

The Sphagnum moss were compressed like "compressed chipped-wood" and the roots suffocate, finding itself water - it drown in the "pressed carpet" rotting away without any visible signs.
The amount of moss used is unbelievable.
It can easily make up 3-4 cups if a person intend to use it.
Its shows clearly that an organised watering scheme is practised which is controlled until this orchid grew to its matured stage.
(Only to be slaughtered with the tropical watering style - over-watering)

I have managed to fastened 4 of these on a pine branch.
(Earlier I used it for my airplants - this is the last branch available)

Here I used a small portion of Sphagnum moss fastened with coco-mesh and coconut husk. I used to work with fishing line (use it to tie up the orchids with the medium) but somehow it is difficult when it comes to knotting.
They somehow get loose when putting a knot.
And the messy factor of arranging them in looping to strengthen the whole orchid something prove futile when the orchid slops on the wood piece.

A thick binding string (sold in stationary shops) really helped me a lot.
I just have to do one fastening and another for the final loop and the whole thing is so stable and tight.
(The last time I used the fishing line for the miniature dendrobium tying it with coconut husk and over time the husk fell off from the orchid piece)

Eventually these roots will take over and fastened naturally around the coconut husk and the wood piece. By then - the strings will slowly dis-integrate by time..

I was running tight with time.
This was done yesterday at 11.30pm and I manage to finish it only at 2.00am.
However, it was very effective using this binding string as it saved a lot of time.
(I only planned to hang one orchid for that day but got over-zealous and managed to do four)

Looks like I can manage to squeeze the last piece at the bottom. May only able to work at it when it is in the hanging position as the rest of the 4 pieces gave me some tough time balancing the wood using my legs - to hold it up-right.

And lastly, I used cable tie to fasten all the spikes together.
Normally these are trimmed off in the nurseries.
My idea is hoping that at least one of it bears out a kelki
(a baby plant spawning from the flower spike) for me to cherish.

My earlier experience, I realise that the leaves will eventually drop and be replaced by the new but smaller sized ones. This shows that the plant is heavily sprayed with growth hormones and other chemicals, often leads to its destruction.

The other thing is that, I usually fastened these types upside down to make sure there is no chance of crown rot when watering was done. Here I doubt I can manage to do that as its just too messy to work in that direction.
Hopefully the plant picks up itself and let nature takes its course.

Thank you Edward for these lovely Orchids.