The first of my rescued Phals bloomed today and most of the other 22 also have flower stalks.

Way to go, Chris! That's a really pretty one.

Good-growing, Chris.

Thanks Elaine and Ken. I know it's not as pretty or fancy as some the you and others have but to me it's a real accomplishment.

There are Phal. flowers as beautiful as any other orchid flower, just different forms. There are a few that are fragrant, but the vast majority as not at all. Darn. Beauty is always in the eye-of-the-beholder, Chris. The big thing to me is that you have challenged yourself to grow orchids, and I think that's just great. We all had to start with that first orchid, right?

Not to mention, Phals can be downright capital-D Difficult! I feel a great accomplishment has been met if I can get one to bloom.

All that nonsense about them being the "beginner's orchid" is just marketing.

Thank you Ken and Elaine. My real challenge will be starting tomorrow night when the lows drop into the low 30s and mid 20s for the next 20 days or so. I've got my propane heater set so it puts heat out under the tables they sit on. I do feel a great sense of accomplishment especially since I didn't get them until about 3wks after Mothers Day and nursed them back to health.

Looking good, Chris!
This is not an easy peasy Orchid in my hands. I have one in bud right now, wouldn't you believe that darn plant had a few Mealies last week. I have no clue where they came from, the small plant is mounted and sits alone in the kitchen window sill right over the sink. I caught them, but really!!

In my experience, my Phal. have had more bug-trouble than any other family of orchid I have ever grown............by a long-shot. For some reason they often seem to be magnets for scale. I am always watchful when it comes to Phalaenopsis.

Although my orchids are putting out new leaves and each one has at least one flower spike the mature leaves look terrible. I feed them once a week with water soluble orchid food and have been misting them twice a day. I also manage to keep the humidity high with the trays I made. What am I doing wrong? My 'Orchids for Dummies' book doesn't mention yellow leaves.

There's one on the left there that has a big black spot, Chris. It might be one of two things but neither of them are good news.

It could be sunburn - is your greenhouse in direct sunlight? The plants might need a little less light in the middle of the day? Has that spot been there a while?

OR it could be black rot, a leaf rotting fungus that can spread very quickly. If the spot developed, and gets bigger quickly CUT THE LEAF OFF well back of where the spot is, and get that leaf out of the greenhouse. Any leaf that has no green left on it could be cut off, it's not doing the plant any good. I would dust the cuts with a little bit of cinnamon to prevent fungal infection invading.

Have you tried adding a little bit of Epsom Salts to your soluble fert spray? I'm not sure but a couple of those leaves look like they have a little bit of a reddish tinge. This is a sign of magnesium deficiency. If you let that go too long, the leaves quit making chlorophyll (the green stuff that collects light and makes food for the plant), go yellow and die off.

If you are spraying them twice a day, make it always before noon so the plants have a chance to dry off before night time. You don't want the leaves to sit with water on them overnight.

I see which one you mean Elaine, I'll have to take a look at it tomorrow. It's not in direct sunlight, there are some parts of trees overhead when they're leafed out and I have the Orchid tables on the west side. When I have everything out of the other greenhouse my Angel Trumpets provide some shade also. I'll remove that leaf and go through and remove the other ones that are dead. I can't remember the name of the orchid food I use but it comes in a little bag and you mix a teaspoon with a gallon of water. I then use a watering can to water the orchids with it once a week. Then the watering can get soaked in my bleach water solution. I haven't noticed a reddish tinge like on my Oleander I'll have to look tomorrow. Should I add a small bit of Epson Salts to the plant food like I did the Oleander?

I would try it, Chris. It can't hurt. Orchids love magnesium. ( I forgot that you had that oleander with the red leaves. Did it recover?)

Have you made the fert solution weaker as the weather got cooler, too? The plants do slow down and need less fertilizer in cooler weather. (but that doesn't look like the problem)

Chris, if you don't mind, un-pot that one on the center-right, the one with large, but yellow leaves. While it is un-potted, examine the roots and tell me what you see. Examine the undersides of the leaves. Anything of concern there? Then dump out and describe the potting media. Is it loaded with moss? Is the bark broken down? Does it appear to be water-retentive? Are the drainage holes large and open?

If I had orchids that looked like this, I would be very concerned. So much yellowing is simply not normal or good. I looks to me like many other plants' leaves are starting to turn color too. I almost commented on the leaf-color in that first picture, the one with the flower, but I simply thought it was the lighting that caused the coloration.

Report back. We'll get this figured out.

I'll do that today Ken when we get back from grocery shopping and after I get more propane.
Elaine, The Oleander seems to be looking better. I've been setting it out on the warm sunny days we've been having which are now over, at least the warm weather is over. The sun will still be out so if it's in the 50s I'll keep setting it out for awhile.

Ken, do you mean the one that is on the right hand front tray to the right of the one I have staked up? It has an old spike sticking up out of it.

There is a stake and there appears to be some sort of rot going on. It is about in the middle, but far left. I said right but meant left. Old age.

congratulations Chris on getting one to rebloom and getting so many to put out spikes for you!
I used to work at Lowe's and was always bringing plants home to save....my experience is that not all
plants can be rescued. I used to try and get a peek at the roots before actually buying a plant as often times
they were all rotted and beyond saving. I had the best luck bringing them back by keeping them in the house
with just bright light...if you have grown and had success with African Violets..that sort of light , where you could
sit and read. Once I got my greenhouse , it was much more difficult for me. I don't know if it was just too much humidity,
or light or what...You may also have some problems with any buds or spikes if you are using propane...some plants
are very sensitive to gases. I had mine in a bark, charcoal mix and only watered twice a month...
Also, have you got good air movement in your greenhouse?
fingers crossed for you!

Ken, do you mean the one I've circled in black? It has all the yellow leaves.