Avatar for Smnichol522
May 20, 2019 10:50 AM CST
Thread OP
Arlington, virginia
this is my kitchen orchid that I've had for about two years it doesn't do much and it hasn't flowered. I put ice cubes in it once every one to two weeks. All of a sudden it's turning yellow here's a picture of the roots. Any thoughts?
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May 20, 2019 11:13 AM CST
Name: Will Creed
NYC
Prof. plant consultant & educator
Ice cubes are not a reliable method for watering Orchids. The roots are dries out. Soak the soil in the sink wherever the soil feels dry. As an alternative replace the soil with an Orchid potting mix and water as I described weekly.
Will Creed
Horticultural Help, NYC
www.HorticulturalHelp.com
Contact me directly at [email protected]
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May 20, 2019 11:40 AM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

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I am only a novice orchid grower but in my opinion, your Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis) is growing in an inappropriate potting medium; an airy orchid bark mix works much better for the health of the plant. The visible roots on your orchid appear dead but the plant still looks to have some life because most of it is green. The yellow leaf won't recover and it can be removed.

There are a few places currently selling Phalaenopsis Orchids with the tag reading "Just Add Ice" and my sister recently bought one. She called me one day, telling me that she just bought this neat orchid that you just have to add a few ice cubes to the container every week and as the ice melts, it waters the plant. I told her that in my opinion, that method is just a gimmick to sell orchids.

Here are links to the American Orchid Society page with culture sheets for growing Phalaenopsis Orchids.
http://www.aos.org/orchids/cul...
http://www.aos.org/orchids/cul...
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May 21, 2019 3:16 PM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
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We have Orchid growing threads right here. Check out Growing Supermarket Orchids-Phalaenopsis!

Your Phalaenopsis is dying, it is terminal. The vast majority of orchids can not be grown in soil. The preferred media's are often some type of fir bark mix. Your soil is smothering the roots and killing it!
Ice cubes is not an acceptable watering method. It is purely a sales gimmick as was suggested. It makes the buyer think that "I can grow this!"
The simplest way to make the point is that the Phalaenopsis is a tropical plant. When is the last time ice cubes fell in the tropics and watered plants?
It grows in a bright area, NO sun and needs to be watered once every five days or so. Not with cold water but with tap water that you have blended to take the chill of the cold water away.
Fertilize three or four times a year.
The only thing that you having going for your orchid is to repot it as soon as possible, into a pot with drainage holes. Put it in a pot that the roots fit into snugly, assuming there are live roots. Phalaenopsis love to be repotted and respond by sending out new roots within three to five weeks. It is best to have those roots grow into fresh media.
Good luck! Browse our orchid forum section and "May the Force be with your plant!!"
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
Last edited by BigBill May 21, 2019 3:18 PM Icon for preview
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