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kincha

By Kincha

Middlesex, United Kingdom

I bought an mini orchid yesterday, can anyone suggest how to care for it and what to avoid, please?
Thanks.




Answers

 

Can you say what species or hybrid of orchid it is Kincha? If not can you post a picture? Orchids have loads of species and many of them require different treatment from each other.

19 Feb, 2012

 

Probably a phalaenopsis but it would be good to see a photo

19 Feb, 2012

 

there are two photos of it and its pot here:
www.growsonyou.com/kincha
I think it is phalaenopsis.

19 Feb, 2012

 

Yup a Phal. indoors, not too warm, not direct sunlight but good light. Watering we use tap water but our tap water is soft if your's isn't use rain water. Just let the water run through the clear plastic pot and drain out, don't let the Phal. stand in water. I wouldn't have said this was a mini one! Good luck and have fun.

19 Feb, 2012

 

Thank you!
It said on the label that its mini and its a bit smaller than the ones sold everywhere.... could it be that it's just young plant?

19 Feb, 2012

 

It may get a bit larger Kincha but don't forget that chids often don't flower until they are well mature so don't expect it to. It is a Phalaenopsis noid (no i.d. or hybrid) presumably bred for smallness and, as it has 2 spikes, it is mature now. When the flowers die off (or better still are dying off) then cut the spikes back to the next flowering node, a small lump a few inches down the spike and it should re-flower in a few months. When there are no new nodes left then cut the spike off and it will eventually grow a new spike, but that takes longer. Oh and cut using sterilised scissors or clippers.

20 Feb, 2012

 

My advice is to ditch the cache pot.
If you feel that you must keep it, wash it in HOT water every time that you water it to avoid bacterial infection.

20 Feb, 2012

 

Sorry Meanie I totally disagree... we have loads of Phails around the house. They are watered with tap water running through the clear pot (would use rain water but our tap water is really, really soft) left to drain and stuck back in their cache pot... We've been doing this for years with no trouble.

20 Feb, 2012

 

Each to their own MG - Since ditching mine I have "cleaner" and better smelling roots (I lost a few early on). Must admit that the temperature in my house is set to 25°c. Exceptions are downstair toilet, spare room and the consevatory. I use fresh rainwater if available, but otherwise boiled water (ours is very hard).

20 Feb, 2012

 

I've done what Meanie does and ditched all mine. A neighbour once asked me if I could do anything for her 'poorly' Phal. When I looked at it through the clear pot it was just a mush of black. She thought she was draining it fully before putting it back in the cache pot but, like me, is getting forgetful and must have popped it back in early a few times, which is enough. I like to see healthy green roots through the pot as well as the ariel ones and it means that I get ample warning if something is wrong. Needless to say the neighbour's first Phal went to the great conservatory, i.e. the recycling bin.

21 Feb, 2012

 

Nowhere in our house is 25˚C I couldn't cope with that temperature. So yes Meanie, I guess if your house is that hot you do need to take more care. Our phail's are lucky, or unlucky, if they experience high teen temps. for any length of time. I am so thankful our water is extremely soft.

21 Feb, 2012

 

MG - I too was bought up in a cool house. I only became this bad since living in Australia. I's 17 years since I returned, but I have failed to adapt so instead I know have a very heat efficient home. It was the main reason for my buyer putting pen to paper recently.
Plant wise though it does have a major downside - red spider mite!

21 Feb, 2012

 

Ah yes red spider mite will love that heat :-)

21 Feb, 2012

 

Can't believe that you added a "smiley" face MG!!!!

I have found garlic water a good treatment, and if the plant is small enough, gassing them with warm water and Vicks Vaporub in a placcy bag works well.

21 Feb, 2012

 

Sorry Meanie...

21 Feb, 2012

 

A machine gun is good for the little *!@? too.

22 Feb, 2012

How do I say thanks?

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