Question:
My Phalaenopsis Orchid has finished blooming. How far should I cut back the brown stems, and how can I encourage them to rebloom? Additionally, when should I consider repotting them?Answer:
- Phalaenopsis orchids are among the longest-blooming and easiest-to-grow flowering plants for indoor spaces.
- To ensure their continued success, it's essential to provide the right moisture, light, and nutrients. It's normal for old flower stems to turn yellow or brown and eventually die back. Instead of cutting the old stem off at the soil line, leave a 4-inch section. A new flower spike should develop from the old stem within about eight to twelve weeks.
- Insufficient light is the most common reason these orchids fail to rebloom. Indirect light from a kitchen or bathroom window typically suffices. If this isn't an option, consider investing in an Agrosun Gro Light from Hydro Farm.
- Position the clamp-on light two to three feet above the orchid foliage. During the winter months, the plants need 15 to 18 hours of light daily, tapering off as the days grow longer
- The watering schedule remains the same after flowering; orchids are usually watered once every seven to ten days, depending on their environment.
- They should be fed monthly with orchid food. Gro More is one of several popular orchid fertilizers, and its 20-20-20 formula is suitable for year-round use. This general-purpose fertilizer nourishes the plant through its leaves and roots, stimulating bud formation and root development.
- Repot Phalaenopsis orchids every 18 to 24 months. When repotting, remove any dark-colored, soft, or mushy roots. Sometimes, roots may appear withered and dry, often with a fiber running through the middle.
- After trimming the roots, center the plant in the pot with all roots directed downward, then add fresh, pre-moistened orchid bark.
- The bark should reach just below the lower set of leaves. Wait a week before resuming your regular watering and fertilizing routine.
Question:
I have dug up and replanted an overgrown bed of Bearded Iris. I noticed small holes in the rhizomes that look as if someone carefully poked them with an ice pick. I discarded the damaged rhizomes. Are there insects in the soil causing this issue, and what treatments can I use to prevent it from happening again?Answer:
- There is no cause for concern.
- The holes on the rhizomes indicate where the roots were attached. When you remove clumps of Bearded Iris, some roots naturally separate from the rhizomes.
- The uniformity and placement of the holes suggest this is the case, as insects usually attack roots in a random pattern. To confirm, you can remove some roots and examine the pattern.
- Furthermore, to encourage better blooming next year, apply a 0-10-10 fertilizer during the winter months. Make three applications, spaced six weeks apart.