Wilting petals

Hello everyone! I am new to the forum as well as growing orchids. I have just bought a new orchid. It is a phalaenopsis. It looks fairly healthy and there are no spots on it, but the top petals seem to be wilting on the blooms. Any suggestions? I'm also looking for any information you can give on how much water to use and how often? Should I mist it everyday? Any info on food would be appreciated as well. I look forward to getting to know everyone! Thank you!

-Cory

Hi Cory, could you possibly post a photo? it sounds as if it needs a drink, or the flowers are just finishing. are they losing colour?

Hello and welcome Cory. Very good answer from Jordan.

Welcome! A photo of your plant would help alot. It could be as has been suggested the need of a good watering or that the blooms are old or there could be a problem with the roots. I have had this problem with a couple of rescued Phals and found that the problem was with the roots. In both cases I found that I had root rot. If that is the case I would suggest removing the bloom and repotting the orchid so that it can put it's energy in to producing new roots.

Bills advice is sound check the three in my opinion

They don't seem to be losing colour. Here are a few pictures of the blooms and the root system. Should I be misting them every other day as well as water weekly? Or would that be too much?

definitly dehydration.....the roots look poked! what i do is i always run water through the medium in the pot for around 30mins once a week in winter and every 2-3 days in summer. When they start to look like this, your in the green zone.....no pun intended lol









(yes, i used hot water watering the plant....i didnt check the tap....)

Remember too, that if the roots start to go mushy from too much water, leave for about a fortnight, and spray with a good copper oxychloride like Champ DP and use at half strength to prevent fungal infection.

I just gave it a bunch of water. Not a half hours worth mind you, it's my first orchid and I really don't want to drown it. But the medium is nice and wet now. I also put a single drop of liquid plant food in with the water. How long do you think it will take before I start seeing improvement?

i wouldnt have put the food in personally, but then again, who knows what will happen. I would give it around a full month before any noticeable improvement shows. By the looks of the roots you could have put 4 days worth of water in there and it still wouldnt drown! Lol!

anyway, good luck and remember to keep the copper handy!

btw, beautiful white phal