We have had success keeping Orchids inside our south facing patio door
for some years and they flower every year.
We water them twice a month by soaking in tepid water for 20 mins and
then draining.
For some reason they are all bleaching out into a white colour.
Is this because we have not been feeding them? If so, any advice on how
best to feed them gratefully received. thanks.

On 13 Feb 2022 20:22, john west wrote:
>
> We have had success keeping Orchids inside our south facing patio door
> for some years and they flower every year.
> We water them twice a month by soaking in tepid water for 20 mins and
> then draining.
> For some reason they are all bleaching out into a white colour.
> Is this because we have not been feeding them? If so, any advice on how
> best to feed them gratefully received. thanks.
>
I give ours (Phals and Dendrobiums) a half strength feed every other
watering, no problems with flowering or colour. What sort of Orchids
are we talking about?

--
Regards.
Bob Hobden

On 13/02/2022 23:08, Bob Hobden wrote:
> On 13 Feb 2022 20:22, john west wrote:
>>
>> We have had success keeping Orchids inside our south facing patio door
>> for some years and they flower every year.
>> We water them twice a month by soaking in tepid water for 20 mins and
>> then draining.
>> For some reason they are all bleaching out into a white colour.
>> Is this because we have not been feeding them? If so, any advice on how
>> best to feed them gratefully received. thanks.
>>
> I give ours (Phals and Dendrobiums) a half strength feed every other
> watering, no problems with flowering or colour. What sort of Orchids
> are we talking about?
>

Sorry dont know much. They are just the common ones we buy from the
local supermarket.
please can you say how we would best to feed them and with what, Also
what dosage.
Since we soak the whole pot i guess Growmore sprinkled on the top would
not be good enough? So how best to feed then bearing, in mind we
completely soak the pot in tap water. Thanks Bob for your help.

On 14 Feb 2022 12:42, john west wrote:
> On 13/02/2022 23:08, Bob Hobden wrote:
>> On 13 Feb 2022 20:22, john west wrote:
>>>
>>> We have had success keeping Orchids inside our south facing patio door
>>> for some years and they flower every year.
>>> We water them twice a month by soaking in tepid water for 20 mins and
>>> then draining.
>>> For some reason they are all bleaching out into a white colour.
>>> Is this because we have not been feeding them? If so, any advice on how
>>> best to feed them gratefully received. thanks.
>>>
>> I give ours (Phals and Dendrobiums) a half strength feed every other
>> watering, no problems with flowering or colour. What sort of Orchids
>> are we talking about?
>>
>
> Sorry dont know much. They are just the common ones we buy from the
> local supermarket.
> please can you say how we would best to feed them and with what, Also
> what dosage.
> Since we soak the whole pot i guess Growmore sprinkled on the top would
> not be good enough? So how best to feed then bearing, in mind we
> completely soak the pot in tap water. Thanks Bob for your help.
>

Probably Phaleanopsis then, also known as Moth Orchids.
NOT growmore, that will kill them.
There are specific liquid Orchid fertilizers that you can use as
directed on the bottle or a general fertilizer like liquid Miracle Grow
at half strength. They do much prefer rainwater at room temperature and
your method of watering is the way I do it too.

--
Regards.
Bob Hobden

In article <subpal$r6q$1@dont-email.me>, mail.invalid456@mail.invalid
says...
>
> We have had success keeping Orchids inside our south facing patio door
> for some years and they flower every year.
> We water them twice a month by soaking in tepid water for 20 mins and
> then draining.

I do the same, with orchid feed in the water. They take turns standing
in the pot of tepid water+feed.

> For some reason they are all bleaching out into a white colour.

Maybe too much sun?

> Is this because we have not been feeding them? If so, any advice on how
> best to feed them gratefully received. thanks.

You can buy a bottle of liquid orchid feed in ang GC, not expensive,
dilute as directed.

Janet

On 14/02/2022 12:42, john west wrote:
> On 13/02/2022 23:08, Bob Hobden wrote:
>> On 13 Feb 2022 20:22, john west wrote:
>>>
>>> We have had success keeping Orchids inside our south facing patio door
>>> for some years and they flower every year.
>>> We water them twice a month by soaking in tepid water for 20 mins and
>>> then draining.
>>> For some reason they are all bleaching out into a white colour.
>>> Is this because we have not been feeding them?  If so, any advice on how
>>> best to feed them gratefully received.   thanks.
>>>
>> I give ours (Phals and Dendrobiums) a half strength feed every other
>> watering, no problems with flowering or colour. What sort of Orchids
>> are we talking about?
>>
>
> Sorry dont know much. They are just the common ones we buy from the
> local supermarket.
> please can you say how we would best to feed them and with what, Also
> what dosage.
> Since we soak the whole pot i guess Growmore sprinkled on the top would
> not be good enough?   So how best to feed then bearing, in mind we
> completely soak the pot in tap water.  Thanks Bob for your help.

There are specialist orchid fertilizers. (A web search will tell you
more. It will also tell you that epiphytic orchids are adapted to
low-nutrient conditions and are sensitive to over-fertilization.)

That said, I would suspect that a loss of flower colour is caused by a
nutrient deficiency.

--
SRH

Sorry for the delayed response/slightly off-topic reply.

I usually water evrey month, standiing as dep as possible in rainwater
for 30 mins or so.

BUT I wonder, as I have the clear pots and can see the roots, should I
let them start to loose the green colour and start to go grey (as do the
aerial roots) before watering?

On 13/02/2022 20:22, john west wrote:
>
> We have had success keeping Orchids inside our south facing patio door
> for some years and they flower every year.
> We water them twice a month by soaking in tepid water for 20 mins and
> then draining.
> For some reason they are all bleaching out into a white colour.
> Is this because we have not been feeding them?  If so, any advice on how
> best to feed them gratefully received.   thanks.