We in Miami. Wilma can thru with a big salty spray followed by a 10-15
degree drop in temp. I've been watering, but wondering if I should fertilize
or hold off. Also wondering about flowers. If plants beging to bloom, would
it be best to cut the spikes to leesen stress on plants?

No personal experience to speak from, but it seems logical that once you
have flushed the salt thoroughly from the plant and the medium (maybe
repotting is in order, but NaCl doesn't "stick" to things that well), I
would go back to normal treatment.

If the plants were stressed enough, they'll "blow" the flowers themselves.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"bk" <thelifer [at] hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:11n82ov88f49dda [at] corp.supernews.com...
> We in Miami. Wilma can thru with a big salty spray followed by a 10-15
> degree drop in temp. I've been watering, but wondering if I should
> fertilize or hold off. Also wondering about flowers. If plants beging to
> bloom, would it be best to cut the spikes to leesen stress on plants?
>

BK -- Judgment call on both questions. First, be sure you have all the salt
rinsed out. We recommend a serious leeching (double or even triple the
normal amount of water) for plants exposed to salt water. After that, if
the plants look OK and are showing signs of new growth, then go ahead and
resume fertilizing. You might want to "ease into" it with the first couple
of applications being extra dilute.

Same idea about flowers. If the plants look good, go ahead and enjoy the
flowers. If the plants look stressed, or like they're struggling, then cut
the spikes as soon as you see them. A "compromise" would be to let the
flowers open, then cut the spikes and put them in water for display. Good
growing,
--
Kenni Judd
Juno Beach Orchids
kenni [at] jborchids.com


"bk" <thelifer [at] hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:11n82ov88f49dda [at] corp.supernews.com...
> We in Miami. Wilma can thru with a big salty spray followed by a 10-15
> degree drop in temp. I've been watering, but wondering if I should
> fertilize or hold off. Also wondering about flowers. If plants beging to
> bloom, would it be best to cut the spikes to leesen stress on plants?
>

Kenni,

From what you see and hear how is this winter's Florida Phal crop been
affected? Are the northeast and midatlantic box stores looking at
shortages?

Pat

On Fri, 11 Nov 2005 19:56:22 -0500 in <11naeo5i6don80a [at] corp.supernews.com> Pat Brennan <orchidsNOT [at] rica.net> wrote:
> Kenni,
>
> From what you see and hear how is this winter's Florida Phal crop been
> affected? Are the northeast and midatlantic box stores looking at
> shortages?

One of the box stores has been trying to pass off oncids and cymbidiums
as phals for some "flower for a cause" thing (Breast cancer I think,
but my memory is fuzzy).


--
Chris Dukes
Suspicion breeds confidence -- Brazil