Orchids Were Growing Well – But Not Anymore!

Question

I have several orchids indoors, all of which are doing quite well. I have even had several rebloom. I water them approximately once a week with 2-3 ice cubes. I have one that bloomed perhaps a year ago, and recently started sending out a new shoot. It looked great until the buds started popping out. The first one fell off, and now it looks HORRIBLE. The shoot is still green and beautiful, but the end – just the last cm or so – is discolored, darker with white and shriveled with a sticky substance. What went wrong, and how can I fix it? Other information that may be helpful: It is in a north-facing room, though my whole house stays quite bright. I keep the heat down at night but it never gets that cold in our area.

Answer 1

The sticky substance along with the poor growth seems to point towards a possible pest problem. Orchids are occasionally affected by mealybugs, scale, and aphids. We prefer to treat pest issues with neem oil, as it is quite effective. Here is more information on using neem oil as well as links for the insect pests which may be affecting your plant: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/problems/pests/neem-oil-uses.htm