Leaf problem

[littleflower]

Not sure what’s going on, I bought this plant in bloom and it was doing well. Now the leaves look like this

[Kruger]

1) How is the media (and roots)?
2) How is your air movement?
3) How much do you water and do you wet the leaves often?
4) What have been the temperature extremes lately?

[littleflower]

1. media slightly moist, I haven't allowed it to get completely dry before watering. Hard to say about roots, what I can see doesn't look great, some roots have black tips (purchased in spike, didn't want to re pot until blooms died)

2. air movement - in kitchen by a window, large open space

3. water prob 2x/week, I do not get the leaves wet (soak pot for 10-15 mins, then drain)

4. temps stable (indoors), roughly 70

Other leaves look fine

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by littleflower

1. media slightly moist, I haven't allowed it to get completely dry before watering. Hard to say about roots, what I can see doesn't look great, some roots have black tips (purchased in spike, didn't want to re pot until blooms died)

If air-movement is ok there, then that's good.

For your pot - check to see if the pot has good drainage. I usually recommend a pot with a decent number of drainage holes, and big enough drainage holes at the bottom of the pot --- not just the bottom surface, but around the bottom rim of the pot (the bottom rim boundary where the bottom meets the side of the pot).

This allows good air-flow through the media and around the roots (provided that the pot is placed on some suitable stand so that the drainage holes aren't blocked by whatever the pot rests on). Also - if the media is an airy type that retains some moisture, then that also greatly assists air flow through the media and around the roots. The roots need oxygen to survive. If water gets hung up and not moving well enough due to inadequate air movement in then the roots can die. But also chances of unwanted things causing disease or issues can also build up with inadequate air-movement around the media in the pot.

Also - if your decorative pot blocks air-movement too much, then consider removing the decorative (external) pot - at least temporarily.

[littleflower]

So, I decided to check out the roots. First, the media was tightly packed around the roots, I spent 10 minutes picking it out and I’m not done yet. Plus, a lot of these roots are dead. I hadn’t realized it, but the inner pot only has drainage at the bottom, so I’m thinking there was not good airflow.

[Dollythehun]

My first thought was spider mites. Can you close up the leaves?

[littleflower]

Close up pics

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by littleflower

Close up pics

If it turns out to be mite activity or insect attack, then an orchid-safe soap solution sprayed onto the leaves and stem can control the attacking mites/insects.

The spraying is done with a wide-angle spray nozzle - wetting all the leaves - every part of it, and every part of the stem.

If any water gets lodged in the 'crown' or pocket regions at the bases of all the leaves, then tip the plant on its side or somehow blow out the water from the pockets.

Originally Posted by littleflower

the inner pot only has drainage at the bottom, so I’m thinking there was not good airflow.

As for the drainage at the bottom of your inner pot ----- how many holes does it have at the bottom? And how big are the holes? Some good resolution photo of the bottom of the pot can provide good information here.

It's possible that the tightly packed media (assuming it is spaghnum moss?) combined with inadequate drainage and air-flow through the media and around roots ----- may have led to water stagnation and roots not getting enough oxygen --- leading to some root rot.

If you use a more airy media such as bark or scoria, and put some more holes (and bigger holes) in the bottom of the plastic pot --- and then place the pot on a suitable stand that doesn't block any of the holes of the pot, then this can help to reduce changes of root rot issues, or even eliminate chances of it.

[aliceinwl]

What are your temperatures and light situation like? Could it have gotten hit with cold or direct sun?

I bought mine a few years ago in a similar potting situation and I’ve kind of abused it (too much sun, too much cold) but it relentlessly bounces back. These can be tough plants. I finally decided to go easy on mine (it was down to its last two leaves). It promptly shot up a new cane and a spike of flowers. Don’t give up, even if it’s in rough shape now :-)

[Roberta]

That first close-up photo does look like either sunburn or cold damage. Aliceinwl is right on, it'll recover from the insults with better growing conditions (starting with the repot)