Lower leaves on Paphiopedilum turning yellow

[Sirinne]

Hi guys!
I have had Phals for a while and we seem to get along, but I got a new Paph Venustum orchid for about 3 weeks and its lower leaves are turning yellow.

I have already lost one leaf entirely over the course of about 10 days, now the second one is feeling soft to the touch and turning yellow, took about a week to get to the state it's in. I think all the other leaves might be a bit less crisp to the touch.

It's planted entirely in bark, repotted after purchase. I water with lukewarm tap water when the upper half of the substrate looks dry and the lower half looks somewhat moist, once or twice a week. Run it for about a minute under the tap. The fertilizer is slow release orchid fertilizer, I don't add any with watering. Light is north window, no direct sunlight ever. Temperature in the room is around 22-24 C.

My guess is I am probably watering it wrong, but I don't know if I might be giving too much or too little. Could you guys give me any advice what the problem might be?

[Roberta]

First, Welcome!

The growth with the yellowing leaves is an older one. You have nice new growth. Paphs tend to treat older growths (especially those that have bloomed) as reserves. If it's under-fertilized, the process may be sped up ( that doesn't seem to be a problem if you're using time-release) but it's really just force of nature. They suck the old growth dry to feed the new growths.

[Sirinne]

Thank you, glad to be here! Great to know this might be normal. I have no idea which stage I got this guy in, hope this is old growth dying off.

Would you say watering it when top half of substrate is dry is how I should continue? I am seeing some variety in advice on the net, with some people recommending to allow a couple inches to dry and some say it should be moist throughout, all the time.

[Roberta]

I think Paphs like to stay on the damp side. If they are in bark and well drained, pretty hard to overwater... unlike Phals (which are really epiphytic and need some drying to get lots of air to roots) Paphs are closer to terrestrial in their habit. So as long as the mix is fresh and airy, I don't that that you need to worry about overwatering.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Watering frequency will depend on room temperature and relative humidity. I don't let the top of Paph medium become dry.

[Sirinne]

Thank you! temperature is 22-24 C during the day, and humidity is around 45-50.

But the way I understand it, I should worry about underwatering rather than overwatering with this species?

[estación seca]

Paphs should not dry out.