Newly "saved" orchids, in trouble again

[dawsonrose]

Hello everyone!

As a new member of the community, I first want to say hello to everyone! Happy to find such a fun and informative page.

My question is, I have sadly ruined two of my orchids over last fall due my impatient overwatering / wrong potting medium. Then, over a tedious upside down rooting period, I finally got a lot of roots and two new leaves on my orchid. I have potted it into bark over three weeks now but its been looking a bit sad as leaves started to yellow. The photos are attached. I am suspicious of lack of water as the bark is pretty new, maybe it dries out too quick? I am never sure about the watering now, and afraid of overwatering again. I rely on the gray roots, however they turn gray even though the pot has visibly moisture still. What would be your suggestions to me? Thanks and greetings!

[Roberta]

First, Welcome!
That new medium will dry very fast - that's really large bark. In that mix, you could probably water every day and not overwater - Ray, who participates here often, says it best "Orchids don't suffer from too much water, but rather from lack of air"... soggy old broken down mix doesn't hold much air, while that big bark will hold more air than wate So you do need to water much more often than you did in the old mix.

[Leafmite]

Good luck with it!

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

I echo what Roberta and Ray said. In that large bark you could water every day. Is the plant indoors or outside? What is the relative humidity in the growing area?

[dawsonrose]

Hello guys! Thank you so much for the warm welcome and your replies. The plant is indoors by the window, I sadly do not know about the humidity due its my office building.

I will water it more frequently then, and hope this yellowing is still reversable / plant is savable, would be really upset about it as both the plant and I put so much effort in growing new roots and all

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by dawsonrose

Hello guys! Thank you so much for the warm welcome and your replies. The plant is indoors by the window, I sadly do not know about the humidity due its my office building.

I will water it more frequently then, and hope this yellowing is still reversable / plant is savable, would be really upset about it as both the plant and I put so much effort in growing new roots and all

One thing to keep in mind is that orchids are very slow growers. One month isn't much time to them. Be patient waiting for results of any change you make to the culture.

[Dalachin]

Maybe do a once a week soak— put the pot in a larger container and let it sit in water for 5-15 min so that the roots can fully hydrate and the bark can absorb some water.

[dawsonrose]

Originally Posted by Dusty Ol' Man

One thing to keep in mind is that orchids are very slow growers. One month isn't much time to them. Be patient waiting for results of any change you make to the culture.

You've underlined a great fact, being patient Due the enthusiasm I tend to rush a lot, but need to remember to be patient

Originally Posted by Dalachin

Maybe do a once a week soak— put the pot in a larger container and let it sit in water for 5-15 min so that the roots can fully hydrate and the bark can absorb some water.

I will keep this in mind! I tend to water from above (not towards the crown obviously).

Thank you so much for the advice everyone

[Roberta]

If you put the pot under the faucet and let water run through the pot, you wet the medium well, flush out "junk", and pull air into the root zone. All good things.

[dawsonrose]

Hello again guys! I have a similar question and thought of not opening another thread for it, hopefully it'll be alright

Similarly, I have another orchid that suffered from my previous ill-watering habits, which I have also tried to grow roots with upside down method. However, unlike its friend, this one is a very slow grower Over the course of other one growing leaves, many many roots, this one is, well... here are the photos. I tried to "plant" it as well besides the other one.





It is very tiny and available roots are all you see. I was wondering if any other method would be better for it? Since its a bit shriveled up. Or do I just wait like this and hope for the best?


Also, thank you for all your tips, the previously asked orchid is doing better and sends its greetings with its new leaf <3