when to cut broken/yellowing leaf - Page 3 - Orchid Board

RosieC · #21 04-19-2009, 01:55 PM

It sounds goods if your roots are growing and watering when the pot is light is a good way when you do not have a clear pot.

learning2letgo · #22 04-20-2009, 07:44 AM

I agree Rosie, I didn't think to include the weight measure! Great suggestion

SamandAnne · #23 04-20-2009, 02:05 PM

Thank you both. The yellow has spread to the base of the leaf itself, which is withering. Looks like it'll lose that leaf. I'm hoping it doesn't lose both on that side...the upper one is still green but hasn't firmed up yet.

Do you think crown rot is a possibility, now that the upper base of the main leaf itself is yellow (even though it started at the lower part near the stem - as in the photo)? I do spray mist, but I'm pretty careful about not getting into the crown.

Thanks again for all your help! It's our first orchid and very pretty, so we're hoping to keep it going well!

Oh-and I did a quick image search on keikis - they look great.

SamandAnne · #24 04-21-2009, 10:17 PM

I was looking at this post:
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...-spotting.html

since my phal continues to lose leaves. The next lower leaf is about to drop, and the one above it doesn't feel to healthy (not firming up as the other side's leaves are). The leaves on the other side are firmer and look better. I'm wondering from the other post if maybe I haven't been watering enough. Since having root rot in moss, I switched to bark but also cut back on the watering, making sure the pot was very light before watering again. I also just learned I should have soaked the bark in water before repotting.

So, I'm soaking the phal now (usually I water with a jug with fertilizer, letting it run through a little and then stopping watering). I'm hoping this will help. I was also going to stop misting from the info on that other post. Do these sound like good ideas?

I think that clear pot would help ASAP. Other than that, from Ray, maybe I just need to give it some time to recover.

Any other ideas would be great, or if you agree with what I'm trying.

I posted two more photos, one of the leaf about to drop and the other of the next highest leaf (only 3 leaves left!).

Thanks again for everyone's input. I'm taking it all in.

RosieC · #25 04-22-2009, 04:44 AM

I think that soaking the bark for a while is a good idea. I soak for half an hour to an hour every time I water.

But make sure it dries out well in between each watering so that roots do not rot.

If most of the roots rotted while it was in moss, then it is possible that there just arn't enough roots to keep all the leaves plump. Watering more will NOT help if that is the case, it will just cause more root rot.

The best thing to do is to keep on watering when the pot is light (either by running water through or by soaking for a short period). I would water with luke warm water to help promote new root growth.

I have one with a similar problem just now whose roots are not enough to keep all the leaves plump. It started out with 9 leaves and lost all but 3. It can only just maintain those three with the few roots that are left, and one of the leaves is permenantly wrinkled and floppy (for the last 4 months or more).

learning2letgo · #26 04-22-2009, 08:00 AM

Yeah, I agree with Rosie... Infrequent but thorough waterings will be your best bet right now... She just needs time to recover... Her top roots still look good and the upper leaves look healthy... It'll rectify itself if you just keep giving it proper TLC...

SamandAnne · #27 04-22-2009, 09:49 AM

Thank you! I'll do that watering schedule you both recommended. Makes sense. I'm ordering the clear pot today, too...couldn't find it locally. Thanks for taking the time to look at the orchid and help with how to take care of it from here.

Carolann1022 · #28 04-22-2009, 07:18 PM

Itr's trial and error SamandAnne - I'm a beginner too. My Phal is thriving but I have a problem with a new Dendrobium ordered from an orchid nursery. If anyone can help I'd appreciate it. It is developing small black spots on the leaves and one leaf is yellowing. Sorry I can't provide a pix at this time.

SamandAnne · #29 05-03-2009, 09:16 PM

The next leaf started to turn yellow to start to fall off, so I took the orchid out of the pot to look at the roots. It's doing not as well as I thought...I attached a photo of each side. It looks like I need a lot less water? I have the clear pots on order to help. Do you think it will make it with a lighter watering schedule? Anything else I can do for it?

Carolann, sorry, I don't know anything about the Dendrobiums to help. Maybe a new posting about it specifically will help?

Thanks for all your help!

Bloomin_Aussie · #30 05-04-2009, 08:21 AM

Looks like it is dropping its leaves because it doesn't have the root system to support them. The plant may just be suffering residual damage due to the initial loss of roots. The new medium you have it in looks coarse enough to drain properly so perhaps just try applying some root hormone to encourage some root growth.