My Poor Cattleya Orchid!! :(

[courtney_jay]

Hello, I bought this orchid at a show and it was absolutely gorgeous. A Cattleya hybrid I believe with large white flowers. But after the flowers died the plant began to look really bad. Despite the very sorry looking leaves, there IS a new green shoot working it's way up. I've posted a link to the pictures I took. If you have any suggestions for me, please help! I love this plant and I would like to save it! I don't really know if I need to replant or change the waterings or anything else. Please help!

Sad Orchid pictures by courtney_jay - Photobucket

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

It's sunburnt. Take it down a couple notches with the lighting.

The leaves will remain unsightly though.

How often do you water?

I also notice you use Hydroton. You might wanna check out the S/H section here on the OB. I don't grow my plants in such a medium, so I wouldn't be a good person to ask about it.

[RosieC]

I agree it looks sunburt. The burnt leaves will stay looking like that. Hopefully if you drop the light levesl as Philip suggests the new growth will not get burnt and eventually as the older growths are replaced by new ones the plant will fully recover.

[courtney_jay]

Okay, we moved to a different house and I have some Phals in the window and they're all looking fine but this one started looking sad so I moved it. It does have new growth and so far it's looking very healthy. The one leaf is kind of yellow though, as shown in the pictures. Is that from sunburn as well?

[courtney_jay]

Honestly, I'm not sure HOW often to water, haha. And as for the Hydroton or whatever you said, that's what I bought it in and I don't know a thing about it! But I'll go to the discussion and maybe learn something!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

All I see is your Cattleya, I don't see your Phal.

What you're describing (while descriptive), is still vague. A picture will help.

Although I have my suspicions as to what it may be. A pic would solidify that judgement.

[courtney_jay]

All the Phals are fine, it's just this Cattleya that's giving me worries. Sorry if I wasn't clear, lol. There is a picture of the yellowing leaf on the Cattleya in the link.

[courtney_jay]

It's the last picture.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

All of the damage is sunburn.

[Becca]

Yep, like the others said, it is sunburn. The leaves may die and fall off on their own naturally.

As far as the hydroton, I wouldn't subject your plant to the s/h culture that is also used with hydroton at this point. Let your plant recover before changing it's potting medium on it. It's roots are adapted to what it is growing in, and will not break down or decay on you. I would suggest a clear pot though so you can see when it is time to water, which is when the moisture build-up is gone, or the roots have turned from green (while moist) to white (while dry). As far as how often to water, it depends on your growing area, how humid or dry your area is, the tempertures, and air circulation. So maybe if you tell us a little more about your growing area (hope I didn't miss this previously) and where you live we might be able to help you. Several others here on the OB grow in pure hydroton not using the s/h method and they have great success with it. I also have an orchid or two potted this way.