Phalaenopsis Orchid (in sphagnum moss) leaves turning yellow and flowers dying.

[Rachelle-lapensee]

Originally Posted by help

what are polythene pots? those clear plastic ones?

Yes those clear plastic pots are Polythene pots. If I were to guess they are probably used to either keep moisture in the roots, or allow you to see the roots so you know when to water...

[mattryan]

Not sure about the pots being the problem...almost all my phals came in them and only 1 died..i think i overwatered it

[Rachelle-lapensee]

Originally Posted by Rachelle-lapensee

Yes those clear plastic pots are Polythene pots. If I were to guess they are probably used to either keep moisture in the roots, or allow you to see the roots so you know when to water...

I just went on a web site and found out that Polythene pots are used to allow the orchids roots to get light like they would in their natural habitat.

Check out Orchid Pots and Orchid Mixes for more info on orchid pots and uses.

[mattryan]

Where in Ontario are you Rachelle? I'm up near Newmarket.

[Rachelle-lapensee]

Originally Posted by mattryan

Not sure about the pots being the problem...almost all my phals came in them and only 1 died..i think i overwatered it

I'm Glad to hear that you have not had any problems with your Orchids in that kind of pot. Although since last night of re-potting it I have noticed the 2 more flowers are dying ( the 2 that were above the last 2 that died). Is that normal for what it when through???

[Rachelle-lapensee]

Originally Posted by mattryan

Where in Ontario are you Rachelle? I'm up near Newmarket.

South of Ottawa in the Country. Near the St.Lawrence River.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by help

what are polythene pots? those clear plastic ones?

Clear plastic rigid pots are fine and they are what I use all the time... but what I can see in the pic is a polythene pot which is a soft maliable pot, not the hard plastic.

The only time I've seen these are on plants being sold with soooo much moss packed in to the polythene pot that it's almost about to burst open.

I don't think there is a problem as such with these soft pots, but it seems they are used in conjunction with too much moss (often already smelly and rotting). At least that's the case in Europe and it looks pretty packed in the pic above.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by mattryan

Not sure about the pots being the problem...almost all my phals came in them and only 1 died..i think i overwatered it

I don't necessarily thing the pot is the problem, sorry if I wasn't clear on that. It's just that (in Europe at least) they seem to be associated with very very tightly packed, already smelling moss.

I can see in the pics on this thread that there is that green look to the moss which says to me it could already be decaying just as I've seen in the same type of pots over here. The ones I've had problems with look exactly the same with the roots very tightly packed.

The roots actually look fine when I've bought them, but die soon after repotting. I've never had a problem with any I've bought in bark (quite a lot of NoID supermarket Phals) and the only Phal bought in bark that has ever died died of something not related to the roots (which were still healthy even when it had died), but every one I tried potted in this way died

I'm also glad to hear others have had success with ones potted like this, as it gives me much more hope that you will be able to rescue yours.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Rachelle-lapensee

I just went on a web site and found out that Polythene pots are used to allow the orchids roots to get light like they would in their natural habitat.

Check out Orchid Pots and Orchid Mixes for more info on orchid pots and uses.

I use clear rigid pots all the time, any buy orchids in clear rigid pots all the time. By polythene I actually meant the flexible soft pots like the one yours was in.

I would strongly advise the use of clear rigid pots for Phalaenopsis orchids. They allow light to the roots, they allow you to see the roots and whether it's time to water yet or not. :tup:

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Rachelle-lapensee

I'm Glad to hear that you have not had any problems with your Orchids in that kind of pot. Although since last night of re-potting it I have noticed the 2 more flowers are dying ( the 2 that were above the last 2 that died). Is that normal for what it when through???

I think it's normal. I think I would remove the spike at this stage to allow the plant to use it's strength to recover. If there are still some good flowers you can maybe put the spike in water to keep the flowers for a while.

Concentrate now on the health of the roots and leaves.