Diagnosing my first orchid with yellow on leaves and brown tips

[DebbieW]

As a newbie to orchids and the whole "orchid mania" out there I'm requesting some input on what's going on with my orchid and how do I treat it. The bulb is green and looks healthy but the leaves are starting to yellow and some leaf tips are turning brown. Any suggestions???

[silken]

Welcome to OB. First off, what kind of orchid is it? Have you looked at the roots? What is it potted in and can you post some pics. This info would help us help you

[Leafmite]

The website, rePotme Orchid Supplies - Orchid Mix - Orchid Pots - Orchid Care - Orchid Fertilizer has a link to identify common orchids if you aren't certain what you have. Some orchids go dormant but with most, these signs will often indicate problems. Pictures or more information about care and growing conditions will give us an idea what might be wrong. Good luck, leafmite

[opal]

Is it an old bulb, at the back, or thew new bulb with a new shoot coming from it? Did the bulb just flower?

[DebbieW]

Can anyone describe in simple terms how to post a photograph of my orchid? I have the photo(s) loaded into my computer but don't know how to attach it to a post.

[silken]

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...tml#post396283

Go to this link for complete instructions

[DebbieW]

Here you are....help!

[opal]

Erm....the bulb doesn't look healthy. Healthy bulb is plump and smooth. Your orchid is very dehydrated, probably because of over watering. I suspect rotten roots, very common problem at this time of year. The leaves are slightly wrinkled meaning dry air and a bit too dark but that may just be an optical illusion.

Take this orchid immediately out of the pot, check if the roots are white or cream colored and for any kind of scent coming out of them. I really mean any. Stale, moldy, rotten scent means no good. Brown mushy roots as well.

If I am mistaken, and roots are white/cream with green tips then it's just thirsty. Soak it for 15 minutes in distilled water, no more at this time of year and mist it in the morning only with lukewarm water and put it on a tray with pebbles to increase the humidity.

Frankly, this orchid looks close to death to me. Very close. Best you can hope is that roots look fine and then it just might get better with some water and humidity and then try to push new growth. If not, the outcome is not very good. In that case, remove all mushy roots, and stale smelly potting media, allowing it to dry out to prevent mold and fungi problems. Such orchid doesn't mind having roots uncovered for a while. Then, if you really want to save this one, try with semi-hydroponics method. Sometimes orchids of this type can push new growths from base of the bulb even if the outcome doesn't look too good.

Good luck

[silken]

As Opal mentioned, I would check the roots. Unless you did just pot it up. How long has it been in the pot? If it is a recent re-pot, the bark can dry very quickly when it is new and a clay pot adds to that. The pseudobulbs look quite wrinkly although older ones sometimes are. The outside leaves do eventually turn yellow and die off on older mature pseudobulbs. Is there any sign of a new growth coming up beside the large bulb? It could have odontoglossum in it's breeding and those do have fairly dark leaves and require less light so not necessarily a bad sign.

Give us any and all of the history on the plant that you can. the more info the better.

[DebbieW]

I have a feeling my husband ( a big palm and croton junkie) is right when he said we soaked the potting medium in water too long before planting the orchid in the pot. I'm afraid the roots are going to look pretty bad and smell pretty bad, too when I take it out of the pot. I feel bad; it was the first orchid my husband bought me to start my collection and I think I killed it )-: I guess I should just chalk it up to experience.