Yellowing leaves on Wilsonara

[Paul Mc]

I have three of these, and one of them I got last year and it's almost dead. I'm trying to nurse it back to health. However, I got two more from the local OS Christmas dinner. While one is doing great - no yellowing leaves at all with nice green leaves, the other has yellowing leaves at a fairly rapid pace. Since I've brought it home (about 2 weeks now), it has lost about 5 or 6 leaves.

As a frame of reference, I have it in the exact same windowsill as the one that is doing so well since they came home. So, they are both getting the same treatment, same watering since they are the same size and packed in the same medium, same fertilizing, everything.

So, I'm dying to know what's going on with the roots, but I don't want to disturb it as it's in bloom and has another flower stalk going. What do you guys think is going on? Or am I just being paranoid since I have already nearly lost one of these beauties before?

[Rowangreen]

Any chance you could post some pictures?

[Leafmite]

I would definitely check the roots. If you are very careful unpotting and repotting ( don't break roots and make certain the orchid is stable when repotted), orchids don't mind the disturbance nearly as much. Many factors determine how much water an orchid needs and it isn't always clear why one will need more, the other less. Yellowing always makes me concerned about the roots. Good luck,
leafmite

[Paul Mc]

Rowangreen, I really wish I could, but alas, when will I ever learn to take those darned pics before I cut them?! LOL... Their just so unsightly!

By visual comparison though, the leaves of the one in question are visibly quite lighter and look more wrinkled/problematic to me.

Leafmite, thank you for the suggestion. I think I will attempt to do that this week - hopefully sooner than later though. I, too, get concerned when I see yellowing leaves and often think roots first. Thus my concern. Good to know you back this as well.

[Paul Mc]

Ok, so the problem continues so I will take a pic and figure out how to post using Tapatal as my computer crashed. I have not reported yet though. But today there is flower blast. Even those that just opened are dying already. I'm starting to think I need to keep them cooler.

[billc]

You don't have to be afraid about taking a Wilsonara out of the pot to check the roots. If the roots are the problem(which is probably the case based on your description), you'll do more harm by just leaving it. The flowers will be just fine as long as you don't break the spike.

Bill

[Paul Mc]

Honestly it was more of a time issue than fearing bud loss. I did repot today and was shocked at how degraded the medium was! I have put them in an oncidium mix and put in the basement under lights as its cooler down there. Wish me luck!

[Paul Mc]

Just an update. They seem to be recovering nicely. The pbulbs are a bit wrinkled, but I think that's because the original medium was far less water retentive than I had thought it was. In fact, one had finished blooming and is holding into them very nice! Thank everyone for your thoughts!