Leaves turning yellow!

[Bud]

you are lucky to have Paul help you with this so you are in good hands...."compost" in any english speaking country is not a good medium mix....it means it came from organic decayed or decomposed materials....you need to get yourself a large bark mix from a local orchid store or find a good Phalaenopsis mix in a garden store. For the meantime that you dont have the correct media mix: remove this from that compost and let it hang inside a jar with some water....do not let the roots touch the water so use something to hold the crown from the mouth of the jar

[mattryan]

Ut oh...I think it's gone to the hereafter. I think she be back though. Another addicted orchid grower in the making roflmao!!!!

Cheryl

[miss_georgina]

Hi. Yes, it does say compost but the bark chunks are large, and when placed in the pot loosely, there is plenty of room for the roots to breathe.

As suspected, I had some rotten roots, so I've cut these off, or stripped off the small parts back to the inside root. Where the roots are hard or green, I've kept those as they seem healthy. I've potted it back into a clear pot with drainage at the base, and have loosely place the mixture in there. I shall add a bit more bark, but reviews of the mixture suggest that people are very happy with it, and that their orchids are fine, so it must've been to do with the compaction and over-saturation.

My orchid has been fine up until now so it must've been to do with pot and water as that's the only thing thats changed.

Thanks so much for your help everyone! Very much appreciated, this orchid has sentimental value so I was it to stay alive for as long as possible.

Georgina

---------- Post added at 02:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:10 PM ----------

p.s. I've just purchased an orchid bark (just bark!) mixture so for now, until it arrives, the orchid will have time to air and dry out, then when this arrives on Monday, I shall add lots of bark. The chunks are very large, so this will be a much better medium for the orchid to grow and hopefully flourish. So glad I caught it in time when I still have three healthy leaves. Fingers acrossed! Thanks again. Georgina

[vjo]

Sounds like all will be well,good luck....Jean

[Wynn Dee13]

If you see peat moss listed in the ingredients on the orchid mix bag I wouldn't use it. It is just too soil like. Also always use a pot with lots of drainage. Never use a pot with no holes for orchids. Good luck and I'm glad you caught it in time!

---------- Post added at 12:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 PM ----------

Oh one more thing. Always use a pot that just fits the healthy roots. Using a pot that is too big will lead to root rot. Also you want the plant to be stable in the pot and not be able to wiggle around. If it is loose in the pot it won't be able to establish. When you said you added the mix loosely it made me think it could be too loose in its pot. You can use some stakes to keep it from being wobbly if you need to.

[silken]

I will confess I just skimmed this thread, but I hope you are potting it into a pot with good drainage and breathing holes. A holeless pot will not do for most orchids.

[JerseyGirlBecky]

I think it will not do "quite well" in that mix. It needs only med. bark and a well draining pot. Adding bark will not help. Just my opinion.

[Paul Mc]

I agree, adding large bark chunks to the mix with "compost" title may not work well in the long run. I used a mix for about two years that appears to be very similar to what you are currently using. Most of them lived ok, but some died. Then I found this forum and learned of mediums that were better suited for them.

Again, if you would be so kind, please spread some if this compost mix out and post a picture for us. We want to ensure that your orchid survives, but it seems we are all a bit concerned about what was previously used and mixing the new large chunks with it.

Please remember that there is a learning curve when dealing with orchids. It just takes a bit of patience, willingness to learn and observation. I'm glad you notified us when there was a problem so we can assist you!

I also agree about using the smallest plastic pot with drainage holes you can fit the roots in comfortably. It may be an overload for you at this point to go into the details why though. Just know that if you can just fit the roots into the pot, then it's absolutely perfect!

[TRANCEBOY]

YOUR BETTER off using rock and a pot with good amount of holes. Bark can and does decay.In reality it will grow with no media if properly watered

[Paul Mc]

Yes, it could be grown that way but often this means more frequent watering, hence the use if bark that holds a bit if moisture and slowly dries out again. There are many appropriate options for potting medium (or lack thereof), but that really depends upon how often you want to water, what's available to you and what your own personal growing environment is like. It just takes time to learn and adapt is all.

Further, all current plant roots were accustomed to whatever it came to the store in. Changing a medium to a more water retentive or less retentive medium will stress the plant a tad, with extremes giving more stress. To go from a sphag or bark mix to just rocks would require a lot of time and attention to ensure that an already stressed plant wont have further issues. Remember, current roots don't change and adapt, it must grow new roots suited to the new environment, hence why we gradually switch over to extremes of mediums generally.