yellow leaves

[Joyorchid]

Just a newbie here myself, but I would say that the roots look good and it appears to have a new leaf so it must be happy! The yellow leaf is probably too much light. Was that leaf facing the window?

[ALToronto]

It needs to be watered more, the roots are desiccated. An all-bark mix is fine, as long as you adjust your watering to its rate of drying. Also, what fertilizer are you using, and at what rate? If you fertilize a plant this dry, you will burn the roots.

[james mickelso]

I agree. The bark media is ok for this but it also means you can, and should, water a little more often. This mix has lots of air flow through it so it dries out faster allowing you to water, and hence, feed it more. Cut your normal fertilizer feed rate (what it says on the package) to one quarter of that rate and feed at every watering. Weakly/ weekly. Water thoroughly, pick up the pot, feel how heavy it is. Wait a couple days and lift it up again. Feel how light it is? Good. That's how you tell when your plant needs watering.

[catweazle1962]

thank you for your replys we are now watering and feeding every 3 days but we check to see if the pot is light or heavy first ,this is what the orchid is beening feed on and we are useing 1 teaspoon to 1 gallon of water , we cannot find kelp in the uk unless there is someting else you could advise on thanks

[Discus]

The first product doesn't seem to contain Mg or Ca; the second one ought to if it's formulated for "rain and reverse osmosis" water.

---------- Post added at 01:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:06 PM ----------

Many "seaweed" organic formulations will probably be kelp based, I have no doubt such things are available on the market in the UK. Amazon.co.uk: seaweed plant fertiliser: Garden & Outdoors
If you're sure about wanting Kelp, look for "Laminaria" something-or-other being one of the ingredients. There are lots of marine algae that aren't kelp.

[RosieC]

I've used that first feed you have in the square tub. I've also used other colours of the same make (slightly different ratio of nutrients) and I'm currently using their turquoise version in the house, which is a Urea Free one. I don't think they contain magnesium and calcium. They've done me fine for years although I'm now moving to this one in my greenhouse and will probably use it for all my orchids once the other one runs out.
Akerne Orchids: Akerne's RAIN MIX ®


I use this seaweed supplement with very good results. Based in the center of the UK... they admit themselves it's a strange location for a seaweed company
Organic Liquid Seaweed Plant Fertilizer - 1 Litre: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

---------- Post added at 12:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:44 PM ----------

Just realised I gave you the wrong link for the fertiliser. That's the Belgian site, but they have a UK distributor.

Akernes Rain Mix- Powder Orchid Food

[catweazle1962]

thank you for your replys when i look for fertiliser for my orchids do i have to look at the ph balance / ratio as well as i cannot seem to see what is says on the links that you gave me thanks

[RosieC]

Don't worry too much, but the Green Jungle one you have is better for rain water. As I understand it ones designed for tap water might give the wrong PH if used with rain water, but ones for use with rain water are fine with either tap water or rain water.

The ones for rain water generally have other micro-nutrients as well as the three main ones.

Other than that I've never bothered checking the PH.

[catweazle1962]

thank you for your reply i was woundering what to do with the middle stem as it was cut down and now it does not look to happy, do we cut it off or leave it alone , there are new leaf growing on the phal but the stem is not doing anything thanks

[james mickelso]

Let this plant recover by cutting off all of the old flower spikes. When it has recovered it will put out new leaves and flower spikes.