Yellow and wrinkled leaves on new Phalaenopsis plants - Orchid Board

TheScarletteOrchid · #1 06-20-2014, 01:28 AM

Heyya!

I'm new to Orchid board as a member, but I have used it in the past to help me out here and there. I know that I'm such a newbie on the topic and caring for orchids. I really need someone's help.

I got my first orchid a couple of weeks ago. Until recently, I have been taking care of that one plus of four other Phalaenopsis plants. Two of them are in bloom. The other three are not. Three of these plants (One in bloom. Two not in boom) are getting/already have yellow leaves. Also its the bottom leaves that are doing this. I guess now would be a good time to mention that I've re potted one of the three just three days ago.

I have no idea what I'm doing wrong, if anything. I do know the orchid in the second one is dehydrated which explains to limp, droopy leaves. For the last orchid, I did see a new leaf developing in the crown.

I have pictures of the three orchids attached to this post.

Yellow and wrinkled leaves on new Phalaenopsis plants-img_0453-jpg

Yellow and wrinkled leaves on new Phalaenopsis plants-img_0454-jpg

Yellow and wrinkled leaves on new Phalaenopsis plants-img_0456-jpg

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #2 06-20-2014, 01:50 AM

Please read the following:

An Orchid Buyer's Guide for Beginners

and the first 18 pages of:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ends-here.html

If you have any further questions, you may go ahead and ask.

LizB88 · #3 06-20-2014, 01:57 AM

My

keep in mind that I have lost my share of phals.

To me the first picture just seems to be loosing the old leaves. Now is this one of the two plants that is in bloom, and did you re-pot it while in bloom? if that is the case maybe is just stress out from that. The rest of the plant seem to be doing well to me. I would just make sure not to over water.

The second one also seems to be in bloom, and has a new leaf coming in. The other leafs seem limp. How often do you water this plant. Was it reported while in bloom? What is the humidity like in your environment. It may be do to under water, over water, low humidity etc. If watering is the issue, I would use a bamboo skewer to help in watering.

The third picture, Looks like the media is wet, maybe you water before taking picture. The brown spot on leaf looks suspect. Does the pot is in have side wholes or just on the bottom? so just as prevention I wouldcut the leaf with all the black on it and either give it a rinse with regular Listerine (yellow Listerine) or hydrogen peroxide, in case there is some rut taking place.

Hopefully more experience members will give you better advise.

Good luck

lotis146 · #4 06-20-2014, 02:02 AM

I'm assuming the last one is the one you repotted? I'm newer to the game than others but when did its leaf start to yellow, before or after your repot? It does seem that maybe it's a little too deep in the moss judging from that lower leaf on the right. How did its roots look when you repotted it?

The second one looks to only just be starting to yellow at the tip, yes? It also looks as though it's in a clear plastic pot then in the clay pot, what do the roots look like? What are your care techniques for all these plants? Watering? Lighting? This one could be yellowing due to the dehydration so the plant is sacrificing it so to speak but then again it's also growing a new leaf so it may be dropping it in order to care for the new one.

The first one looks, from my limited experience, to be naturally losing the leaf due to age. But of course, how do its roots look?

TheScarletteOrchid · #5 06-20-2014, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LizB88

My

keep in mind that I have lost my share of phals.

To me the first picture just seems to be loosing the old leaves. Now is this one of the two plants that is in bloom, and did you re-pot it while in bloom? if that is the case maybe is just stress out from that. The rest of the plant seem to be doing well to me. I would just make sure not to over water.

The second one also seems to be in bloom, and has a new leaf coming in. The other leafs seem limp. How often do you water this plant. Was it reported while in bloom? What is the humidity like in your environment. It may be do to under water, over water, low humidity etc. If watering is the issue, I would use a bamboo skewer to help in watering.

The third picture, Looks like the media is wet, maybe you water before taking picture. The brown spot on leaf looks suspect. Does the pot is in have side wholes or just on the bottom? so just as prevention I wouldcut the leaf with all the black on it and either give it a rinse with regular Listerine (yellow Listerine) or hydrogen peroxide, in case there is some rut taking place.

Hopefully more experience members will give you better advise.

Good luck

I didn't re-pot the first one. I'm waiting until it is finished blooming to do so.

As for the second, I got it from a family member who left it in her bathroom windowsill facing north. When I got it, I took off a spike that was dead and left the other one alone. I might just cut it off when I re-pot so it can focus on new growth. I did the skewer test, it came out slightly damp.

There is a low humidity issue in my room where I put the orchids on my windowsill. I try to make up for it by putting them in the bathroom when i shower about twice a week. so they can enjoy the steam.

Now the last one, I did water it but that was about three days ago. An update on the leaf with the brown spot. It seems to be falling off because i was checking on the leaf and it felt loose. So i took a closer look and sure enough part of the leaf was detached from the crown.

---------- Post added at 11:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:59 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotis146

I'm assuming the last one is the one you repotted? I'm newer to the game than others but when did its leaf start to yellow, before or after your repot? It does seem that maybe it's a little too deep in the moss judging from that lower leaf on the right. How did its roots look when you repotted it?

The second one looks to only just be starting to yellow at the tip, yes? It also looks as though it's in a clear plastic pot then in the clay pot, what do the roots look like? What are your care techniques for all these plants? Watering? Lighting? This one could be yellowing due to the dehydration so the plant is sacrificing it so to speak but then again it's also growing a new leaf so it may be dropping it in order to care for the new one.

The first one looks, from my limited experience, to be naturally losing the leaf due to age. But of course, how do its roots look?

Yes, that is correct. It was in a cheap planter pot before. I was brown before i re-potted it and then it started to turn yellow a day ago, I think.

The second one, I did look at the roots when I decided to take care of it. Some are green and white, but I do see a lot of root remnants and black spots, I just looks very terrible. I'm planning on re-potting it tomorrow. I really want to get that lil guy out of the pot.

For lighting, I use sun when I can and artificial lights when I can't. By artificial I mean just a regular light bulb. As for watering, I let them soak i water for about 5-10 mins when they need it. I use the wooden skewer method for determining if they do need water.

There are roots. Lots and lots of roots. No joke! most are green, but I do see some rotten ones. I don't want to re-pot until its done with blooming because then it'll cause stress on the plant by trying to establish itself in a new pot then the blooms'll probably start to die.

Orchid Whisperer · #6 06-20-2014, 08:34 AM

I think the yellowing leaves, in this case, are just due to old age. The plants seem relatively healthy.

Water management is the key to keeping them healthy. You know about the skewer method . . . good! With Phals, the growing medium should be nearly dry before you water again (especially important for plants grown in moss).

Optimist · #7 06-20-2014, 10:02 AM

All advice probably right-on the mark. I don't worry when I see one or two yellow leaves, and this also goes for dead roots. It is simply programmed cellular turn-over. When to worry is if top leaves, or all leaves go yellow, or all roots suddenly die and rot.

---------- Post added at 07:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:55 AM ----------

All advice probably right-on the mark. I don't worry when I see one or two yellow leaves, and this also goes for dead roots. It is simply programmed cellular turn-over. When to worry is if top leaves, or all leaves go yellow, or all roots suddenly die and rot.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #8 06-20-2014, 11:18 AM

Worry more about the roots. Leaves can drop for any reason, whether it is stress, mechanical damage, pathogenic organisms, or natural old age. It happens more frequently than you might have believed, or have been led to believe.

Phals have the ability to lose 100% of their leaves and still grow back to full glory in a matter of years as long as the roots that are left behind are still healthy, viable, and strong. It also helps a lot if a portion of the stem tissue hidden inside the petioles are still alive should they ever drop all of their leaves.

Roots are #1 in priority. Stem is #2 in priority. Leaves are priority #3. Flowers are absolutely last in priority. Remember this always.

A few more things…

Phals do not keep all their leaves forever. Old leaves do drop after sticking around for about 2 - 3 years, (plus-or-minus 1 year).

Roots don't live forever too. They do naturally die back after growing for a few years.

Rapid loss of a large number of either leaves or roots is cause for concern. Even slow paced losses of either roots or leaves, where the plant cannot keep pace or exceed the rate of losses, is of concern.

It is also preferable for the plant to ideally exceed their rate of losses of either roots or leaves, than to just barely keep pace with the losses.

Good luck.