Den hybrid repotting question - Orchid Board

AngelinaMaria · #1 03-18-2015, 08:04 PM

I have this "den hybrid" (it's what the tag says). I've had it a couple years and I noticed the tips of the leaves turning yellow so I figured I'd take it out of its pot and see what's going on. It's potted in lava rock. So this is what I found.

Here you can see the tips of the leafs turning yellow.

Here's the unpot

Other side

The roots all seem dead. I don't know what the best thing to do is. All I have for media is LECA. Help!!!

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Paphluvr · #2 03-18-2015, 08:24 PM

Are the roots mushy or are they solid? In the second photo most of the roots appear good to me but the color can be deceiving. That's why I asked if they are mushy or solid. You can remove any dead (i.e., mushy) ones and repot in LECA. LECA and lava rock provide no nutrition to the plant. You don't mention a fertilizing program; what, when and how much. Have you been fertilizing the plant? Other than the yellowing tips the plant looks healthy.

AngelinaMaria · #3 03-18-2015, 08:45 PM

Some of the roots are totally hollow, some are a little mushy (kinda hard to tell on some). In the second photo of the roots, the ones that are lighter in color are more firm. I'll admit I haven't given it much fertilizer in the time I've had it. Once and a while I used to water with a weak mix of miracle gro for orchids fertilizer. I recently picked up a bottle of the jacks orchid fertilizer and have watered with that the past two weeks. I make a weak mixture and water usually once a week or so. Although this plant sits next to my kitchen sink so sometimes I give it a quick run under the faucet. Do you think the yellow tips are due to lack of nutrients? Are these like phals and like to be in clear containers so the roots get light? (Currently it's in a black plastic pot)

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WhiteRabbit · #4 03-19-2015, 07:06 PM

Do you regularly flush out the media?

If unsure about roots, very gently squeeze and very gently pull (down, away from the plant) on velamin - if the velamin comes off easily, the root is no good.

The very nice looking roots in the second pic seem to be newer ones. The first pic, they seem to look ok, but as mentioned, it can be hard to tell from a photo.

The leaves honestly don't look worrisome to me ...

Opaque pots are fine (even for Phals! tho Phal roots do photosynthesize if they get light)

I hope someothers can chime in!

AngelinaMaria · #5 03-19-2015, 07:32 PM

I do run plain water through it. Up until a couple weeks ago I only watered with plain tap water. Since then I've used a weak fertilizer water. This is the first time I ever took it out of its pot. The yellow tips on the leaves worried me so I figured I'd check it out. When I bought it it was just finishing blooming. That was two years ago. Since then it grew a new cane but that's it. And that was like a year ago. From what you say about telling if the roots are good or not they mostly seem ok, except for some in the first root pic. Some need to be trimmed that are dead but not a ton. Thanks for the good info!

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Stray59 · #6 03-19-2015, 07:34 PM

AngelinaMarie:
All orchids roots have a certain lifespan and then are replaced with newer roots. I think the side with the better looking roots is probably the side that produce the newest growth. The mushy roots may just the older, no longer viable roots.
Remove any roots that are just "strings" and any that have a mushy velamen, which is the outer, spongy covering. The roots should be firm and not squish out fluid when lightly squeezed.
If I were working with this plant, I would trim all the old roots off (use a clean, sterile blade or scissors), set it aside for a day or so in order to let the roots air out and dry well. Then just get some pine bark or similar potting media for orchids (I have not had luck with LECA, though some have) and once repotted, I would water sparingly for a few weeks, as the roots will not be able to absorb water until they recover from the trauma of repotting; it is important to mist it frequently so the leaves and stalk can absorb some moisture.
Be looking for new, white roots with green tips at the area of the newest growth. Once they start, you know your plant is on it's way to getting better.
It sounds like you are fertilizing well, but again I would hold off on that until the plant has stabilized in a new media.
I wouldn't worry about the tips turning yellow - a little fertilizer may help, but some older leaves will start to turn yellow at the tips and progressively yellow and dry out before falling off.
Have you seen it bloom? It would be interesting to know what hybrid type it is.
Best of luck - overall it looks really nice! It must like you.....