New Zygopetalum with yellowing leaves

[plantluvver]

I bought this plant roughly 2 to 3 weeks ago at a show. I have already pulled off two dying leaves and now more are yellowing and dying. I was told not to let this plant dry out completely and I have watered it twice.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The old leaves that the pseudobulbs grow out of normally die back with time. The only leaves that persist for a little while longer are the leaves that are on top of the pseudobulbs. However, even the leaves that are on top of the pseudobulbs do eventually die back, leaving behind only the pseudobulb.

Zygopetalums usually bloom from new shoots. The spikes do not usually grow from older pseudobulbs. Once the new shoots mature, it will push out a spike from between the bottom leaf axils. So if you do repot, you must be careful not to damage new shoots or you risk not seeing blooms for the season.

[plantluvver]

Thanks!

The mix did look rather fine to me. The vendor said it was coconut fiber. Since I bought it from a vendor at an orchid show, I assumed it would be properly potted up. I guess a look at the roots won't hurt, since it has already lost its blooms.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I edited my post. I goofed in the earlier post. Certain Zygopetalum species are indeed terrestrial orchids. Sorry for the misinformation.

[estación seca]

Depending on your temperatures, watering twice in 2-3 weeks might not be nearly enough. These do like a lot of water. Use a wooden skewer to check the wetness of the soil. There is a thread devoted to this here on Orchid Board:

Using skewers to determine when to water

[jcec1]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Depending on your temperatures, watering twice in 2-3 weeks might not be nearly enough. These do like a lot of water. Use a wooden skewer to check the wetness of the soil. There is a thread devoted to this here on Orchid Board:

Using skewers to determine when to water

I agree I keep my zygos moist to wet all the time I have them sitting in water with no ill effect. You can see from one of mine roots coming out the bottom of the pot that sit in water.

[plantluvver]

Leaves have continued to yellow then brown, but since it was older leaves on older growths, I assumed it might just be normal. But yesterday I noticed that the leaf in the center of a very young shoot was black.

Pulled it out of the pot and saw that many roots look unhealthy.

Another thing I noticed was aphids on an Oncidium I bought at the same time from the same vendor.

Plant was only labeled "Zygopetalum "

Oh no! I went to move the plant and it literally split into two halves!

This is the original media I purchased plant in.

[plantluvver]

Leaves have continued to yellow then brown, but since it was older leaves on older growths, I assumed it might just be normal. But yesterday I noticed that the leaf in the center of a very young shoot was black.

Pulled it out of the pot and saw that many roots look unhealthy.

Another thing I noticed was aphids on an Oncidium I bought at the same time from the same vendor.

Plant was only labeled "Zygopetalum "

Oh no! I went to move the plant and it literally split into two halves!

This is the original media I purchased plant in.

[estación seca]

I've seen a lot of them sold in this kind of soil mix. From my reading, some Zygopetalum species grow in leaf litter and loose soil in the ground.

In a commercial nursery with employees it's easy to keep this sort of soil evenly moist, but not wet. It's harder for home growers to not let it get too wet nor dry. I think ambient temperature and humidity also have a big effect on shoot survival. They like to be cool and humid, I think, like southern California after a nice winter rainstorm.

I would definitely repot, but I don't have enough experience with these to advise what to use next.

[plantluvver]

Right now, I have wrapped the two halves in newspaper to help dry things out. (Since I am guessing over watering is the problem.)

I don't have any kind of media on hand, and don't know what to buy. I don't want to buy in quantity, because I am in a temporary living arrangement and don't have room to store things.