Phrag pearcei problem

[Aleksa91]

Hello!


I have a problem with Phrag. pearcei which came into my possesion four weeks ago. As you can see, it has been recently divided from a larger plant and has only one big shot with two young shots emerging from both sides.

When I received it, it grew in a very bad medium (pure humus with zero drainage). I have transplanted it into new mix (roughly 50% perlite, 25% coco coir and 25% humus) and kept it in a tray of water. I use rainwater for watering and I haven't fertilized it yet. It stands at the south windowsill and receives a lot of diffuse light (never direct sunlight).

During these four weeks, both roots and shots grew just slightly. Couple of days ago, oldest leaf browned and died completely. younger leaves seem to be healthy light green.

I am quite experienced into orchid cultivation, although this is my first Phrag, but I have a feeling that I'm doing something wrong. I read that P. pearcei is quite easy to grow, grows fast, and is not choosy regarding potting media as long as it has enough aeration and moisture. Water quality is also ok since I use rainwater exclusively. There are two possible problems in my opinion:

1) potting media - maybe coco coir makes problems? I have read that it is rich in mineral content, but I wash the substrate with clean rainwater every couple of days and empty the water tray, which should have resolved that problem.

2) no fertilizer? maybe to begin with 1/4 strength and give it a boost?


What do you think?

[bellini girl]

What size pot do you currently have it in. Looks overpotted to me. Just my 2 cents worth

[Aleksa91]

That's the same pot in which I got it. Roots were quite large so I didn't want to break them while squeezing it into smaller pot.

[silken]

I don't see anything obvious that might be a problem. Some coir is said to have high salt content as it is washed in the ocean while being processed. It is recommended to soak it for a few days with multiple changes of water. I don't use coir so can't say for sure. Pearcii is one of the wettest loving Phrags so a good inch or so of water at its feet seem to make mine happy. Since it is so wet, I wouldn't think over-potting would be such a problem as for other orchids. Mine flourished wonderfully and when I divided it, it seemed to set it back, even tho it had many growths. So that could be the case with yours too. Also, it prefers coolish temps and dappled light from what OrchidWiz says. Mine seemed happier in a cooler spot last year and I am going to move it.

[stefpix]

Mine is happy in leca / hydroton in SH. Grows like a weed. I get some leaf browning at times. I think it may like low minerals water.