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?