Help with my Magenta Orchid please!

[alan3885]

I just purchased this pretty solid colored Magenta Phalaenopsis Orchid from Krogers and I am worried because its has damaged and scratched foliage and under one of the top leafs its has some purple dots (see pics below for more details). I believe most of the issues are cosmetic and the roots are very green and it looks very healthy and a new leaf is growing. I believe it had a rough trip to the Krogers and it looks like it got cosmetically damaged so it was sold at a great discount from Krogers and now it needs lots of love and care. Now I need some great advice and I want to help make it rescue it and improve the quality of its life after leaving the store. I am wondering how I could help save and improve the life of my new orchid.

[orchidegg]

I wouldn't worry mcuh about the scratches unless a brown/black mushy spot forms around them. THe bottom leaf looks like it was ripped off, you might take a clean edge and trim the leaf edge and sprinkle some cinnamon on the edge.
The purplish color is normal for some phals on newer growth.
I would poke around in the moss and make sure the roots are ok- firm white or greenish and not brown and mushy. Is it all sphag moss in the container or is there bark under there? and is there good drainage?
I'm sure others with more experience will chime in soon

[mehitabel]

Looks okay to me. Actually quite a good-looking plant, I'd say. I'd just give it the normal care for a new plant. (For me that's a repot-- but whatever you would normally do).

[alan3885]

I normally repot my orchids after they finished blooming and I like to change the cheap/unknown potting medium to Better-Gro Special Orchid Mix. I was wondering what your thoughts and opinions were on that product? I was wondering after I change from store medium which is usually moss to charcoal and bark medium is it normal behavior for the bottom leaf on the Phalaenopsis orchid to turn yellow or light green and if the foliage has been damaged or has a split the foliage just sometimes die?

[mehitabel]

Hi, Alan. I haven't used the mix you mention. I grow mine in CHC chips in air-cone pots. I repot right away so that a) I know what's down there, and b) it's in the right size pot and I know how to water it.

Frowine's book states that phals love to be repotted and should not suffer a setback merely from repotting. He says that stress (loss of leaves) on a newly repotted phal is likely from medium that is too dry.

Fresh medium often is hard to wet, and since reading that, I've started to give newly repotted plants an extra watering a day or so after the repot. This seems to do the trick.

As for damaged foliage-- it doesn't necessarily die. Depends how old the leaf is, I guess.