Phal losing leaves - Orchid Board

Jeanie1946 · #1 09-09-2008, 03:07 AM

Hi: My name is Jeanie and I recieved a large Phalaenopsis orchid in march, that I just fell in love with. It flowered until the middle of August, but now I have gone from five large leaves to three, two having turned yellow in the last month. I bought this plant from a nursery and they had it planted in a hollowed out tree trunk. "I really don't want to lose it, so I assume that I should repot, cut off dead roots, and wash it off? I have never had a orchid before and I am now hooked. Is it normal for the leaves to turn yellow? The two I lost turned yellow first, do I cut them off? I did cut off the first one, but I havent the second one yet. I purchased a pot that has a lot of aeration holes so it can get plenty of air. How much bark should be in the pot before I transfer my phal? I have my bark soaking over night. Also do I need to fertilize it as soon as I transplant it in the new potting mix? I have been very careful not to overwater, but maybe the hollowed out log was holding to much moisture. I also have had it on a tray with water in the bottom, but the water does not touch the pot. Also what about all the long spikes that are still remaining from when I cut the flowers back to the nodules when they wilted? Am I supposed to cut them off also. I did cut off the ones that died, but have not cut of any of the long stems that are still green. I would appreciate if some one could respond because I would really like to repot tomorrow, Tues.

I am new in this group and I came here because I want to know all I can about growing and taking care of orchids.
Thanks, Jeanie from Missouri

Bird Song Farm · #2 09-09-2008, 04:29 AM

Hi Jeannie,
Welcome to the Orchid Board

!
You're going to love it here and be really hooked on these lovely plants in no time.

I'll take a stab at helping you and I'm sure others will chime in too.

It sounds like you have taken good care of your Phal. and your plans to re-pot sound solid.
Your new pot should be about the same size as what the plant is in now. Put a few styro-foam peanuts in the bottom of the pot, then a little of your pre-soaked bark.
Gently remove the plant from the log and clean up all the roots. Remove any that are dead or mushy with a sterile tool (soak sissors in alochol, use a new single edge razor blade, etc.) Wash off all the old potting medium and dip your cuts in powdered Cinnamon. Also remove the yellow leaf and use the Cinnamon on that cut also. I would also cut back the flower spikes as close to the base of the plant as possible but others might disagree with this...wait awhile and get more input from other members before you do that.
Now place your plant roots into the new pot and fill with the fresh bark mix. Be sure to get some bark into the cavity under the plant. Keep filling until the bark reaches the top of the pot and the plant feels "stable". Tapping the side of the pot as you fill will help settle the bark down.
Give the newly potted plant a good watering and set aside in a shaded area for a week or two so it can adjust to its new home. If a new leaf hasn't already start to grow you should see one soon.
Hope this is of some help, and, as I said, others will chime in with anything I've missed or something they don't agree with. A lot of orchid growing depends on your growing conditions so some things work for some people and some things don't. When you first start with orchids there is a lot of trial and error. You will find a "groove" that fits your growing style.
Good luck and you will be so glad you found the OB. There are lots of friendly people here that are more than willing to help.

AL

Jeanie1946 · #3 09-09-2008, 03:24 PM

Al,
Thank you so much for the information. That is pretty neat about the cinnamon, I never knew that.

Bird Song Farm · #4 09-09-2008, 03:41 PM

Cinnamon acts as a drying agent and closes up (dries) the wound before any bad bugs can get in and start the rotting process again.....
I often use the 3-n-1 antibiotic ointment - just a small dab on a cut spike to help heal. It "stays where put" and last a long time.

Al

orchidexpress · #5 09-09-2008, 03:45 PM

Welcome to Orchid Board Jeanie,

You will learn so much on this site! Later on you be will be able to answer others just like we are doing for you. Sounds like Bird Song Farm has covered it all. Al broke it down simply on repotting. I believe that you will be ready to repot.
Welcome and let us know more about you!
Keep us posted on how your phal is doing.

Happy Orchid Growing!