Mini orchids

[birdbrain]

Hi mini lovers, something is going terribly wrong with my mini. I’ve had this mini since Valentine’s Day. When I got it it naturally in bloom pretty little orchid. I noticed yesterday’s there was a lower leaf turning yellow today another one turning yellow. I don’t know what kind of a mini it is. To me it looks a phal. Please help sos thank you....B

[Ray]

Yes, it is a phalaenopsis. Most "mini" phals that have standard flowers are simply immature plants that have been forced into bloom while small; they will mature to a standard size.

It looks like you have rotted the roots and it has extended upward into the base of the plant. If this is the same plant you posted about on another forum, where the photo of the leaves was better, I'd say it's time to pitch and replace.

[birdbrain]

Thank you ray, now the poor thing has no leaves. One thing it does have is a nice Aerial root. I once read that you can save an orchid if it had an aerial root??? Not all the roots in the medium were bad some were plump and green. What happened? I do have it in quarantine away from other orchids and house plants. Should I still toss and replace? Funny you should say that Trader Joe’s has an awesome “exotic” which I’ve never flowers like what was on this orchid. Hope it’s still there. I’ll tell my husband that you told me to replace my mini. Lol just kidding. Thanks again ray I really do look to orchid board for all my questions. The members like you are so helpful.....B

[birdbrain]

Not looking so well after all.

[Leafmite]

Sorry about your Phal. It is never fun to lose a plant but it sometimes happens.

If you replace it, a great way to grow these is to choose a basket pot that is slightly larger than the roots and use AAA/AAAA NZ sphagnum moss as a medium. When the pot feels light, set the pot in a bowl of water until the moss has absorbed the water (the pot will feel heavy).

In the past, I successfully grew Phals in lava rock and clay pots but I prefer to see the roots so when the new Phals came from Hausermann's in moss, I decided to use moss and the basket pots. The basket pot is nice as the roots get plenty of air and you can see the roots turn green when they have absorbed water.

Good luck!

PS. I am also a bird person. In the past, we had parakeets and then parakeets and zebra finches but, now, just a very, very elderly parakeet who sounds as if someone left the TV on when one is out of the room...that is, when he isn't singing his heart out loud enough that you can hear him even with earplugs. I love him dearly.