What's wrong with Nettie?

[learning2letgo]

The bulb of my Oda. Nettie Valentine is drawn up like it's dehydrated, but I water it on the same schedule as my other orchids (once every 7 to 10 days, dependent on moisture in pot) and she's looking kind of sick.

She's in full bloom right now, but I'm scared something is very wrong. I'm still very new to the orchid world and do not wish to lose my favorite 'chid! HELP!

I'm wondering if the potting medium should be changed, I kind of think I can see salt buildup on the bark at the top of the pot, but I can't be sure. I'm not sure how old the potting medium is because I purchased this orchid from a vendor at Orchid Daze at the Botanical Gardens in Atlanta. The tag read "04/2007 Oda. Nettie Valentine". Would it be safe to assume this is the original potting medium and it's just due to be changed?



Any ideas?

[MuscleGirl'sHobby]

If you've maintained a regular watering regimine, and it's still looking dehydrated like this, re-potting would be the first thing I'd do. Chances are you've got root issues.

[SP2340]

Maybe water it every 5 days until it's done blooming and then repot it. Check the roots when you do and give it Superthrive. Good luck!

[Shirley]

I agree that every 7 to 10 days isn't enough water. Mine do quite well with watering every 5 days. I think that, particularly when they're forming spikes or in bloom, they need more.

[WhiteRabbit]

My oda has done well with once a week water - but could be different environments.
I had been getting some pleating in foliage - think it was a bit too dry in summer - but this time of year doesn't even need once a week
you may try gauging dampness with a skewer

[learning2letgo]

Well, just for posterity's sake, I decided last night I would put her into a new, larger pot and change the medium... Well, guess what? There was a ton of salt crystals all over the roots and the old bark around the base of the roots!!! Yikes!

I put her in her new home and watered her in really well and then rewatered again in about fifteen minutes with a dose of Schultz Orchid fertilizer... We'll see what happens next! She's almost finished her blooming cycle... The blooms have been present since I bought her on February 7th of this year and I have no idea how long she had started blooming prior to that...

[Lagoon]

Sounds like you made a good move! I always, ALWAYS change the media with any orchid I get. The top may look good, but under all that the media is almost always mush ~ sometimes the roots are too

I hope she recovers for you, (IMO) You did the right thing

[learning2letgo]

I suppose I just assume that since I'm buying a new 'chid from a vendor that they're in great condition as the medium goes, but I guess I found out otherwise this time around, huh?

[Lagoon]

Yup, sometimes we assume to much then we learn. Been there, done that
It doesn't pay the vendors to repot every single year - they want to get rid of them with profit.

Don't be disappointed Besides, none of the vendors I get my orchids from grow in the media I like. So, repot is always in order at some point. You'll find many many folks here do the same.

Theres so much to learn about orchids, its probably what makes it such a fabulous hobby.

[learning2letgo]

Well, I have Nettie Valentine in her new medium and her yellowed leaf fell off, but we'll see in a few short weeks how the pseudobulbs are doing! As to whether they plump back up or not, I guess it's a wait and see!