Does my orchid have a disease

[Andretg]

Hi all,

I just signed up to the forum and have been reading some very interesting discussions on here.

I have an orchid that I found on the side of the road (so no idea what species it is) and am trying to bring it back to health.

I recently repot it as the pot I found it in was too small and roots were rotten and overgrown inside it. I clipped off the rotten roots and removed the earth clumps sticking to them. I then repotted in woodchip and a little charcoal. I water it 1 a week by dipping it in a pail of water for 10 to 15 mins.

I live in malaysia where the weather is very hot and humid.

The plant lives in a shady area of the balcony where it doesn't get rained on but still gets fresh air and wind.

Its health has definitely improved and a new stem is growing strong but some of the older leaves have some brown patches which seem to be passing on to the others.

Does anyone know what this is and what I should do to cure it?

Thanks,

André

[estación seca]

Hello Andretg, Welcome!

Your plant is a Dendrobium. It is probably a hybrid with Dendrobium phalaenopsis in the background. This kind of Dendrobium should be easy to grow and bloom in your climate.

The spots look to me like sunburn. They will turn brown and dry, and will be there until the leaves fall off. It is nothing to worry about. If you don't give the plant so much sun, that will not happen again.

This kind of plant can't tolerate having roots in soil. It needs to grow in something very loose. People use things like large chunks of bark, charcoal or volcanic rocks. The wood chips and charcoal you used should be good.

Water it when it is almost dry, all year. Once a week may be good in your humid climate. Give it regular orchid fertilizer all year, too.

[Andretg]

Hi eatacion seca. Muchas gracias!!!

That really helped! I was scared it might have caught some fungus. I will leave it in a shadier place then and see the results. I'll keep you all posted in a few weeks.

Thank you,

André

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[WhiteRabbit]

[Optimist]

If you Google Wild orchids insitu, or in their natural environment (or however you would say this), you will see a lot of ratty looking orchid leaves. On sites like this, we get kind of used to "show dog" orchids, who are very beautifully taken care of. Real orchids can be yellow, have brown spots, broken leaves, little "accidents" and bugs. I think getting your first mark on an orchid is kind of like getting your first ding on a new car.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Good thing you found the poor thing. Now why would some throw away a perfectly good orchid. Shakes head.