$5 Walmart Orchid Diagnosis
 

Hello! I am completely new to orchids and new to this forum as well. please help :)

So I always wanted an orchid...but I thought they were pretty expensive. but a week ago I found a beautiful white orchid on sale at walmart! I immediately bought it and I'm so happy to own one.

it is labeled phalaenopsis, and it had one damaged leaf and one yellowed leaf. I cut both out with sterile scissors and now it is left with 2 somewhat healthy leaves. I noticed that the leaves are more yellow-greenish than other orchids at walmart. I placed it near the east side windowsill and leave it under direct sunlight. I did not fully water it yet, though I misted the expise roots a little.
I checked the root condition by digging the moss a little bit, and there is a lot of roots, but most of them are damaged (not from my digging) but still green, so I left them.

I noticed that since the day of my purchase (a week ago) the lastest flower curled up a little bit and I'm noticing the crown side of both leaves turning yellowish. I can see that inside of the pot, it still has some moisture from walmart people watering it the day when I bought it.

I attached the photo of the leaves. am I not watering it enough or giving it too much sunlight?

When the light makes the leaf too hot, the leaf can burn. If you have air-conditioning or the window is open to allow good air movement, you probably won't have a problem. The lighter leaves just mean that it is getting good light. Just feel the leaves now and then when the orchid is getting direct light to make certain they aren't too warm. My phals do get direct light, both indoors and out (just in the mornings, the rest of the day their spot is shady), and they seem to enjoy it.
I would take the orchid out of the pot and take a look at the roots. One of the most common problems with box-store phals is that the box store employees have not been trained in caring for orchids and so they accidentally over-water the orchids and then the roots begin to rot. :(
In nature, phals cling to trees, bare root, in humid, rain-forest-type conditions. They are watered and then a gentle breeze dries the roots but the humidity keeps them healthy. The purpose of the medium, then, is to keep the air around the roots humid, not to keep the roots wet. Everyone's conditions are a little different so you may end up selecting a new type of medium that is easier for you.
Good luck!

---------- Post added at 03:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:30 PM ----------

By the way, your orchid looks healthy right now, from what I can see of it.

Welcome and good luck! :) You'll find lots of knowledge and help here <3

thanks!
I did repot the orchid because I heard that they are super tightly packed....and they were!
Some roots were very broken, though not 'squishy'.
I cut about 4-5 roots off and emptied a bag full of spagnum moss. The orchid is still in moss, though much less tightly packed. I don't have time to go shopping until end of this week due to finals, and I am hoping that it will survive! I left the flowers still hanging. If it starts dropping flowers, I will consider cutting it off...

By the way, I heard that you can use packaging peanut Styrofoam as a medium too. I thought about mixing peanut styrofoam with bit of moss, but wasn't sure if it would help. Did anyone hear about using packaging peanut as media?

Styrofoam peanuts work well as a space filler, but you have to be certain that they're actually Styrofoam before using them. Many packing peanuts are now biodegradeable and melt on contact with water.

well I tested the packaging peanut (put it in my mouth) and it didn't melt, so I figured it is not corn starch. I put the peanuts in the pot and the orchid is actually looking super healthy....I think phal does not mind repotting at all! though now I plan to leave it alone for a while :)
I think I stressed out my poor little girl for too much.

good luck you will start with a walmart phal and then end up with a few oh hundred or so. Ha. Oh I see you just finished finals what is your major? Or do you teach?

lol thanks XD
today the oldest petal started closing up..I'm guessing it will fall soon. it's cool seeing all these things in action.
I am an undergrad student majoring in bioengineering

Awesome undergrad social work minor in sociology. I feel the finals week issue. Just finished mine last week yeeck.

Don't love it to death, or worry it to death. Phals are jungle or forrest plants, but are adapted as epiphytes to an almost desert existance. They get water from mist, and their roots are highly adapted to do do. They can go for several weeks without water and not die. If you want to kill them, water them too much. Orchids are actually tough plants that people kill by babying them too much. The sticky on how to keep a phal alive is invaluable.

Just starting grad school in the fall. Double eek!

Welcome to Orchid Board.

Often we say that Phals shouldn't get direct light. Some morning and evening is often fine, especially as a window will cut some light. Phals with naturally paler leaves tend to be able to take more light than those with naturally darker leaves. It's a genetic thing usually. I find my darker ones don't get lighter in sunshine... they just burn. My ones with paler leaves do well with more light. As advised keep an eye on if the leaves are getting warm to the touch, if they are then they are likely to burn.

It sounds good that you've pulled out a lot of the moss and just put back some. I think phal roots tailored to moss don't do well if you try and stick them in dry bark, even though many people prefer to grow in bark. Just bear in mind that if you are growing in moss you will need to change it each year to keep it fresh.

The flowers can often fade just because of the change in environment, but as you bought this at a discount it might also have been in the shop a while and it just is the right time for them to have finished and to close. If the roots are firm then I wouldn't worry much over that.

At the beginning of the Beginner Forum, there is a sticky titled "The phal abuse stops here". I urge you to read it! Lots of great information!!!!!

Welcome to the OB and good luck with your first orchid.

Cym Ladye