Water changing colors
 

I now have a total of ten orchids, most of which are phals, three being minis, one unknown, and one cat, along with a bromeliad (a new addition). Most of my orchids are in clear pots with a loose bark mix. I give them a thorough soaking in a water bath about every two weeks or so since this has been my most effective watering method yet.

However, I've observed that after soaking my orchids, the water turns from clear to a golden color. I used to think it was the fertilizer from the original mediums they were potted in, but I have since re-potted them and still have the same thing happen. Is this the orchids releasing toxins or such? Or just something from the bark?

Just curious! It looks like I'm giving them a detox almost.

My bark releases a brown colour for a long time after I re-pot. I even boil it and rinse it thoroughly first. I hope your chids are not sharing bath water since it is a good way to spread virus and bacteria amongst them should any of yours have anything contagious.

It's the tannins the bark releases. I'm not aware of it being directly harmful to the plants ; however, it can make the medium more acidic.

If these are not newly repotted orchids releasing the early tannins, it would sound like the bark beginning to break down and you would be seeing the fines from the process. Not a problem in the first case, but an alert to repot in the second.