Help! My orchids look sick...

[ddhope]

I have 2 orchids... not sure of the variety. I recently repotted both due to fungal flies. To avoid what obviously was my overwatering tendencies, I used "Better-Gro Special Orchid Potting Mix", made up of fir bark, charcoal, and course perlite. I also potted both in aerated ceramic orchids pots. (Will attach images below...) Unfortunately, now my plants seem to be droopy and the leaves are no longer firm and glossy, as if now they're not getting enough water! I've gone from watering once a week to several times a week, but the plants continue to decline. Any advice? Should I replant again using a different potting mix? Different pots? Any way to revive these beauties?

[rbarata]

It depends on your humidity but overwatering seems to be the problem, and watering several times a week increases the problem. Probably the roots are dying due to too much water, so increasing watering will kill them faster.
Basically, the symptoms of overwatering are the same as underwatering: dead roots, no water absorbed by the plant.

Take them out of the pot and inspect the roots...if they are firm, they are ok, if mushy they're dead.

The best is to take some photos of the roots and post them here. You can keep the plant out of the pot until someone answers, I'm sure the plants will appreciate that.

[ddhope]

No, these orchids are definitely dry, not wet. The roots are solid, but very very dry. I just watered the plants yesterday! Fact is, the potting medium is so coarse, the water runs through immediately. (I've attached more photos that show the root systems of both...)

[SouthPark]

Good photos --- good shots! And good description.

Just assuming the orchid was originally in say bark, before you potted into the new mix. Bark is workable. Maybe your new mix is workable too.

You can save these orchids by knowing that the roots are very very dry.

First - unpot the orchid ---- to check ALL the roots that is currently hidden in the media (bark). This is for double-checking the roots underneath.

If those roots appear to be dry too --- and no rotting, not mushy etc, then that is good.

The next step would be to soak the bark in water for some adequate amount of time - in order to get water into the dry bark ------ since very dry bark doesn't absorb water very well (or doesn't absorb at all) - such that if you water dry bark ----- the cliche saying will be that the water will run through all the bark like water off a duck's back. This will leave hardly any water for the orchid to use. And if the situation isn't addressed ----- the orchid can then take a turn and go downhill due to not getting enough water from the bark.

Once the bark is wet enough ----- pot the orchid again, and try to pot it in a way where more of those exposed roots go into the bark media. You don't have to get all those roots into the bark media ----- but put more of them into the media where possible.

Once repotted, hold off on the watering - since the bark will be wet already.

Also ----- what method of watering do you use? Do you put the whole open-air pot into a bucket of water for watering?

Or do you apply water at the surface of the media (and the water then runs through the media)?

Also .... too dry was one thing. But also avoid over-watering --- or over-correction with too much water.

The following details about watering can be useful to you later: Click Here and Click Here and Click Here and Click Here

All the best!!!

[rbarata]

Wjen bark is new, I water more often for 2 wks, more or less. Then I resume the normal frequency. But that's just a casa by case situation...you have to monitor the plant and how water runs through the mix.

[Veksa]

How exactly do you water? I would put them in a simple plastic pot with holes and soak in anoher solid container for at least 30 мin, or more, to make sure roots take water.

[aliceinwl]

I second Veksa. Especially for new coarse bark in well aerated pots, soaking really helps the plants stay hydrated. Once the bark has aged a bit watering by flushing works too. Everyone’s watering needs differ, but if I water by flushing I need to water 2-3 times a week, if I water by soaking I can get away with a weekly watering. My Phalaenopsis do great under both regimes.