Need help! Dying phalaenopsis orchid! - Orchid Board

Diannem06 · #1 04-30-2012, 02:38 PM

I am fairly new orchid mom but I do know the basics. My plant recently started blooming about a month ago and has suddenly stopped half way through the bloom (has 4 buds, only 2 opened and 1 kind of did and just stopped). Now this morning when I went to water it (yes I waited until it was fairly dry) one leaf appears to be dying and the rest seem very weak and flimsy. Leaves are darker then my other plants and slightly purple. I read that the cause of that is that it needs more sunlight. They are outside on my porch with 2 other orchids and seems to get plenty of sunlight (not direct, but other plants are doing fine). Could this be because of the flower color to be the reason why the leaves are slightly purple? I have a Blue Diamond orchid and those leaves are tinted blue so I thought maybe the flower color had something to do with it. What can I do to help keep my plant alive?! Will take pictures if needed.

Leafmite · #2 04-30-2012, 04:03 PM

I think the light is fine. The leaf color sounds normal for an orchid with red/purple coloring. How is your phal potted? Often, when leaves go limp, it is an indication that the roots aren't taking up enough water to support the leaves and this is often due to the roots rotting. Phals cling onto trees in warm, humid climates, their roots often bare and completely exposed to the air. The bark, moss, or other media is merely to keep the air humid around the roots, not to keep them wet. When roots are too wet for too long, especially with cooler temps, the roots rot. I would check the roots.

Leafmite · #3 04-30-2012, 04:06 PM

Oh, and welcome to the forum! We are here to help so ask away!

nenella · #4 04-30-2012, 04:57 PM

Welcome! I agree with Leafmite.. Check those roots out!

LittleWatty · #5 04-30-2012, 05:07 PM

I'm currently trying to save three orchids in similar situations. Two of my mothers, and one orchid that I rescued recently, are suffering from root rot. I would highly reccommend unpotting the plant, and checking out ALL of the roots. Its a bit tough to do for some people, especially if they want to keep the blooms longer (disturbing the roots too much can cause Phals to drop their blooms and buds early), but if you want to save the plant I would definitely say to do it. I haven't had a chance to look at my mother's orchid's roots yet, but with the orchid I'm rescuing from a supermarket 90% of the roots were rotted.

If you unpot and trim the roots (with a sterile scissors), and repot it back in sphag moss, I would reccomend letting it dry out for a few days, then lightly mist the surface roots once a day or so. Don't water, just mist lightly. I've been doing that for the past week or so, and my roots are turning green again like they should be.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #6 04-30-2012, 06:34 PM

Only trim dead roots, not living ones. The plant needs whatever it has left to make a comeback. A Phal can lose all its leaves but still have good roots has a better chance of coming back with all its glory than a Phal without roots.

The purple pigmentation on the newly emerging leaf is normal for most hybridized Phals. That pigmentation is called anthocyanin. Think of anthocyanin pigments as sunscreen for plants. A newly emerging leaf is soft and delicate, and it also needs to be protected from the rays of the sun, should it be too bright, hence why hybrid Phals usually produce new leaves with anthocyanin pigmentation.

Flower pigmentation does not necessarily coincide with the anthocyanin production of the vegetative portions of the plant.

I'm not familiar with what a "Blue Diamond Orchid" is. Is it a Cattleya? Common names and colloquial names are plentiful, and 2 very different common names can often describe the same orchid. It is often best to use the name that's on the tag, should it have one.

Zoi2 · #7 05-01-2012, 12:11 AM

I believe the 'Blue Diamond' orchid is a white phal that has been injected with blue dye.
Joann

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #8 05-01-2012, 12:25 AM

Oh...

What a twist!

Wynn Dee13 · #9 05-01-2012, 02:43 AM

Yeah the Blue Diamond Orchid is a white Phalaenopsis that has had its inflorescence injected with blue dye. Of course when the plant blooms again the flowers are white. They sell them in the local grocery stores around my house. They are kind of expensive too.

Welcome Diannem06! I would check the roots too. Have you transplanted it since you got it? If the plant has purple pigmentation I wouldn't put it in higher light. The purple pigment can be an indicator that the plant is getting its maximum light. Good luck and I hope you figure out what's going on with your plant!

Diannem06 · #10 05-01-2012, 04:36 PM

First off I'm very sad to hear that the blue diamond is blue dye. I was skeptical of that but didn't want to believe it!

It is close to the budding process now and a really healthy plant! I was excited to see blue flowers again. On to the other plant. It is in store bought "orchid soil" (mainly bark with some moss) and it has been re-potted into a proper pot with lots of drain holes. I have not pulled the plant out in fear of upsetting it more while it's blooming but it sounds like I have no other choice. I have pulled quite a bit of the top layer of bark and checked it out on top and everything seems to look fine (nice and white pearly green) but I will take it out today and see what is going on! Thank you for the tips!