Phalenopsis leaves turning yellow
 

So, I'm new at this orchid thing and apparently the Phalenopsis orchids are the easiest to grow (according to the guy I bought mine from). Well, I seem to have the most trouble with these guys over the other ones...

I noticed today that the base of my leaves are starting to turn yellow (just the other one that I had). When the other one's leaves turned yellow, I later found out that the roots had rotted out and the rot had carried up to the leaves.

Am I wondering what's going on here and what suggestions y'all might have for me? I have attached pictures as well.

I unpotted the orchid today and got rid of the roots that were no longer attached and generally tried to clean the roots up a bit (I did not cut anything). After that, I repotted it with a loose mix of small stones and orchid potting mix.

I generally water this guy about once every two weeks by soaking it in the sink for 30-45 minutes. I'll also periodically spray a little bit of water on the top of the potting mix in the pot (just two or three squirts). Is this ok?

Am I doing anything wrong?

Is there any drainage in that pot? It looks like you have quite a lot of rotten roots, like they have been in standing water.
Joann

This is my opnion. The plant is gone. I suggest buying a new one.

Here're tips I can share for growing Phalaenopsis.

Unless you live in an area or house where the humidity is very low, I don't recommend soaking the plant in water. It's not necessary.

Growing Phals potbound using a large wood chip medium is the recommended way of growing them
in pot culture. Make sure the pot has plenty of drainage holes. Misting is usually not necessary as well, of course that also depends on how humid your environment is. The more humid, the less water needed.

If pot culture is too difficult to achieve, mounted culture may be for you.

Hey everyone,
Thanks for the comments. Yes, I think the plant is gone so I'm putting it outside on the porch and we'll just see what happens.

It's weird though, the Phalenopsis are the only ones that I have problems with. I have two others that are doing great...I guess I must just be watering it too much.

How does everyone recommend watering these guys if the soaking isn't a good option?

Just run the water through and let it drain. If you're going to soak the pot (not the plant) make sure the water drains out, you do not want standing water in the pot. If you only water when the roots are silver/white you'll have better luck. Green roots have enough moisture.
Joann

Everyone has problems with Phalaenopsis at first (I did too). You're not the only one.

My suggestion is to go on google images and type in "Phalaenopsis bellina in-situ". Search through the pics and eventually you'll run into a few pics of them growing in nature.

Then go onto Jay's Internet Orchid Encyclopedia and look up where these plants grow. Do not pay too much heed to the culture info that he provides, sometimes they're wrong.

Go onto Google and search the climates of the respective areas they grow in.

You'll start making the connections.

I kind of take exception that Phals are the easiest orchids to grow. I'm not quite sure why most people, including me sometimes, recommend that Phals are the best choice for a new grower. I might agree that SOME Phals may tolerate a little over watering better than some of the other genera, but Phals are also, in my opinion, subject to every disease known to orchidom. I sometimes think that we recommend them simply because they are readily available and relatively inexpensive. I agree with "King" in that I would just start over.

I agree that that Phal looks like it's probably a gonner although if you really wanted to save it there are some things which could be tried.

When you try another one you want to pot it in a clear plastic pot so that you can see the roots. If that's not possible ensure there are holes in the bottom of the pot as a minimum. You want it to allow good drainage.

I would also advise using bark if you have having problems with root rot, but make sure it is good quality. I've had healthy Phals lose all roots and almost die after repotting in bark from the garden centre, but the stuff I got on-line from an orchid specialist has given really good results.

Once you have a Phal in a clear pot and can see it's roots you want to water it only when the roots turn silvery all the way down. If they are still green then it's not time to water yet. If you don't have a clear pot then use a wooden skewer pushed in to the medium, pull it out ocasionally and if it is still damp then it's not time to water yet.

Personally I like to water by soaking the pot. The important thing though is to make sure the roots get plenty of air, so once you have soaked it (or run water through the pot) make sure it drains thoroughly and that it is not left standing in water for long periods.

i think your phal can be revived! unfortunatly all of your oots that i can see, are rotten. so the only way youll be able to mahybe revive this plant is bye water culture. i read about it somewhere here on orchid board.

so heres what you do.

1. get a clear glass container. such as a mason jar.

2. fill it up with tap water

3. cut the rotten roots off with a sterile razor blade.

4.place the orchid in the container.

5. every day put just enough water to replace the water that was obsorbed/ evaporated into the container.

you should soon get more roots. then you can repot it in bark.

hope this helps.
let me know if you need anymore help

If you are going to try water culture with a phal, stake it up so water DOES NOT get into the bottom leaf, it will cause crown rot. Change the water at least 2 times a week, clean the root area of all debris, and keep it out of the sun (shady North window is great). I also add a bit of KLN to the water.
Good luck with what ever you decide to do.
Joann