Hi everyone I am new to orchid plants and care and I am struggling with my little one. It’s still in the same pot that I bought it in, and I’ve noticed recently that it does not have great drainage and I’m pretty sure the soil is wrong. I’ve read that repotting while in bloom is bad, but as you can see, I think she’s dying. What should I do???
I wouldn’t transplant. To me it looks underwatered. Next time it’s due for watering I’d give it a really good soak. But I could be completely wrong and someone with more orchid experience might come along with different advice.
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To me it looks maybe overwatered? I’m not sure, something definitely with water though, I’m not the most experienced either really 😅
0 likes When I see my roots getting shriveled like you can see in the last picture it’s usually under.
1 like Ooo interesting! I see ☺️
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From limited pic visibility it looks slightly underwatered to me - shriveled roots and leaves have slight shrinkage if I’m seeing it right! I usually water via water basin method and then it completely dry out afterwards!
1 like These babies do not like to be in any sitting water so make sure to drain well!!
1 likeIs there an internal plastic pot inside the outer decorative one? Pull the whole thing out so you can see the roots. (Share a pic if you want.) Despite both sides of the advice spectrum above, over or under watered… either may be correct, but we can’t tell because we don’t know your plant, or your watering schedule. This is why planting in a clear plastic orchid pot with lots of ventilation is so very handy. If the roots inside the pot are plump and green, or firm and silvery, they are healthy. If they are mushy or shriveled and papery, they are dead. If the plant is still in the original media you bought it in- yes, it’s probably time for a repot. When they are this young, they are probably still in the tightly compacted plug that the nursery grows its seedlings in, surrounded by a tight ball of sphagnum moss. (And in a plastic cup with very little drainage.) Usually best to repot into a bark and moss mix. Keep things light and airy, not tightly compacted. Phalaenopsis roots need air as much as they need water. Which is why either advice can be correct above. You may be watering the heck out of it- but if the roots don’t get air, they get kind of water logged and can’t take in any more. The roots will just rot, and your plant will be dehydrated from too much water. Sounds crazy, but these orchids take a little more specialized care- they are like Goldilocks. Not too much, not too little- they want the balance of air and water juuuuust right. You can wait until the rest of your blooms drop to repot if you want. As long as it’s only that one leaf that looks like it’s dying off, you are probably fine. Orchids drop some of their older leaves as they develop new ones, this one looks a little suspect, though… Go ahead and remove it if it seems like it has an infection.
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