---
title: "Hello! First time orchid owner here - I’ve got two very yellow…"
description: "Hello! First time orchid owner here - I’ve got two very yellow leaves, which are the oldest ones, and wondering what to do with them? The plant has recently…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ/JCN_XMhsQVOR1_8KlhKrvg"
community: "The Orchid Oasis"
author: "Jake Whitelock"
published: "2024-08-13T12:40:07.397946Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/EK7KOrW5Jzq5HZFH7O6MwtpP0SiPtfjlV5ysULnhfRE/XSK3ahINQC-G-SNlc8tkkQ.webp?size=large"
---

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# Hello! First time orchid owner here - I’ve got two very yellow…

_Posted by Jake Whitelock on 2024-08-13_

Hello!

First time orchid owner here - I’ve got two very yellow leaves, which are the oldest ones, and wondering what to do with them?

The plant has recently grown nice green leaves and a few buds are coming in… any advice appreciated!

![Attachment 1 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/EK7KOrW5Jzq5HZFH7O6MwtpP0SiPtfjlV5ysULnhfRE/XSK3ahINQC-G-SNlc8tkkQ.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/EK7KOrW5Jzq5HZFH7O6MwtpP0SiPtfjlV5ysULnhfRE/O4OIIyGESCK5p964sBQpPA.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 3 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/EK7KOrW5Jzq5HZFH7O6MwtpP0SiPtfjlV5ysULnhfRE/yBT3Iu6CRBm_HscQPliIcQ.webp?size=large)

## 4 comments

### eatyacarbs commented on 2024-08-13

what is that bottle? i’m betting you’ve got a case at least of fertilizer burn here.

your plant would really appreciate a refresh, it looks very sick. I would cut the flower spikes off at the base. Orchids bloom in times of stress as well as when they’re thriving — in the case of this plant, it’s the former:

You need to pull it out of the pot and remove anything that might be rotting. You should remove the yellow leaves as well — you can’t reverse that.

Healthy orchid roots are nice and green, or silvery if they’re ready for water. Anything else should be removed with a clean blade.

#### Jake Whitelock replied on 2024-08-13

Ah okay! Thank you for replying even though it is sad 🥲

The bottle is baby bio orchid food, I’ll have a look at getting it out of the pot and removing what it needs tonight!

#### Sharon replied on 2024-08-14

Orchids tend to only need to be very lightly fertilized

### Plant human commented on 2024-08-14

I just only water my orchids (no fertilisers)…. and they have been blooming year on year for the last 3 years.

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