I inherited this batch from my sister-in-law because she moved. My husband brought them home and they were outside in a cardboard box for a couple days. I brought them in and they have been sitting waiting for the weekend to be repotted. Unsure what to do about all these yellow leaves… Help please! I already took off a bunch of yellow leaves; my question is should I take these off? Are the plants that are super yellow worth saving? Again, guidance is appreciated!
I’m pretty sure the yellow leaves are overwatering and/or old overwatering damage I would just take them off they can be saved make sure they are getting good humidity and sunlight and water once a week with a third of a cup of water
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if there is green there is something to save!! if the crown is still green and firm then there's a chance. wait for the yellow leaves to fully discolor, then remove. if they're still yellowing then the leaf still has remaining nutrients the plant can suck out of it before it dies.
3 likes Thanks friends!!!
0 likesSince they were outside, the yellowing may be mild sunburn from too-direct light, or might be a watering issue. If the roots are in a mix with a lot of sphagnum, you might check for overwatering/root rot issues on those. The others all look great so far. These orchids are all phalaenopsis (except for the holiday cactus of course). They're epiphytes, so in the wild they would cling to trees and have no soil at all, and they'd hang upside-down from how people keep them in pots. To keep them happy, they need to get water (room temperature! No ice cubes) directly on their roots, and to dry relatively quickly afterwards (which is why they're kept in bark; it's a very airy mix. Sphagnum moss is added to the mix when you need it to retain more moisture.) They should never sit in stagnant moisture, and you should avoid getting water where all the leaves meet (that spot is called the "crown", and it can trap water and cause rot.) For light, these like bright indirect light (their leaves will turn dark if they're not getting enough, or turn yellow or purple if they're getting too much. Bright green (as they are now) is ideal, and a slight tinge of purple at the edges is okay.
2 likesAs for the roots, here's some pictures to help you assess them
