Hello! I have an orchid that is super confusing. I rescued it as my first orchid(I know, questionable choice) but she had super gross rotting roots but I treated her, and she had been doing great until recently. Her leaves are a bit wrinkly and there is a little bit of yellow around the outside of one. But it is confusing because she is growing two new leaves and they look healthy. Please help! I can report if needed but I don’t want to if I don’t have to. Thank you!
What's that white stuff inside the pot? If it looks like mold, you might have root rot. Other than that, the visible roots are wrinkly/shriveled, which means you might be missing them when watering or not watering often enough
2 likes The white stuff is course perlite from the orchid mix. So would it be a good idea to water more often? Because I let it soak for a bit everytime I water.
1 like And are the shrively leaves a sign of not enough water?
1 likeDefinitely water more often. Shriveling of roots and wrinkling if leaves are a sign that you aren't watering often enough. If it doesn't improve after more frequent watering, look into nutrient deficiencies. Roots also sometimes shrivel temporarily as a stress response after repotting
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I have also struggled with orchids. Mine shriveled up just like that and I cut them all off and put the rest in water with fertilizer until the roots grew back which they did. However after a few weeks I put it back in soil and it seems to be dying once again🤦🏻♀️
1 likeOrchids are tricky, but the key to a happy orchid is healthy leaves! Make sure it doesn’t sit in any water. The new leaves will grow in and one the plant is strong enough it will send up a flower spike.
3 likesMoth orchids are epiphytes (they cling to trees in the wild). They don't really need soil, just water directly on the roots when watering, and a soil type that drains out really well so the roots don't sit in water long term and rot
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