My #phalaenopsisorchid has curly leaves.
Moon recently has gotten very curly leaves. I'm not sure if she's down with something or if this is normal. Everything else is normal.
#happyplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantaddict #planttherapy #plantcorner #plantlove #iloveplants #newgrowth #planttlc #greggang #adhdplantlovers
#happyplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantaddict #planttherapy #plantcorner #plantlove #iloveplants #newgrowth #planttlc #greggang #adhdplantlovers
8ft to light, indirect
3” pot without drainage
Last watered 22 hours ago
15
Best Answer
Please do not cut all brown roots. Sometimes, those inside the pot that don't have access to light also just look brown. And some have just a brownish tinge, depending on the genetics of the hybrid. Otherwise, I agree that your orchid most likely needs a repot, or at least a look at the roots. Limp and/ or wrinkled leaves are a sign of dehydration. Assuming you haven't changed your schedule and have watered it well before and its surroundings aren't suddenly a lot hotter and drier, it's probably a root problem. Most orchids we buy should be repotted after their first bloom since the medium is already quite old at that point, and organic medium should be repotted every few years. Overwatering - a frequent beginner mistake - can exacerbate that problem. The medium rots, condenses, and smothers the roots. It also turns more acidic, which also isn't great.
Miss orchid girl on youtube had great repotting tutorials, but basically you take it carefully or of the medium, prune away any mushy (not necessarily brown!) roots and repot it in a fresh medium that suits your surroundings, best in a transparent orchid pot. The best way to test the roots is ever so slightly pulling them or pressing on them. If they are firm, they can stay. If the give way, come loose, leaving a string behind, or generally are mushy, trim them right to the point where they feel firm again. Only cut into the rotten part, when pruning roots, avoid damaging the healthy parts.
Afterward the transparent pot will help you avoid watering mistakes. Like Heidi said, it's great if you can go by root color if they need water. Silver=water green ( or reddish/ brown depending on the orchid) =its still well hydrated.
Miss orchid girl on youtube had great repotting tutorials, but basically you take it carefully or of the medium, prune away any mushy (not necessarily brown!) roots and repot it in a fresh medium that suits your surroundings, best in a transparent orchid pot. The best way to test the roots is ever so slightly pulling them or pressing on them. If they are firm, they can stay. If the give way, come loose, leaving a string behind, or generally are mushy, trim them right to the point where they feel firm again. Only cut into the rotten part, when pruning roots, avoid damaging the healthy parts.
Afterward the transparent pot will help you avoid watering mistakes. Like Heidi said, it's great if you can go by root color if they need water. Silver=water green ( or reddish/ brown depending on the orchid) =its still well hydrated.
Hi @Catplantaddict under watering can produce droopy leaves. How do the roots look? I'm having to water mine at least once a week because my roots are looking gray and thirsty.
@princesspitstop I just looked at them, and they are gray. Some are dead. I think my mix doesn't retain enough water.
@Catplantaddict Cool ok fill a shallow bowl of water clean the soil off of The Roots cut the brown Roots off and soak the orchids in the water making sure no water gets into the crown of the Orchid. Water sitting in there could cause the demise of your plant. If you do accidentally get some in there just dab it out with a paper towel or a q-tip. When the roots are plump and green take the orchids out and put them back in the pot I have spaghnum moss (wet and squeezed out) around the roots of mine to keep mine hydrated.
@Catplantaddict They don't have to be buried deep but when you can get an orchid pot, clear plastic, the kind with holes in the bottom and sides. You'll also need some orchid bark and spaghnum moss. I layer my pot like a lasagna. Orchid Bark, spaghnum moss, orchid bark. When you're done you can soak the Orchid pot in a pot of water to get everything nice and hydrated. Drain and put the moist moss around the roots and put it on top of your mixture. In about a week check the roots if they're Gray take them out re-soak them about for about 45 minutes, put the Moss back and then place it back.
@princesspitstop great! I'll get a vase and soak it. I also have moss out where I live, and it just rained, so I'll get some when it's done soaking. But I don't have any clear pots. The only one I have is in a decorative pot, and it's too small and is already being used.
@MusicalRedmint they're shriveled up and stuff, most likely mushy. I also have no clear pots. I'll try to do most of this.
@MusicalRedmint they're shriveled up and stuff, most likely mushy. I also have no clear pots. I'll try to do most of this.
Getting moss from the outside can be an interesting idea if you have some orchids experience, but not all moss works the same, and it's equally great for orchid growing. Good sphagnum moss that Heidi mentioned is a special kind of moss, particularly suited for orchid growing. You can buy it dried, and it helps keep the medium damp for longer, so you don't have to water every other day. It also helps distribute water throughout the pot, if placed correctly, and if it's good quality, it rots slowly, meaning you don't have to repot again very soon.
I understand that this is a lot of information. While mixing your medium from good bark and moss can be great and gives you more control, you can also find ready-made orchid mixes in normal stores. While those are usually not great, it might be easier to get and work with at first.
As for the roots, if they are completely shriveled and thin, they are probably also dead and they will likely rot once you water again, if they haven't already. However, if you have many shriveled roots inside the pot, that means, that it's not a problem of over- but rather of underwatering that led to the state of your plant. It happens. Just trim what needs to be trimmed for now and repot and try to find something clear with holes to put them into. You can be creative. My mother just repotted hers into an old clear tomato container that she washed and worked some holes into. I really think, watching the roots at first is great for learning what your orchid needs.
I understand that this is a lot of information. While mixing your medium from good bark and moss can be great and gives you more control, you can also find ready-made orchid mixes in normal stores. While those are usually not great, it might be easier to get and work with at first.
As for the roots, if they are completely shriveled and thin, they are probably also dead and they will likely rot once you water again, if they haven't already. However, if you have many shriveled roots inside the pot, that means, that it's not a problem of over- but rather of underwatering that led to the state of your plant. It happens. Just trim what needs to be trimmed for now and repot and try to find something clear with holes to put them into. You can be creative. My mother just repotted hers into an old clear tomato container that she washed and worked some holes into. I really think, watching the roots at first is great for learning what your orchid needs.
@MusicalRedmint just read what you said, I prefer to use the moss from outside, which is similar to what you described. Also, I just trimmed the roots and jammed it into this thing. It's tiny, but it works! The next size up would make it wet, so I used this.
That way, you will very certainly kill it - in my experience, at least. 🤷♀️ orchids in nature grow on trees. They have lots of air around their roots. If i understand correctly and you plan to leave it in there, the stagnant water that has no place to go will almost certainly rot the roots if you are lucky, the rest of the orchid as well, if you aren't. You just jammed it into a confined closed space without drainage into which you plan to cram even more when you add the moss which in itself is far from perfect without any bark? So basically, this will suffocate the roots. They will die off. Furthermore, the narrow opening will restrict airflow. Add to that the wet moss from outside, and you will have the perfect breeding ground for mold. Unless I am misunderstanding you again, of course. Ilif you plan to keep it in this vase, apart from it being somewhat see through but not in a way that allows you to distinguish the root color as was advised, you basically did the opposite of what Heidi and I suggested potwise.
Also, I do not quite understand what you mean when you say the roots were dry and mushy. Either they are dry, or they are mushy, certainly? And just dry roots shouldn't have been trimmed. Many of those I see in your picture might even have been okay. if they were dry, they were neither mushy nor do they look completely shriveled and thin, so basically they seem okay.
Also, I do not quite understand what you mean when you say the roots were dry and mushy. Either they are dry, or they are mushy, certainly? And just dry roots shouldn't have been trimmed. Many of those I see in your picture might even have been okay. if they were dry, they were neither mushy nor do they look completely shriveled and thin, so basically they seem okay.
@MusicalRedmint I wasn't jamming the moss in there. Now that I think about it, I'll put it back in its pot. Also, I meant squishy, but I cut them where they were firmest. They were so shriveled so I cut them. Ima just put it back in its pot so I can gather moss tomorrow.
I feel so dead rn, so confusing
I feel so dead rn, so confusing
I'm sorry. That's why I said, maybe take shortcuts, where they exists, as in buying the ready-made orchid mix. That might take away a bit of the confusion for now. Also, maybe you are a more visual person? In that case, I can only recommend miss orchid girl's tutorials again. they are really great and you can see step by step how e.g. pruning roots is done in most cases. https://youtu.be/3LIpLBHl0o0?si=cQ16GN03t1sZMOMi would be a good example of such a tutorial, but she has others as well. Good luck with your orchid.
@MusicalRedmint what a nice glass of... wait a minute (it's a joke)
I forgot to watch the video, lol, but I found a plastic cup that was clear and so I put it in there. There's no drainage, but I added a little drainage layer with orchid bark on the bottom. I also layered it from the top: moss, bark, moss, and bark. There is air around the roots, and I can kinda see them. Hopefully this setup works.
I forgot to watch the video, lol, but I found a plastic cup that was clear and so I put it in there. There's no drainage, but I added a little drainage layer with orchid bark on the bottom. I also layered it from the top: moss, bark, moss, and bark. There is air around the roots, and I can kinda see them. Hopefully this setup works.
It already looks a bit better, but I'm still afraid a drainage layer doesn't really cut it. It's it just a reusable cup? Then it should be easy to just poke some holes. Because airflow and not standing in water is so immensely important to phal roots, most or good pots do not only have normal drainage on the bottom but even throughout the pot. I DIY some of mine as well, but I wouldn't ever place them in a place without any drainage and airflow.
The layering is great, though, just be certain that it is packed very airy and lightly and not in any way compacted.
The layering is great, though, just be certain that it is packed very airy and lightly and not in any way compacted.