Yellowing Leaves on a Phal

[QueenofSix]

Hi all,
I just stumbled on this forum this morning, after searching for help with my phal.
I bought it two months ago from a reputable garden centre. I seem to kill all of my plants, so I'm sure that the current issues are completely my fault.
The orchid flowered beautifully and dropped the last of its blooms last week. I cut the spike last week, and noticed that two of its leaves are turning yellow and have gone soft and wrinkly.
I did some internet research and realised that I'd let the phal get too dry and I hadn't fertilized in a while. Per the advice I found I watered the phal and added a small amount of fertilizer. I also removed the phal from the room it usually lives in, which is south facing and has lots of indirect light to a room that's a little darker.
The two yellowing leaves are getting worse though the rest of the leaves still seem healthy.

Any help anyone can offer would be so appreciated. I love orchids but I have a black thumb, I guess.

Thanks!

[QueenofSix]

And two leaves just dropped. Not the ones that are yellow, mind you. Sigh.

[Kmac]

Generally, orchids sold at retail are potted in moss, which does not serve many of us well as a potting medium (although to be fair, some people do great with it and swear by it). Anyway, you may have root rot, and if so, no matter how much you water it, the roots won't be able to take up the water, and the plant will get dehydrated.

My first step would be to unpot it and look at the roots..cut off any that are squishy instead of fat and firm, and see what you have left. Here is a video on repotting one that you may find helpful: http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...laenopsis.html

Your plant looks just like one I got as a gift last year from a florist. When I repotted it, most roots were not good...but it had a couple, and the air-roots were OK. It recovered. and is in bloom as I speak...so don't give up hope!!!

[Dorsetman]

The plant does not want fertiliser when it is unhappy - it can't use it so it is counter-productive. Just use water, but keeping it on the dryish side - not arid ! , until it is growing strongly again

[QueenofSix]

Thank you both for the speedy responses!

I'm going to try to get to a garden center over the weekend to get some mix so I can repot the plant.

[cindiras]

Just get bark pieces, not a specific mix. Most of the commercial mixes I see in the big box stores have too small bits of bark. Phals need larger bark pieces than those mixes provide.

[QueenofSix]

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate that!

Looks like another leaf is going. I hope this guy makes it to Saturday.

[QueenofSix]

I repotted my orchid yesterday - only one root was healthy! I trimmed everything down and removed the sick looking leaves. It's now living in its new pot and mix, though it's wiggly I'm hoping that will change when (if) new roots start growing.

Thanks so much for your assistance, I hope this orchid lives!

[panam]

Kate, we're crossing our fingers that your Phal makes it!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Good luck to you and that phal orchid, Kate!

Cheers,
BD