Question
Hello Jim,

My first phalaenopsis was purchased about a year ago. After its blooms finally a few months later, I cut off the then-empty flowering spike. In the summer it grew a new leaf, which grew fairly quickly and appeared healthy.

Then, a few weeks ago, I went out of town for two weeks and left the orchid with a friend for caretaking, instructing not to "over-water," as the phal is in a plastic pot. Alas, I think this is what may have happened, because upon receiving the plant again, its most recent (uppermost) leaf was limp, droopy, and much yellower in color. (And the soil was noticeably wet.) Then, over the course of the next week or so, the leaf began to get more yellow beginning at the base, and more wrinkly. I finally repotted it yesterday, in orchid potting mix. The roots were yellow-brown nearer the base and greener near the ends, but almost all had about 1/4-inch of mushy roots at the tips, which I cut off. Even though the rest of most of the roots were yellow-brown, they were still firm and so I left them on. I repotted into a plastic pot.

A few questions:

1. Based on the description of the yellow, wrinkled and droopy uppermost leaf, does this appear to be caused by over-watering, or something else?

2. Now that I have repotted it, how long should I wait to water it again?

Thanks very much for your help!


Answer
Hello Natasha,

Thanks for the wonderful description of your phalaenopsis and what happened to it.  

1. From the sound of it, it appears your friend may have gotten water on the leaves while watering it.  When water gets on the leaves, especially down in the crevice at the base of the leaf, and remains there overnight, it is possible for a fungus to grow in it overnight.  Unless the fungus growth is removed the next morning, it will slowly kill the leaf.  

2. Did you water it right after repotting?  If so, keep an eye on it to see how quickly or slowly the potting mix dries.  When the mix becomes barely moist (pot will feel light when lifted), water it the next morning with lukewarm water.  Try to keep the leaves dry and remove any drops that do get on the leaves.  It helps to have some light air movement around it to aid in water evaporation.  

By the way, you might want to check the other leaves for any sign of fungus, it will be black and sooty looking.  

Hope this helped.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.