Leaves fell off

[anorchidlover]

Hi, I purchased an orchid on August 14th for an anniversary present for my boyfriend. The shop was specifically for orchids so I thought I was getting a quality plant and that the owner was knowledgeable. He sold me a plant without any identification for it (which I later found out isn't a good thing actually - because now I don't know the specifics about it) and also he sold me a pot that hasn't any drainage. The roots came way up over the edge and he said some people like to let them hang out, others like to tuck them in. I asked for the latter.

Meanwhile, he did say not to water too often - we only have watered once a week. No direct sunlight, no drastic shifts in temperature. While we have sometimes used the a.c. our whole apartment isn't air-conditioned. My boyfriend swears he hasn't misted it or overwatered it (he has a tendency to over-care god bless him). But to my consternation, one leaf was yellow very soon after we got it home (my bf says it was like that) and now, the other two leaves just fell off. Their base isn't sooty - it doesn't look like a fungus.

There are still the original two blooms. I did water it this evening. Didn't know that tap water isn't good for it and that it should be warm water until I read around on the web about that.

Should I repot? It's in that spaghnum moss in a glass container. Looks nice but I'm afraid it isn't good for it.

Help! WE both really love this little plant - small white/greenish blossoms, very gentle looking and we want to save it.

Thanks!

Amala and Patrick

[fred]

hi and welcome to the forum
what would help us big time is a photo of your orchid.
Also it will help us with giving you the right advice if you can go into your user settings and update your Profile with your Location.
As we are members from all over the world with different growing conditions.

[fred]

also to help you with watering your orchid is the skewer method
Skewer use for watering of orchids

what we also recommend is the use of worm tea for fertilizing your orchid
http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/gen...r-orchids.html
http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/gen...ow-up-wow.html

[tom499]

Can you post us a photo of your orchid

We can work our the type of orchid from that then tell you the best way to treat it. There is often a consequence of moving a plant from a shop to the home, as stressful as moving house one might say But with abit of good care the stress can be minimized

[kmarch]

it would help to know what kind of orchid you have as different orchids require different care. Hafing said that, the kind of leaf drop you're talking about can be caused by root loss. Being in a container that does not drain is ideal for causing root loss due to rot.

i suspect that if you pull the plant out fo the pot you will find most if not all of the roots to be mushy and grey/black. If that is the case, cut them off. Leave any that are white/cream/green and firm or crispy.

[pikevi]

Welcome to the forum anorchidlover.

And good luck with your orchid.

[chefatplay]

Oh boy, I'm sorry to hear your plant is not doing well. Sphagnum moss in a glass container with no drainage is not a good thing. As Kevin has said, probably root rot due to too much moisture. Orchids like ventilation and good drainage. Sphagnum moss retains a lot of moisture. Many here in geekland don't like moss because we overwater. Others love it.

Follow Kevin's advice. He knows......