Leathery leaves

[Carol Ann]

I've received several orchids as gifts. They've been thriving in my bay window with a southern exposure. The sunlight has been defused by mini blinds. I am thoroughly enjoying the plants and have had no difficulty with them until now. It seems that the leaves on several of the plants have gone from firm and green to a wrinkled leathery look. I haven't changed any thing that I've been doing and don't understand what has happened. Also, when a plant is done blooming, is it OK to put it in new medium? Should I increase the size of the pot? Thank you for your input!

[jerrymeola]

Last questions first. When a plant has stopped blooming it is OK to change the medium. It is best to wait until the orchid is showing new growth, usually about a month after flowering.

Try to keep the orchid in the smallest pot in which it fits. orchids like to be pot bound and do poorly when placed in a pot too large.

Wrinkled leathery leaves can be from many causes. Guessing that you are probably starting with Phalaenopsis (big fat wide leaves growing from a center stem low in the pot) It can be from the leaves getting old or the roots starting to deteriorate. Over or under watering can cause these problems (as well as cold which does not seem the cause from your description).

Does your plant have new healthy leaves growing? If it does, then the old leaves are not as important. If all the leaves are wrinkled then the problem is probably in the roots.

[Carol Ann]

Thank you for the input. I'll pull the plant from the pot tonight and check it out. It's very difficult to pull a plant and then get it firmly back in the pot with medium around all the roots. Dirt falls into place ~ Orchid medium does not. Any suggestions?

some peeps use chop sticks to firm medium around roots i just use clean fingers.