Favorite new plant turning brown....?

Question

My boyfriend bought me an orchid as a gift, and i know they don't like too much sunlight, so i have it sitting in my living room out of direct light. But now the petals are turning brown and it looks to me like it's getting too much sun. Should i put it in my bathroom or someplace darker?

Answer 1

No, do not move it to a darker area.

to much light on an orchid results in black leaves, not brown.

Brown leaves usually means that you are overwatering it, or underwatering it. How often do you water it? Are you letting it dry out between watering?

Most orchids should only be watered once or twice a week, after the have almost completely dried out. If you water them more than that you will usually get root rot.

Have you repotted it since you got it? You will probably have to. It may be able to stay in the same pot, but you almost always have to changethe potting medium (usually bark for orchids). If it has not been repotted in a while, the bark will begin to decompose and compact around the roots, choking them off and not allowing them to dry out which results in root rot.

Pull the plant out of the pot (carefully) and examine the roots, reove any compacted and decomposing bark. The roots should be white or green colored. Brown or black means they are too wet and dead. Then repot it with new orchid mix (availalbe at any Lowes or Home Depot)

Answer 2

What type of orchid? There are a few types. Are the tips brown or is the petal turning brown from the tip through the petal?

Answer 3

actually, orchids like LOTS of INDIRECT light such as fluorescent lights etc. and they love humidity. hang it in front of a window but above where the sun would hit it directly. set the pot on a pan of pea gravel and fill with water to the top of the gravel for humidity. fertilise once a month or less with orchid fertiliser, or as directed. good luck!