A: Believe it or not, for many orchids this is a natural process!
The old leaves naturally turn yellow and fall off as new leaves are
produced. If your new leaves start to turn yellow, the first
thing to check is the amount of light your orchid is receiving
If light is not a problem, then check to see if you orchid is being
subjected to low temperatures. If you are growing your orchid in
bark medium, ensure the fertilizer you are using is high in
nitrogen. Bark tends to rob orchids of their nitrogen thus turning
the leaves yellow. There are also orchids that will lose all of
their leaves naturally like the Dendrobium nobiles. The nobiles will
appear to be a "dead stick" until they burst forth in bloom.
Q: Why are my orchids roots growing all over and not staying in the pot?
A: Many orchids are epiphytes that use their roots to cling to rocks
and trees. No matter what you do, you will not be able to keep all
of the roots in a pot. Orchids love to send roots out looking for
things to attach to. This is their way of life. Don't fight it!
Q: I just bought an orchid bulb what kind is it?
A: Many stores have two orchids that they will sell with their spring bulbs, Bletillas and Habernias Some stores will also sell Acidanthera "Peacock Orchid" bulbs. These are not an orchid. Ancidanthera (also known as Cladiolus callianthus) are native to Ethiopia and closely related to gladioluses.
Q: What kind of orchid do I have?
A: This is one question that I get asked a lot and it is the hardest to answer. Without seeing the actual orchid, all I can do is guess what genera your orchid belongs to. Figuring out what particular species the orchid may be is very difficult without extensive study of the plant over an extended period of time. If the orchid is a hybrid, it could be impossible to determine the specific parents that were used in the crosses. Hybrids are sometimes crosses with many different genera. You can find out if your orchid is a Cattleya or a Phalaenopsis, for example, but if it is a
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