Question
this posting may followup some of the earlier ones since it's mostly about overwatering.

i received this beautiful orchid - i am not sure of its name - but it's a pseudobulb type with three gigantic pseudobulbs and two small ones. it has three spikes of beatiful chocolate colored flowers.

i only watered it once and lightly misted the foliage a couple times.

then i realised the leaves turned yellow brown and one was dropping each day. also the base of the pseudobulbs started turning brown. i unpotted it to realise with horror that it was planted in "house plant type soil" with its roots crammed in the tiny pot that had very poor drainage. the medium was super wet.

i took off all the soil medium, cut off the flowers to save it some energy, and loosened the roots so they dry a bit. i am waiting a bit before repotting it in orchid growth medium [bark mix].

i am not sure there is anything else i can do. i have plenty of orchids and they're all doing great. this one however was given by someone very special and i want to try my best to save it.

any advice?


Answer
You are heading in the right direction.  You may lose most or all leaves but, with healthy pseudobulbs, the plant should have new growth after being repotted.  I'm most concerned about your comment that the base of the pseudobulbs turning brown.  The base of these pseudobulbs contain the "eyes" from which new growth originates.  If these are damaged, new growth will be compromised.  See if you can locate these eyes to be sure they still intact. See if you can locate a sulphur-based fungicide at your garden center and treat these brown areas with it before repotting. If the brown areas at the base of the peudobulbs are soft, this is not a good sign as it suggests that the wet environment has permitted a fungal or bacterial infection to enter the pseudobulb.  If the brown areas are firm, that is a good sign.  I would keep the plant on the dry side after repotting until you have new growth-- when you can resume watering.