Question
I have a an odontoglossum- don't remember specific kind.  We bought it last fall, it needed to be repotted this spring- had really outgrown the pot it came in.  It was doing really well though.  Since we have repotted it the leaves are starting to die, one by one.  It is pretty big (about 8 bulbs), so there are lots of leaves, but at this rate, I think it may not have any soon.  Is this something that I should expect with this orchid, or is it dying?

Also last night when I took it to soak I noticed that it has those little tiny white bugs (I think they are fungus gnats- I saw the adults with wings too).  Could it be the bugs that are killing it?  I don't know what to do.  I am beginning to wish that we hadn't repotted it.

thanks for your advice in advance- Gina Byrum

Answer
Gina, I would guess that you are right about the flying insects being fungus gnats.  The only other possibility would be mealy bugs but they do not fly.  Fungus gnats do not harm your plant but are a symptom of a potting mix that remains too wet. If you use a standard orchid potting mix (with chunks of fir bark, perlite,etc) it doesn't seem that it should retain that much moisture and break down that quickly.  My first suspect, therefore, is what you used to repot it.  You should be using a standard orchid potting mix.  Also, Odontoglossums need very little watering while at rest (ie no new growth).  Heavy watering and feeding should only occur during active growth.  The purpose of pseudobulbs is to serve as storage organs during the dry, resting period these plants undergo in nature.

I recommend that you get a bag of orchid potting mix and repot your plant.  When you unpot your plant, rinse off the roots and see if you have root rot.  Any stringy or mushy roots are dead roots and will not support future growth so should be removed before you repot.  Once you repot, keep the plant on the dry side until you see new growth emerging at the base of the plant.  Loss of leaves are not as critical as loss of roots.  Your plant can support future growth with healthy pseudobulbs with or without healthy leaves.  Those leaves helped to create the pseudoblubs and are not critical after the pseudobulbs have formed.

Also, there are cool growing and warm growing odontoglossums and you should know which type you have to grow it at the right temperature.