Sweetcicely (and all), I know it's mites becasue I have recently had to research them myself :( Just like Judy. The 1st, biggest giveaway is the roundish sunken dead areas. Typical mite damage. Those yellowish areas appear to be being attacked from behind, which is where mites love to hang out. (OP- any pics of the under side of the leaves?) Since you can't easily see mites, only their damage, a tried and true test (although I can't say that I see it) is to take a tissue, swab, cotton ball, etc, dampen it (H2O, or I use alcohol) and wipe the underside of the leaf. If you come up with a reddish tinge, you've got mites. But, since I don't really see anything when I do it, I just know what the damage looks like. If you google spider mites or mite damage, you should find pics. Also, orchid viruses are supposedly more or less uncommon. Most hobby growers have insect or fungal/bacterial damage if there's a problem, rather than viral, unless you happen to get an infected plant (again, more uncommon). But, after you've looked at enough pictures of both mites vs virus, you get an eye for what mite damage looks like. here's a discussion of this topic from this forum http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/orchids/msg0710185229356.html Here's some other picts http://www.ionopsis.com/Pests_and_Diseases.html http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/orchids/msg011644515336.html http://www.users.on.net/~gmcorbin/BOS/virus.html I'm no expert, but this just screams mite damage to me. Carolyn

I agree with Keriann. Yes, you should really let them dry out. Matter of fact, once my seedlings are as big as yours, I let them dry out pretty much all the way before I water again. You can tell they need watered when you pick up the flat and it feels light as a feather. Then after you water, it's much heavier. Your method of bottom watering is quite unique, I must say. I think that most folks bottom water the way I do, which is to say setting the cells or cups into a tray of water and letting the plant absorb as much as it wants until you see moisture on the surface of the soil (usually takes anywhere from 5-20 min). Now, I can't say for sure what positive or negative effects your method of watering might have, except that it sure sounds like a pain in the hiney to me, and I somehow doubt that the soil is getting properly saturated. You want to simulate mother nature; a soaking rain. Then you want to let the soil dry out. That's how it is in nature. Roots need water yes, because the plant needs water, but then they need to dry out and get oxygen. Damp soil all the time = no oxygen to the roots. Now, I can't say for certain what part of your program is causing your issues, but I would start bottom watering them as described by letting them absorb water sitting in a tray. I think you will find that using this method, you should only have to water every 3-4 days, or less. I would lay off the ferts for a while, and then make sure only to fertilize when the soil is already damp, or you will burn the roots. I just mix the fert with water, then pour into a tray and bottom water as usual. Give this a shot, see if that doesn't help.

If it is flowering it could mean the end of the plant regardless of the grow point being viable. The flowers take a lot of energy and some of that is drawn from the leaves. A dilema though. If the plant is damaged and won't survive anyway, let it bloom. But if the plant is still viable then you may have a tough decision to make. Let it bloom and it might die. Or cut the bloom but what if it dies anyway. A dilemma The gulf stream has significant influence into St. Lucie county and south and then fades away. The prevalent wind is southeast. That keeps us warm in the winter and a little cooler in the summer. That influence is mostly SE coast. Except the West wind. Nasty hot and frequently dry and can happen most of the year. Fortunately not too many days like that. A rare winter west wind is colder...Beyond that above average humidity.

Hi All!! Thank you for your comments - I have repotted her in orchiata bark, and I have decided to partly bury only two of her roots (Their top parts (like maybe 2/3rds of the root) are still aerial, and they come up right to the side of the pot/are right by the air holes in the sides - I'm monitoring them, and if they start to rot I'll take them out right away) She has new roots growing in so hopefully those take to the medium. I don't soak her necessarily, I more douse her roots for a few minutes with running water from a small watering can I have (Careful to not hit the leaves or anything XD) and make sure I get all the medium wet. I do this about once a week or once a week n' change. Small update: One of her leaves (the 'newest' one aside from the tiny one that's growing) snapped off - When I looked at it the other night it seemed to have split a bit in the middle, then when I tried to move it lightly to get a better look it Came right off. The Other one seems to be splitting off, too (the stalk part of it is turning yellow) so I'm amking sure not to jostle her too much. However ever her new Baby leaf seems to be a bright grron color/seems to be fine, and she still has those two new roots coming in/her old roots are seemingly healthy, So I don't think I should be too worried right now - Perhaps she's getting rid of the old leaves to leave all her energy for the new stuff? I'm unsure, Lol 'XD I'll update again in a while after she'd been in the pot a few more weeks X3 Thank you all Again!!!