Are these two orchids sick? Thank You

[Cymbaline]

Hi,

I was lucky to receive a few different orchids from my husband for my birthday this year so that being said is the reason I'm posting so much here.

Anyways he bought me three orchids for my birthday. At this point all three have me worried.

Can I get help with two of them?

1) The Sharry Baby arrived with spots on it's leaves. Is this concerning ? Anything I should do?


2) The Catasetum, Monnierara Millennium Magic 'Witchcraft' was the best looking one but today I noticed the leaves are looking yellowish. I had thought that I may have been over watering because I started to see these droplets appearing on it so maybe it's because I let it dry out some?

The last two pictures are of the Monnierara Millennium Magic 'Witchcraft'. The rest are the Sharry Baby.

[WaterWitchin]

I know little to nothing about Catasetum. The leaves on Sharry Baby... fairly common issue. Oncidium overall are known for that exact look.

[Roberta]

Plants in the Catasetum group go dormant (lose leaves) in winter. Some are already showing signs of impending dormancy - ratty looking leaves, some leaf drop. Water can be reduced (not time to eliminate it yet) and fertilizing can be reduced (or eliminated) as well. Once the leaves drop, time to stop watering. If they don't drop by the end of December or so, you can still stop watering, push dormancy a bit if it isn't happening naturally. Then, don't resume watering until you see well-established new growth in the spring (leaves opening out broadly), if you see pseudobulbs shriveling during dormancy before new growth is established, you can moisten the medium a bit but only a little.

[Cymbaline]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Plants in the Catasetum group go dormant (lose leaves) in winter. Some are already showing signs of impending dormancy - ratty looking leaves, some leaf drop. Water can be reduced (not time to eliminate it yet) and fertilizing can be reduced (or eliminated) as well. Once the leaves drop, time to stop watering. If they don't drop by the end of December or so, you can still stop watering, push dormancy a bit if it isn't happening naturally. Then, don't resume watering until you see well-established new growth in the spring (leaves opening out broadly), if you see pseudobulbs shriveling during dormancy before new growth is established, you can moisten the medium a bit but only a little.

It's currently growing a spike . Will the fact that it's starting to drop it's leaves also mean that it will lose it's spike?

Thank you for the info by the way.

---------- Post added at 01:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:51 PM ----------

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

I know little to nothing about Catasetum. The leaves on Sharry Baby... fairly common issue. Oncidium overall are known for that exact look.

Thank You. I need to stop googling issues like this because I came across a website that says it's a bacteria issue.

I really appreciate your time. I'm still learning

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Cymbaline

It's currently growing a spike . Will the fact that it's starting to drop it's leaves also mean that it will lose it's spike?

Thank you for the info by the way.

---------- Post added at 01:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:51 PM ----------

First, we're ALL still learning. That's what is so wonderful about orchids, the more you learn the more you find out about things that you don't know and want to learn.

For the Monnierara Millennium Magic, the blooming and impending dormancy actually go together. (While some of the Catasetinae bloom earlier in the season, many of them don't bloom until they're headed into dormancy) So no worries there, it's doing exactly what it normally does. You may well end up with flowers and no leaves at all. In fall shows, you'll see plenty of blooming Catasetinae with clipped leaves. Nature doesn't know or care about presentation at shows...

[SaraJean]

Originally Posted by Cymbaline

It's currently growing a spike . Will the fact that it's starting to drop it's leaves also mean that it will lose it's spike?

Thank you for the info by the way.[COLOR="Silver"]

Not at all. I have quite a few that bloom on completely dormant bulbs (usually my Clowesias or FDK’s) and the Millennium Magic ‘Witchcraft’, in particular, I have had bloom with all of its leaves, none of its leaves and anywhere in between. Mine is just now starting to spike and it’s already dropped a few leaves and the rest are starting to yellow. I don’t know if yours was shipped in spike or not, but main reason it would abort the spike right now (if it’s receiving otherwise good care) is if it’s stressed from shipping or a rapid change in its growing environment. Shipping stress can also potentially throw it into early dormancy. But like Roberta said, many Catasetum types are starting to go dormant right now anyways so I wouldn’t be too worried. Hopefully it doesn’t blast, these flowers are super cool. If it does, there is always next year

[Cymbaline]

Originally Posted by Roberta

So no worries there, it's doing exactly what it normally does. You may well end up with flowers and no leaves at all. In fall shows, you'll see plenty of blooming Catasetinae with clipped leaves. Nature doesn't know or care about presentation at shows...

Originally Posted by SaraJean

Not at all. I have quite a few that bloom on completely dormant bulbs (usually my Clowesias or FDK’s) and the Millennium Magic ‘Witchcraft’, in particular, I have had bloom with all of its leaves, none of its leaves and anywhere in between.

Great info to know. Thank you both for your time and helping me out.