Vanda leaf turning yellow

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

I recall a thick aerial root was growing along the length of the vanda's leaf - along the top of the leaf. The root grew longer and longer. And surprisingly, that leaf went yellow, and then dropped off. The root is just fine, and the plant is just fine too.

I figured that I'd attach a photo to show the missing leaf, which probably got taken out by the aerial root growth. The small vanda plant at the back - has a long aerial root. The fourth leaf (counting 1, 2, 3, #4 starting from the bottom - looking to our right-hand-side of the plant) yellowed and dropped off. The plant itself is fine and healthy. The two vandas have been growing in that exact spot (unmoved) for a year. All three plants are growing in scoria (lava rock), which is locally harvested/sourced as Quincan gravel (pronounced 'kwing-kun' gravel) - from Mount Quincan.

[DirtyCoconuts]

good call SouthPark, it looks like that root just bullied that leaf right out of the way

[jpope42]

I have 6 vandas acquired over the past 8 months or so from various sources. most were in bloom when I got them and I've had similar issues to yours (I'm in central Fla.) They all now hang under a tree, I hose them down every couple of days and the plants seem happy, lots of new roots and all but one has new leaves. I'm really ignorant about orchids, but these pandas seem to love our climate. So don't despair, it seems in my limited experience they don't like to relocate but recover quickly. I just hope mine will bloom again someday not not just be interesting plants!

[VeronicaUlloa]

I only have two and am still learning. Not easy. So far they lost all their flowers and got some yellow highlights but they do seem to be growing more leaves. Will see.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by jpope42

they don't like to relocate but recover quickly.

I don't know how it all works at the cell or chemical level etc. But I think some orchids that didn't do so well in one area (or one region) becoming relocated to a more suitable environment can begin to do well relatively quickly.

The whole thing is obviously tied to internal growth processes (chemical, biological, physical/mechanical) ...... relating to temperature, lighting, maybe humidity, etc.

I don't know much about control systems in cells. But one thing to think about is - the term 'recovery'. For example, does it mean plants are able to reconfigure or re-optimise internal system processes to suit significantly different growing conditions? Obviously - if conditions are out of the range of normal growth processes, then the orchid might not make it. And even if the orchid survives living in borderline conditions, then might not grow too well, and not flower etc.