Cattleya - water trapped in new growth - issue or not?

[DirtyCoconuts]

Catt (NoID) with a large funnel as the leaf is opening at the third segment
Funnels by J Solo, on Flickr


ignore the other leaf (this is a rescue) this is growing out the primary leaf and it creates a deep enough chamber to be holding water.
Funnels by J Solo, on Flickr

and this is the Zygo. it has about two inches of area inside that are full of standing water and it is growing well
Funnels by J Solo, on Flickr

id say that you need another factor to make the water harmful, either a temperature swing, or a lack of air movement or a disease or something....

maybe ?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

id say that you need another factor to make the water harmful, either a temperature swing, or a lack of air movement or a disease or something....

maybe ?

I have not had problems with Catts, growing outside and cold. Zygos maybe, but even those seem to not have a problem that I can't attribute to other things. As mentioned before, I have had issues with buds in sheaths sometimes, but not particularly with growths. They do get air movement, that may be the magic factor. Evolution might have something to do with it... Catts (and Laelias) grow pretty much vertically on branches (unlike Phals that tend to grow sideways or upside down), the ones that were sensitive probably didn't survive to reproduce.

[SouthPark]

D.C. and Roberta - thanks very much for contributing your experiences for this topic about water sitting in funnels of the new growths.

Excellent shots D.C. of those orchids with the water in them! Thanks for your time for loading those. Those pics will definitely be of significant interest to a lot of growers out there, that may have wondered about this exact topic.

Roberta - totally agree with you about water getting trapped in open sheaths when the plant has a spike and buds. I have definitely heard of lots of cases of spikes and buds taking a fatal turn due to water stuck in open sheaths. I like your method of treating possible issues by doing some minor surgery on the sheath!

[DirtyCoconuts]

Happy to help an orchid-smith with any info I can contribute

[DirtyCoconuts]

i had to resurrect this thread as i MUST reverse my advice and share some new information

I recently had a LOT of rain, like 4 of the last five weeks have had constant rain and it was quite wet before that as well.

i was not concerned as i have all the outdoor plants setup for the rain and they are in super open medium BUT i was not prepared for the new growths and the resultant funnels

carnage

three new growths and one one year (almost) lead on the tenebrosa
Finally! by J Solo, on Flickr

i did not look at the tag but another unifolate

Finally! by J Solo, on Flickr

catt maxima- three growths, all in the funnel stage and they rotted on the inside and then down

Finally! by J Solo, on Flickr

found worms in the rotted parts, yuck

i attribute this to the fact that there was literally NO SUN for like a month, this is abnormal and i assume that the plants can go for a few days holding water but not indefinitely

AND- that the temperature is about 5-10 degrees cooler than normal for wet weather and i think that might have been enough to let the cell structure fail and allow the water to degrade the body of the plant.

i went back to my literature and articles and found one by Sue Bottom from St Augustine OS and she says that she opens the funnels to allow them to drain. i am not clear HOW she does this but the article makes it seem like she peels them open gently and does not use a razor but i am still wary of that...id rather take my chances with clean razor cuts than have this happen again.


so, for the benefit of all, my earlier conclusions about it being totally benign, that is false as too general.

[SouthPark]

DC ------ you are a good sort, and absolutely respect you and your work, and for sharing your experiences.

Thanks for mentioning those extra details from St Augustine OS!

[Orchidtinkerer]

shame DC. Must have been the lack of sun and heavy cold rains like you say.

On the last pic it looks like it might be rotting from the bottom up - just a heads up.

Is winter just starting where you are? Might want to bring that last one inside

How are the others doing?

[estación seca]

When I find somebody to keep me in style I'm going to have multiple greenhouses with total control over heat, light, humidity and water. Until then I need to struggle along dealing with nature.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Originally Posted by Orchidtinkerer

shame DC. Must have been the lack of sun and heavy cold rains like you say.

On the last pic it looks like it might be rotting from the bottom up - just a heads up.

Is winter just starting where you are? Might want to bring that last one inside

How are the others doing?

it is rotting from the bottom, great eye...that is what i think is the "weak" spot for the standing water...they all rotted the same way which, i believe, is the lowest point where water could gather and therefore it never dried out there.

i have emailed Sue to ask her more info and i did not get a bounce back so fingers crossed

[Leafmite]

I have learned to give my Cattleyas/Angraecums plenty of Calcium because we often have weeks of cold, rainy weather during the summer. I use both eggshells and bonsai baskets with oyster shell to provide a steady supply. If we get a very rainy spell, I use powdered milk to provide extra Calcium. Indoors, I use Cali magic.

Good luck with your orchids!