Sun Problem? - Orchid Board

infinity_blues · #1 06-23-2021, 05:47 PM

Not totally sure what is going on with this orchid. It's been putting out roots like crazy after I had to cut the vast majority of them off. I noticed a couple of days ago one of the leaves is kind of thinning/lightening. Is this a light issue?

SouthPark · #2 06-23-2021, 05:55 PM

Is it the bottom-most (oldest) leaf?

Also - cutting off a 'vast majority' of roots could create issues too.

Has it been growing in the same spot for a relatively long time? And for how long roughly has it been growing there?

Are the relatively large size bark chunks similar in size through-out the pot? And is that new media?

Could check the bark pieces deep in the pot to see if a bit dry ------ or even if very wet.

infinity_blues · #3 06-23-2021, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Is it the bottom-most (oldest) leaf?

Also - cutting off a 'vast majority' of roots could create issues too.

Has it been growing in the same spot for a relatively long time? And for how long roughly has it been growing there?

Are the relatively large size bark chunks similar in size through-out the pot? And is that new media?

Could check the bark pieces deep in the pot to see if a bit dry ------ or even if very wet.

It's almost the bottom most leaf but not quite. There's one underneath it.

The roots were cut off a while ago when I repotted the orchid. At least 6 months ago. It came in this stupid medium that I hate - like if they packed an orchid in a really dense brownie. I just repotted an orchid out of the same sort of medium today because it retains moisture like crazy and rots the roots.

The one pictured was repotted into a bark/charcoal/perlite mixture. I was certain it would die, based on how many dead roots I took off, but it pretty quickly grew at least 8 new roots and 2 new leaves.

I guess if this isn't a sun issue it could be just the natural aging of the leaves?

SouthPark · #4 06-23-2021, 07:07 PM

It could possibly be aging of leaves. Usually the oldest one drops off first.

Although - if all other leaves remain healthy and nice, then it should be ok.

I was thinking that if the sun was doing the damage, then the other leaves would get affected a bit too. But looks like they're ok.

Could also check for mites activity ------ under the leaves. And just apply the usual precautions - such as not getting water lodged in between the leaf bases (in the gaps etc).

SADE2020 · #5 06-23-2021, 07:22 PM

But, on top of SP comments, could also be a traumatic repot that could couse the roots to stop developing or either get the right humidity, like sofocante the good ones. If countinue to look like dehydrated and bobble from tip to crown maybe is good idea to unpot. But give it a little time to adjust to that root lost.. just wait a bit!

rbarata · #6 06-23-2021, 07:38 PM

I think that an old leave giving its soul to the creator. If the plant was mine, I wouldn't be worried about it.

Don't cut any roots...that's what absorbs water and nutrients to your orchid.

infinity_blues · #7 06-23-2021, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SADE2020

But, on top of SP comments, could also be a traumatic repot that could couse the roots to stop developing or either get the right humidity, like sofocante the good ones. If countinue to like look dehydrated and bobble from tip to crown maybe is good idea to unpot. But give a little time to adjust to that root lost.

It's been 6 months since I cut the dead roots so it's probably not trauma. It's been doing well considering how many rotten roots there were. This is a relatively new thing I've noticed with the leaf discoloration. As I mentioned before in the 6 months since the repot it has put out new healthy roots like crazy.

---------- Post added at 06:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:53 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbarata

I think that an old leave giving its soul to the creator. If the plant was mine, I wouldn't be worried about it.

Don't cut any roots...that's what absorbs water and nutrients to your orchid.

Right, but the dead ones don't, and there were several rotten ones. When I got done with the repotting there were maybe 2 decent roots. It now has several more.

rbarata · #8 06-23-2021, 08:00 PM

I only cut dead roots if they are creating rotting issues. If not, I keep them as they help fixing the plant in the medium.

SADE2020 · #9 06-23-2021, 08:00 PM

Ohh ok, sorry, didn't catch the 6 month old repot and bunch of new roots. So, you are loosing a leaf, could be just that, but with new roots, that's not bad. I prefer roots cuz everything will come just after.

infinity_blues · #10 06-23-2021, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbarata

I only cut dead roots if they are creating rotting issues. If not, I keep them as they help fixing the plant in the medium.

ohhh that's good to know. I always heard to remove them to prevent any rotting issues. Thanks for the tip!

---------- Post added at 09:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:26 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by SADE2020

Ohh ok, sorry, didn't catch the 6 month old repot and bunch of new roots. So, you are loosing a leaf, could be just that, but with new roots, that's not bad. I prefer roots cuz everything will come just after.

yeah, it's definitely been happier in its new medium. Roots like crazy, and to be fair to the orchid, it has put out a new leaf, and another one is coming, which I think you can see in the first picture. So it's probably just the natural progression of things. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't doing anything wrong since I worked so hard to save it!