Why Is My Den. Jacqueline Thomas Leaf Yellowing?

[c123anderson]

Hi all! I figured this was a beginner question.

I have a den. Jacqueline Thomas 'Uniwai Mist', NBS (maybe 1-2 years from blooming), with three new growths at the base of two canes. Nice, pretty growths. Very happy. Leaves at top nice waxy green.

Then I noticed today that one of the leaves at the top of a cane is yellowing. New growths look fine. Rest of plant looks fine. No obvious pests or problems.

Temps are 68F-75F (indoor plant). Plenty of air movement. Humidity ranges around 40-60%.

Watering/fertilizing as needed/appropriate. It's been happy at its current temps. Is it needing some warmer temps? Or am I missing something?

[estación seca]

Most of the time early leaf drop in Den. phalaenopsis hybrids is due to too-low temperatures or not enough water. They shouldn't dry out to the degree people let Cattleyas dry.

[c123anderson]

Thanks, estación. I’ll watch the temps and water.

[Relemitty]

I have a Jacquelyn Thomas 'Uniwai Supreme' in a 3" pot.
My discovery is that this orchid really loves water.
I water every other day and could probably water every day.
The medium is small/medium orchiada bark and that pot is sitting in a larger clay pot with some bark on the bottom.
The larger pot is sitting on a seedling heat mat so the temp at the mat is 85 F day and 72 F night.
The canes should be fat in the middle and slender at the bottom and top.

My suggestions are:
Increase the water schedule.
Try for warm and bright. I have mine at Cattleya light.

[c123anderson]

Relemitty, thanks for the “hands-on” advice. And thank you for mentioning the canes. Here’s what Jackie looked like this morning. The forefront circled leaf was noticeably browner a few hours later. I don’t have an image of that.

I’m including the image to get an opinion on the overall plant health. I think these cases look well, but you mention yours are fat. Just curious your thoughts on this Jackie’s appearance.

I’ll get the heat mat out and see if that will help. I will check my watering schedule. Seems I scaled back recently due to overwatering the Dendrobiums.

[Relemitty]

Your Den looks healthy.
I see a new growth by the tag and the canes do not look bad.
The yellow leaf looks like an older cane that just may be time to lose its leaves.

I started watering every other day at the same time I started a seedling heat mat.
That was last November.
So I really don't know which helped.
In the pic (Without my hand) the 2 canes in front have grown since November.
The other pic shows all the Arial roots that grew since the added heat and water.

You may not need to tweak your care too much.
Try watering more often (Like I said, mine loves water).
The next thing to try is a heat mat until warmer temps head your way.

[estación seca]

In bark that large I would water every 1-2 days. Different Dendrobiums have very different water requirements through the year. Den phals, antelopes and Latourias like plenty of water through the year. I don't think you can overwater any Dendrobium when it's pushing new growth.

[Relemitty]

c123anderson
I don't know if any one told you but our Jacquelyn Thomas Uniwais will grow to be very tall.
I'm talking 4 to 5 foot tall canes.
At some point we will have to park em some place.
The nice thing, though, is that they bloom and the blooms last months and then they bloom again so that you will have blooms pretty much year round.

[c123anderson]

Awesome! I’m excited for this one!