Strange growth of new leaf

[foxtailskies]

My poor beleaguered Odontoglossum is FINALLY starting to put up a nice new pseudobulb after several failed attempts, but now I've noticed that the topmost leaf on the bulb, the nice pretty one that defines the plant, is coming in really strangely. It's really hard to photograph due to the angle but I did my best here... the base of the leaf is folded back down over the bulb about 1/2", then comes back up into the rest of the leaf. That would be fine, but it also grew in almost torn, with a gash extending halfway across the leaf base and (as far as I can tell) nothing coming in underneath it. What on earth happened?! And how will this affect the bulb's growth? Will it still flower someday?

Here are the pictures (I hope they upload OK!)

[Ross]

I have one that did that to me this year (actually it's an intergeneric - Miltonidium) and I think it gets started due to low watering - not enough water. It also affected the flower spike that did the same thing. Didn't get a flower from it this year.

[quiltergal]

I agree with Ross. I have 2 Odontocidiums and a Miltoniopsis that both did that. The Milt surprised me and bloomed from the crinkly leafed bulb anyway. The Odcms did not. They are growing two new growths though, so I have hope that they will bloom maybe in the fall. I've been very careful the last 6 months or so to make sure these guys don't dry out. I read somewhere that they like to be evenly moist, but not sopping wet. I'm trying 2 in s/h to see how that works. It's amazing the amount of water that disappears out of the reservoir in such a short period of time. Those are getting watered twice a week.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I agree. Letting medium dry out too long between waterings does this. Be on top of the watering and you should be fine.

[foxtailskies]

Ok... I had heard that Odont's liked to be a little drier between waterings so I bet that's what did it... oy, it was too wet for a year (came in pure sphagnum moss with orchid bark over it, noticed it too late to save the new growth) and now it's too dry poor thing can't win! I'll step up the watering and see how it likes that.

Thanks!!!

[foxtailskies]

Actually, just out of curiosity... does anybody know why under-watering causes that kind of growth? it's just so odd, i've never seen a response like that before in any other plant! i figured the bulbs would shrivel or something like that. just wondering

[Ray]

I really couldn't tell much from the photo, but sometimes leaves simply "get stuck" when emerging and growing. I have heard two theories: underwatering leads to insufficient pressure to "pump" them up, and insufficient humidity leads to the surfaces sticking to each other more.