white stuff on bark and yellow leaves!! - Orchid Board

Chiral224 · #1 07-04-2009, 07:05 PM

Hi, I have a couple of 'chids with what looks like mineral deposits on the surface of the media. I've had these guys for a couple weeks and havent used any fertilizer on them, just a bit of superthrive. I ran water through them a few days ago, but its still there and maybe getting worse. Should I maybe use distilled for the next couple waterings or maybe repot them? Both developed a yellow leaf, but I'm not sure if its from that or because its been hot and sunny. All my others have yellow leaves developing too and my catts leaves are getting wrinkled!!! Could it be the superthrive? I had read other post where people use it every watering....

HELP!

Zoi2 · #2 07-04-2009, 08:41 PM

When was the last time your "chids" had fresh media and how often do you water?
Can you post some pictures?
Joann

Chiral224 · #3 07-04-2009, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoi2

When was the last time your "chids" had fresh media and how often do you water?
Can you post some pictures?
Joann

The two I'm worried about were Dec 08, my catts I changed when I got them, so about 2-3 weeks ago.
Watering has been weather dependent these days. I check everyday to see because its been so hot. I'd say I'm watering every 3 -5 and I mist daily. Thank you for the help! (pics ina minute)

Zoi2 · #4 07-04-2009, 11:47 PM

What are you misting? The plant and/or media?
What do your roots look like? Withering leaves is usually a sign of lack of moisture and/or humidity.
What kind of sun are they getting?
Joann

Chiral224 · #5 07-04-2009, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoi2

What are you misting? The plant and/or media?
What do your roots look like? Withering leaves is usually a sign of lack of moisture and/or humidity.
What kind of sun are they getting?
Joann

Just the media is misted. The roots are growing like mad on most of them. They do sit on humidity trays. They are in a big east window. I wouldnt have thought it would be too much for them...oddly my phals are loving all the light! But I also have a bird of paradise in the same window and its leaves have been burnt this last week....and they love sun and heat.
But, they say these guys like bright light and warm temps, so it shouldnt be too much should it??
I'm not sure how to supply more moisture for them other than running a humidifier? But I think in this heat high, high humidity in my apartment would kill me!!

Cookiemonster · #6 07-05-2009, 01:45 PM

wowz... they look really really dry?!
First have you checked the roots- If they are not doing so well this might be the culprit of the wrinkling and shrivveling- Secondly if your growing in arizona or somewhere ridiculously dry that might explain the dryness...

Humidifier will help increase the relative humidity of your growing area, also if you moved them somewhere BRIGHT I hope you did so gradually, as a move from dim to REALLY bright does not give the plant time to adjust.
I've also found east window in the summer is a BBQ palace if you have some shade cloth or sheer curtains that would be great as early in the morning sun is very strong- so either shade em or move em!

Best of Luck

Ray · #7 07-06-2009, 08:19 AM

I agree. They look way too dry.

I would guess that you are being very diligent in living up to the old adage that "orchids must dry out between waterings" to prevent root rot. Unfortunately, that advice is based upon incorrect assumptions.

Root rot occurs when the potting medium is too dense or soppy and suffocates the root system. If you can keep the air flow at an adequate level, the medium can stay moist at all times, which is better for the plant.

Additionally, in an open area (such as a room), humidity trays are essentially worthless. Read Evaporation

RosieC · #8 07-08-2009, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

I agree. They look way too dry.

I would guess that you are being very diligent in living up to the old adage that "orchids must dry out between waterings" to prevent root rot. Unfortunately, that advice is based upon incorrect assumptions.

Root rot occurs when the potting medium is too dense or soppy and suffocates the root system. If you can keep the air flow at an adequate level, the medium can stay moist at all times, which is better for the plant.

Additionally, in an open area (such as a room), humidity trays are essentially worthless. Read Evaporation

I agree with Ray. It is a common mistake that people think that because the advice is that orchids shouldn't sit with water under the pot that they also have to water very little.

Just last night the checkout lady asked me about looking after orchids (I was buying two Noid Phals) because she said she always killed them. I said "well you have to be careful not to leave them standing in water" and her answer was "so you need to water them just a tiny bit then"...

I went on to explain that that was the other mistake that people make.

I generally let mine dry out between waterings but only just and not for too long. But when I do water the medium gets completely soaked.

I wish I had Ray's confidence in the medium being airy enough. Even after I have just repotted them I don't feel confident enough to keep them moist all the time. I think my more moisture loving orchids suffer as a result.

But the logical part of my brain knows Ray is absolutly right, just got to convince the part of my brain which does the watering.