Splitting leaves, foliage coloration questions - Orchid Board

roamingnome · #1 07-17-2009, 06:15 PM

I have a Phalaenopsis (my first orchid) and I have a few questions about the foliage. As you'll see in the pictures, the leaves are a dark green (how it was when I bought it from the nursery) and some of the leaves are beginning to spit up the middle and the one has a dark spot on the edge of the leaf. I have it situated in impartial sunlight on top of a heating stove (only the pilot light is on so the stove is luke warm to the touch), next to a very large window. The center "stalk" is becoming a light greenish with yellow tinged (which to my understanding is a sign of good health)
The splitting of the leaves and dark spot- could this be from when it was at the nursery? I've had it for about a month or so now. Should I move it to a less lit area?It's taken off with blooming (which I'm very excited about!) I just fed it BETTER-GROW orchid plus food (20-14-13).
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Roamingnome

Ross · #2 07-17-2009, 07:43 PM

That's a pretty Phal. I believe the dark spot is leaf rot. The splitting is probably from a change in watering from the original greenhouse where it was matured. With the two in combination I am suspecting too much water (especially with the low light condition.) I grow mine in a south-facing window where they regularly get full sun behind a window screen. I measure 2000-2500 foot-candles up to 3500+ when sun strikes the leaves. Now keep in mind, mine were slowly introduced to that lighting over a period of months. The key thing is that the roots are allowed to get white before watering again. I do occasionally get leaf splitting, but it is rare. Hope some of this helps.

snow · #3 07-18-2009, 02:49 AM

i,m guessing that the plant is slowly being cooked with that pilot light. that may be the reason for the beginning of rot.. i,ll bet the roots are well on their way of disintegrating. sorry for the doomsday scenenario. hopefully i,m WRONG.

Ray · #4 07-18-2009, 01:12 PM

Leaf splitting sometimes occurs if an actively-growing plant - formerly in a very humid environment - is grown in a very dry one.

I can tell you this for sure: that is one hell of a lot of mineral buildup on the leaves, and that will be damaging in the long run. It's probably mostly calcium carbonate from the water supply, and it's likely from "misting" the leaves, which should not be done. (If you bought it that way, foo to the seller.)

Suresh Kalyanpur · #5 07-22-2009, 09:26 AM

Ray how does one get rid of such mineral build-up on leaves. Some of my large leaf phals have got it in plenty. I wasn't aware that misting the leaves is not advisable. Is this true for most varieties of orchids or only some?
Thanks in anticipation of your advice.