collection and leaf concerns - Orchid Board

Ms T · #1 08-31-2011, 01:38 PM

I hope this is going into the right forum! After quite a delay, I'm happy to share some of my orchid collection. It's been a summer of trial and error, but I feel I'm on the right path to growing these beauties healthily! However, I do have some concerns about my latest addition.

The first photo shows my tolumnias and vandas at bath time! The biggest one in the back is an Ascocenda (Oriental Siberian x Crownfox Honey Avocado "Raspberry" AM) sharing a basket with a seedling Vanda Colmarie "Carmela", and there's also a Vanda Bangkok Blue Seedling floating in there. In the bigger pot is a Tolumnia Genting Angel and in the smaller, a seedling orange Jairak Rainbow. The latter two are happily putting out new roots and a fan each.

The second photo shows my huge Phal. Rose des Sables "Ponkan". It came with a large damage leaf which was shed just yesterday, but is putting out a new leaf and I think two roots. It was quite a steal at $6, it pays to stalk ebay!

The third photo shows my experimentation in how I'm potting some NOID phals. The two in the front are the survivors of sphag and bag rehab and putting out new roots and leaves.

In the back of the fourth photo is my happy NOID, which came with two well established keikis I removed too soon. After about two months of no growth, it's putting out five big fat happy roots, a sub-root, and a SPIKE!!! Also in this photo is my latest darling and my concern. It's a Dtps. Nobby's Little Candy "Nobby" from Kawamoto Orchids, and while it came with a spike with several buds, they blasted due to the heat it endured in transit. I had anticipated this, and repotted it when it arrived, as it was packed in old, hot sphagnum moss. It also had several rotted roots I trimmed.

What I didn't anticipate was the damage to the leaves there. It is putting out a new leaf, but the damaged ones are the two highest, newest ones, rather than older. I think the damaged area is spreading as well. Should I trim them, or leave them be until they fall off?

Also, I would love any recommendations for other phals or doritaenopsis' with mottled leaves. I'm thinking of getting a philishill next, before it gets too cold to order anyway!

Wjs2nd · #2 08-31-2011, 03:23 PM

I usually hear people say they trim damaged leafs if the damage seems to be spreading.

Ms T · #3 08-31-2011, 07:44 PM

That's what I feared.

I was hoping to get to enjoy the foliage of this beautiful plant, but now it seems I'll be in for quite a wait if I have to trim it back.

Merlyn · #4 08-31-2011, 07:54 PM

If you're trimming damaged leaves be sure to use a sterile knife or tool or a throw away single edge razor blade that's sterile. Cut all the brown off by cutting a small part of the green, then sprinkle cinnamon on the cut area. If the leaf is dried up brown, just cut it off close and cinnamon.

Ms T · #5 08-31-2011, 08:22 PM

Thank you Merlyn, will do. Now I hope I can give it enough humidity so that any new leaves will be a decent size before the fall/winter cold kicks in. So much for hoping to see blooms this year from this one!

Eyebabe · #6 08-31-2011, 10:23 PM

Your phals are potted a bit deep and that may be contributing...just a thought

I agree with cutting off the diseased leaf tissue as well.

Ms T · #7 08-31-2011, 10:32 PM

I was concerned the pot the Nobby was in was too big, but that's the same one in came in, just different/new media. I will see about potting it smaller since I did have to trim roots. You bring up a good question though - I wasn't sure if this leaf damage was a disease or some kind of burn. If it was the former, should I see about contacting the nursery, since that was how it arrived? Though now may be too late...

Zoi2 · #8 09-01-2011, 09:11 PM

I agree with Eyebabe that your phals are too deep in their pots....the potting media is too close to the crown of the plant and you won't be able to keep water from it.
I would cut those damaged leaves off ASAP, it looks like a heat stress edema. It is better to lose a couple of leaves than the entire plant.
Joann

Ms T · #9 09-02-2011, 12:19 PM

Thank you for the comments. The leaves on "Nobby" have been trimmed - fortunately, the worst damaged one was the oldest, so it came completely off. Hopefully she'll recover enough to put out some new growth before long, she's sitting in a warm spot, so I'm hopeful for recovery.

I also repotted my other phals so their crowns are sitting on the media, and roots below - I hadn't realized that was a mistake! Oops! But that's what I love about this hobby, I'm always learning.