Two things .....

[james mickelso]

It's just a sometime thing. The redness of these leaves is just this type orchid. Or I should say this plant. Not sunlight levels or anything like that. I use CalMg from Ray when I get fertilizer. I switch to other ferts too. Just a habit. He just sent me a years supply though. I have taken plants out of the pot before to see if there is anything wrong at the root level. Nada. Zilch. Nothing. It turns black down to the rizome and then stops. The rizome then puts out a new bud or two which then grow healthily. Puzzled. Thanks for the info.

[silken]

I get this too and have recently had it. Two new growths to replace the one dead one. I don't understand why and use calcium/magnesium, and various ferts including MSU which is a very balanced one. And not all my Catts do that, only the odd one. One of the little mysteries of growing these I guess.

[james mickelso]

Yeah. It drives me nuts. The bud comes out, grows really well, and then all of a sudden it turns reddish and I tug on it and ...pop!!!... out it comes. I could see if it got water in it or was overly wet but there is no ryme or reason for it to do this. I had one of my wianie (?) leopards get all the way to throwing out a huge flower bud cluster and then went out one morning and booom!!!! All dead and rotted at the base. Just pulled the whole mass out. I know lots of cuss words and used them all. Frustrating.

[silken]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

Yeah. It drives me nuts. The bud comes out, grows really well, and then all of a sudden it turns reddish and I tug on it and ...pop!!!... out it comes. I could see if it got water in it or was overly wet but there is no ryme or reason for it to do this. I had one of my wianie (?) leopards get all the way to throwing out a huge flower bud cluster and then went out one morning and booom!!!! All dead and rotted at the base. Just pulled the whole mass out. I know lots of cuss words and used them all. Frustrating.

I hope your plant heard all those cuss words and smartened up! Mine usually do it when quite small. Never had one get that far along! And it doesn't happen a lot but it makes no sense to me when it does.

[james mickelso]

I think the word is "arrrrggggg!!!!. (Makes the motion of pulling hair out).

[HighSeas]

That IS quite frustrating...I can only imagine. Wish I could help you....but maybe that's just how he rolls! I really do hope you get it figured out. If you do, please do let us know what it is!