Help my Twinkle is turning yellow - Orchid Board

pyerike · #1 01-10-2008, 12:28 PM

Hi newbie here I was just givin a Oncidium Twinkle red fantasy for Christmas and it's leaves had started to turn yellow at the tips. I have also noted a brown spot along the leaf margin. I have the plant set up with 4 30 watt florescent lights use purified water once a week with Schultz orchid food every other week misting in between. Help I love my new Twinkle and don't want this to get serious!

Ross · #2 01-10-2008, 02:32 PM

Part of the problem might be the misting. The Oncidium/Brassia/Miltonia groups really don't like misting the leaves and often (not awalys) respond with brown spots on the leaves. Some worse than others. In general, orchid groups that have large pseudobulbs, like Oncidium, can go through drier periods than other types, so misting doesn't really do much for them. Also, this time of year, it's common for the tips of the leaves to start turning yellow and even brown, as the older leaves prepare to drop. Perhaps a photo might help folks here zero in on the exact problem, if there is one?

Ray · #3 01-10-2008, 05:49 PM

Ross is right that you don't ever want to mist on the plants. The idea behind misting is to do so into the air to humidify, not to wet the plant down.

Twinkle absolutely loves to dry out completely, so if that potting medium is staying wet between waterings, that might contribute to the issue, as could over-fertilizing (what's the formula and how much do you mix with water?).

pyerike · #4 01-11-2008, 07:34 PM

Thanks for the reply I will defiantly stop misting it, I am sure that this is the problem. The potting medium does dry out in between waterings so I don't think that is it but I will keep an extra eye on it! I will post pic's as soon as I charge my camera

Thank you for getting back to me so soon I really appreciate it !