Zygopetalum help

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by princesjess13

I may have jumped on this thread late. I am experiencing the same thing with my leaves. I feel like I have a younger plant and none of my pseudobulbs are exposed yet. I have 3 new growths and believe it will be putting out a flower spike soon. I was wondering if the leaves die off to expose the pseudobulbs. I am freaking out thinking that it might be a nutrition deficiency but I am now wondering if I am stressing over nothing and the plant is just fine. Thank you

Relax... force of nature. Those pseudobulbs (including the leafless ones) insulate the plant from short-term environmental effects in general. Let it "do its thing..."

[Dollythehun]

I have a couple of yellowing leaves on an older pbulb. When I examined it, I found a new eye. So, don't panic please, it doesn't solve anything.

[princesjess13]

Thanks everyone. I have noticed some red mold on some roots. I took it out to trim it off and the plant has split in half. I now have the oldest pseudobulb with 2 new growths and is currently root less and another half that has 2 newer growths that has a new growth bud. This one has some roots. I'm starting to feel like a failure at this hobby.

[orchidsarefun]

If you want blemish/black streak free leaves and regular blooms, if you want the plants to look and do better than when you bought them, then avoid buying zygo species and their hybrids. That is unless you have a cooler greenhouse and fans for wind circulation or you can replicate these conditions indoors. This advice seems harsh but it's my 2c worth after years of growing them, after propagating them from seed and consulting with commercial growers. I've had specimen sized plants become infected with fungus and die off - with the next door plant unaffected. I just found a tray of plants that had been standing in about 2 inches of water all Summer on my deck. All have green bulbs and new growth. Siblings treated "well" elsewhere are either dead or dying. It's unfortunate as zygos are my favourite orchid and can be spectacular when well grown.

[Dollythehun]

So true. And our Illiana weather, winter today, summer tomorrow.

[princesjess13]

Thanks everyone. No I'm not worried about the black freckles. Just wanting to make sure I'm giving the best care I can.

[estación seca]

Zygos are difficult plants to grow in most of the US, and they are poor house plants if humidity is under perhaps 50%. They just will not tolerate heat and low humidity. Denver and Phoenix are not good places for them, unless the owner keeps the house under 75 F (cooler at night) and runs a humidifier. There are many other orchids that do just fine in warm western US houses.