HELP! Cattleya Leaves are wrinkling and shriveling but growing healthy new roots.???

[K.O.]

I repotted this orchid in september after the flowers fell, and i moved them toa new environment in august. Ever since i noticed the weird light and darker patches on the leaves, following with shriveling and then wrinkles. However, it has been growing new healthy roots like crazy and has one new healthy growth so idk whats going on or how to resolve this issue. It was beautiful and thriving when i got it.

[Afid]

I expect this is just minor dehydration from repotting and it will perk up again as soon as the new roots start to take hold.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Afid

I expect this is just minor dehydration from repotting and it will perk up again as soon as the new roots start to take hold.

I completely agree! Those new roots look excellent. And if the old pseudobulbs stay shriveled, no problem... the new ones will be fine. The old ones are the plant's reserves, that keep it going while waiting for the new roots to become productive.

[SouthPark]

Totally agree too. The new roots are growing nicely.

As for the leafs drying up and getting wrinkly like that ...... not enough water was getting into the plant.

You mentioned this started to occur after repotting, and after moving the plant to a new environment.

Finding a workable watering schedule and/or water dosage for a particular environment and particular media type is needed.

You're currently growing in LECA, right? Was the previous media LECA too?

[bogdan]

The plant looks dehydrated. Being in LECA without a reservoir and with a basket-like pot in a home environment, without the necessary humidity - I rephrase, the holes are for humid environments, which a normal house isn't, unless you live in Florida or next to a swamp - caused this dehydration to occur. Now that it's making new roots is the time to keep the leca moist.

[SouthPark]

K.O. ..... as you are using LECA, and if you aren't using a reservoir (and not using a semi-hydroponics method) ----- then that's ok. The solution to fix up that dehydrating issue to water more often ----- such as every day.

But every now and again, such as every few days, a dry-out of the roots and pot can be beneficial - to keep any nasties at bay in the media and root region.

Or --- if you use a plastic pot that has NO holes in the side (and only big holes at the base for drainage) ---- (and still using LECA), then maybe you could water every 2 days. Or ----- if conditions allow for it --- watering every day might still be possible for this case.

Make sure to give the plant decent air circulation at pretty much all times. Relatively slow moving air is good for orchids in general. And slightly breezy air can be very good too.

[401Orchids]

This is very common with cattleya repots or imports especially the bifoliates, being a little more finicky with their roots and growing season.

I agree with everyone above, the plant looks vigorous and should recover once the root system is established again. I have had some imports or repots with leaves that turned so limp they were like leather. They rehydrated and perked back up to normal once it was getting enough water again.

I would recommend disturbing the roots as little as possible and maybe add a layer of sphagnum moss. It should help keep the inside of the pot wetter for longer. I find that helps a lot when I repot into inorganic leca and in the long run is always worth it.

However I had to feel the leaves themselves and look carefully because although they become rehydrated and stiff again, some of the wrinkling still remains. They perk back up to normal after a few months of the root sysem re-establishing in my experience. Slow process.

[K.O.]

Thank you soo much! I gave it some time and have watered more often. THE LEAVES ARE PERKING UP AND GETTING HARD AGAIN IM SOOOO HAPPY.!!!!! lol