Potinara-New shoot is white? - Orchid Board

Helen · #1 08-23-2007, 12:35 PM

Hi all,
Some of you may be following the story of my Potinara Red Crab....the new shoot had to be cut off part way due to some type of virus or root.....it has stopped growing (of course). I decided to repot because the pot was way too big for it...in doing so, I noticed a 3/4 inch white pseudobulb growing from way underneath the bark....I decided to not cover it up with bark when I repotted yesterday...

Has anyone else had this happen to them? where the pseudobulb is white? Probably from no light??

Did I do the right thing?

This poor thing has been trying it's best to survive....it tried to bloom (blasted when rec'd in March07), pseudobulb went bad, original roots in very bad shape, pot too big...etc.. now a little white pseudobulb

Thanks again everyone..

quiltergal · #2 08-23-2007, 12:47 PM

Helen when the new leads are under the bark in the dark they don't have the ability to photosynthesize, and therefore cannot produce chlorophyl which makes the plant green. Once it hits the light it will green up quickly.

Helen · #3 08-23-2007, 01:15 PM

Thanks....does this happen often? if so, then I'll look out for them in future...

Becca · #4 08-23-2007, 01:28 PM

Helen,
I have a small division of an Iwanagara Apple Blossom that has a new lead growing and it is white as well. I figured as long as it is growing then I wouldn't worry about it.

Helen · #5 08-23-2007, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPfeiffer

Helen,
I have a small division of an Iwanagara Apple Blossom that has a new lead growing and it is white as well. I figured as long as it is growing then I wouldn't worry about it.

All righty then! is it not getting any light either? or just white before it turns green?

Becca · #6 08-23-2007, 06:58 PM

The growth is not getting any light yet, it is still trying to make it's way through the sphagnum moss it is planted in.

Helen · #7 09-14-2007, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Helen when the new leads are under the bark in the dark they don't have the ability to photosynthesize, and therefore cannot produce chlorophyl which makes the plant green. Once it hits the light it will green up quickly.

Another question..

.now that the little new lead has turned green, my question is...why is it so small?? It is no way near the large one that I had to cut off... does this mean it does not have enough nutrients? or it has been thru too many problems since March? Again, I'm confused!

thanks
Helen

LILROCORCHIDS · #8 09-14-2007, 05:13 AM

Helen
I just had the same thing happen last spring , first time in alot of years of growing ,also on a Potinara . I also potted it sticking out now it's green . give the plant a chance it spent alot of energy to grow this little white fellow . Did the white growth come from lead area or a backbulb section . mine was from older area so i thought that was a good reason for smaller size. Good Luck
Rocco

Ray · #9 09-14-2007, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Helen when the new leads are under the bark in the dark they don't have the ability to photosynthesize, and therefore cannot produce chlorophyl which makes the plant green.

Actually, that's backwards, isn't it? I thought chlorophyll was green.

It really doesn't matter, as the plant has no need for chlorophyll in areas not exposed to light, so it amounts to the same thing...

Also, growths being smaller is directly related to the health and nutrition of the plant.

quiltergal · #10 09-14-2007, 12:56 PM

So Ray, are you saying the chlorophyll is already present in the bud just not activated until it hits sunlight? If not where does the chlorophyll come from? My biology is a little rusty.

Helen, I agree with Ray. You may not be feeding enough, and your little plant has already expended a lot of energy on the first growth that rotted and had to be cut back, plus you repotted. It's probably a little stressed. I'm sure it will do better next year.