The Plant is kinda Homely but......going to bloom! [Chocolate Drop mix]

[chidlove]

The plant itself is nothing to write home about, and its a SAD pic of the flower bud, but I'll try to take better when she opens





I just took these shots this morning The whole plant has been struggling for 3 years or so, so I'm Flabergasted its even having a flower! Thanks to the south exsposure shelf

[Bud]

maybe it needs humidity and moisture(the leaves are wrinkly)...the bud seem to be blasting

[InspirChid1712]

I think it needs to be repotted in fresh mix and hit with a spray bottle every morning in your south window... the bloom is probably from stress I would think. Also... the flowers shouldn't grow from the rhizome (another indicator that its desperate to bloom before an eventual death of the plant). I'd pinch off that bud, repot it into a mix of bark/osmunda/charcoal/hint of moss (I use clay pots, preferably!), and then mist mist mist until you see signs of new growth. Chocolate Drop is a STRONG grower... it should be a much healthier plant by fall!
(Just my opinion... I want your plant to thrive!) :-D

[RJSquirrel]

orchids are tough plants but humans can defeat just about anything a force of nature can create...your catt is handicapped by being light challenged for the most part IMO.

more light,fresh mix, humidity and some love goes a long way

I get disgusted pretty easy with the catts not doing right for me..I still attempt them but at some point you have to cry uncle when so many things are working against them in your own location. In fact that would have been worm feed a long time..Grats for hangin in there

[chidlove]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

orchids are tough plants but humans can defeat just about anything a force of nature can create...your catt is handicapped by being light challenged for the most part IMO.

more light,fresh mix, humidity and some love goes a long way

I get disgusted pretty easy with the catts not doing right for me..I still attempt them but at some point you have to cry uncle when so many things are working against them in your own location. In fact that would have been worm feed a long time..Grats for hangin in there

I just had an ah ha moment The catt is NOT grown where it sits now [that was just for pics], it is in a south window Its possible you all thought it gets no light
as for the bud blasting, it now has a Beautiful flower that smells like Heaven!

This plant prolly Does need a transplant, but as far as dieing goes,.... Lots of new roots are growing

thanks for your advice for the poor wee thing, and it definitely gets new medium.

[nenella]

Any chance of seeing a pic of the flower?

[chidlove]

Originally Posted by nenella

Any chance of seeing a pic of the flower?

here she is.... worm food , totally, seriously, it smells sooooo good, like Cloves and chocolate, really strong

[Oscarman]

It seems to want to persevere no matter what!

What is happening with the leaves though? There is some pretty bad markings, especially on the large leaf. The smaller one seems to have some black streaking. That can't be good.

Anyone able to comment - I am far from being a disease, virus, bug expert.

[james mickelso]

You say it has grown some new roots? After it flowers for a week or so, I would cut off the flower and everything behind the new growth that is throwing out the new roots. I'd dust with cinnamon and plant in a very open bark/charcol/cinder mix and water it sparringly. Some physan or other antifungal/antibacterial would go a long way to salvaging this plant. It looks like black rot or similar fungus/bacterial infection. Keep it away from your other plants too. It can recover and stay healthy but it needs to be kept on the dry side until it gains enough size (vigor/energy) to fight the infection going on. I can see it in the picture of the large leaf. I just nearly lost my Kodama "chocolate drop". One day it was fine (just finished flowering) and couple days later, two of the four leaves were black and mushy. Yes that fast. And I keep everything on the dry side. I cut off the black parts and smeared cinnnamon on the cuts. It is ok for now. But it was close. I couldn't believe how fast the black rot came on. I watch my plants very closely. In fact I dote on them. Anyway;..... that is what I would do with this plant. Hope all goes well.

[chidlove]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

You say it has grown some new roots? After it flowers for a week or so, I would cut off the flower and everything behind the new growth that is throwing out the new roots. I'd dust with cinnamon and plant in a very open bark/charcol/cinder mix and water it sparringly. Some physan or other antifungal/antibacterial would go a long way to salvaging this plant. It looks like black rot or similar fungus/bacterial infection. Keep it away from your other plants too. It can recover and stay healthy but it needs to be kept on the dry side until it gains enough size (vigor/energy) to fight the infection going on. I can see it in the picture of the large leaf. I just nearly lost my Kodama "chocolate drop". One day it was fine (just finished flowering) and couple days later, two of the four leaves were black and mushy. Yes that fast. And I keep everything on the dry side. I cut off the black parts and smeared cinnnamon on the cuts. It is ok for now. But it was close. I couldn't believe how fast the black rot came on. I watch my plants very closely. In fact I dote on them. Anyway;..... that is what I would do with this plant. Hope all goes well.

Thanks for the great advice James The flower is still beautifully scented, but I will be giving this a repot, and dusting with Cinnamon. Unfortunately, I don't have any physan .I'll be looking at antifungals next shopping day [have to pick up some potting soil etc]

You really have given me hope that this Precious could recover Thanks again, Fiona