Lc. Jamaica Souvenir 'Elizabeth' x Lc. Mildred Rives 'Orchidglade' AM/AOS

[james mickelso]

When catt flowers start to age they generally just start to dry out and droop. They are quite lovely when fully dried as they become papery but keep some of their colors. When they start to get wet and slimey it is usually some sort of internal damage either from a bacterium or fungal infection. Bugs usually don't do this type damage. I seldom water my bloomers until they are quite dry. In their native environment when an orchid blooms it is during the dry season as this is when their pollinators are flying. During the wet season the pollinators are usually worms or caterpillers. But when the dry comes they pupate and when the flowers open the pollinators hatch out and fly to feed on the nectar. Something like a bacteria or fungal spore got into the rizome or even the single flower stem and attacked the flower. This usually happens as the flowers aren't hatched yet. And that is usually caused by moisture inside the sepals before they open. These flowers were very beautiful. Thanks for sharing them. Here's a pic of a flower (Toshie Aoki) that had dried up and become papery. I have a 16x20 inch black and white print I made of it but can't scan it. I took it with my 4x5 camera and enlarged it in my darkroom.

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

When catt flowers start to age they generally just start to dry out and droop. They are quite lovely when fully dried as they become papery but keep some of their colors. When they start to get wet and slimey it is usually some sort of internal damage either from a bacterium or fungal infection. Bugs usually don't do this type damage. I seldom water my bloomers until they are quite dry. In their native environment when an orchid blooms it is during the dry season as this is when their pollinators are flying. During the wet season the pollinators are usually worms or caterpillers. But when the dry comes they pupate and when the flowers open the pollinators hatch out and fly to feed on the nectar. Something like a bacteria or fungal spore got into the rizome or even the single flower stem and attacked the flower. This usually happens as the flowers aren't hatched yet. And that is usually caused by moisture inside the sepals before they open. These flowers were very beautiful. Thanks for sharing them. Here's a pic of a flower (Toshie Aoki) that had dried up and become papery. I have a 16x20 inch black and white print I made of it but can't scan it. I took it with my 4x5 camera and enlarged it in my darkroom.

Thanks for the response. I was guessing some sort of bacteria or fungus; just didn't wanna think it. I keep them dry; only watering every other day even though its quite hot this spring/summer. I mist them everyday. I sprayed them all with a systemic bactericide/fungicide as well as insecticide. So i think that some of the mist collected in the blooms and since they are in the bay windows which is always open but simply enclosed by a lattice box, it gets quite chilly at night and thus any collected drops is a recipe for disaster.
At least i got to enjoy them for a good while.