Yellowing tips and black spots

[Pokey49]

I have this problem with the 3 cymbidiums I have. They are blooming nice and seem to be ok otherwise and none of my other orchids exhibit this. I think I am watering and feeding as I should. Temps and light is good too. Can you a newbie on what this is?
Paul

[Cym Ladye]

Originally Posted by Pokey49

I have this problem with the 3 cymbidiums I have. They are blooming nice and seem to be ok otherwise and none of my other orchids exhibit this. I think I am watering and feeding as I should. Temps and light is good too. Can you a newbie on what this is?
Paul

Paul,

There are many different reasons for and types of "yellowing" tips and black spots. Without photos, it is difficult to properly help you with your problem, if it is indeed a problem.

Cym Ladye

[Pokey49]

I will see if I can down load a photo or two. I am not to handy doing that, but will try

[WhiteRabbit]

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ng-photos.html

[Pokey49]

Here are a couple photos of my cyms with yellow tips with black spots and a couple tips that have turned brownish black. Lets see if this works.

[Cym Ladye]

This does not look serious, just a drying out of the plant at some stage. Trim the leaves below the discoloration at a nice angle, and follow good cultural recommendations from now on. Use a fresh razor blade for each plant so as not to transfer any potential plant contaminants as virus.

Fertilizer will accumulate in the tips of the leaves if the plant is allowed to go dry before fertilizing. That is the reason we say to fertilize weekly/weakly. I cannot see the overall condition of the plant, but the leaves would cause me no worry at this point.

If it continues, you may have a broken down mix problem and need to repot in fresh mix. It is good idea to repot all your new plants after they have bloomed so as to get them into a fresh mix and one that works the best for your environment.

Cym Ladye

[Pokey49]

I water the cyms weekly by soaking/flusing them with luke-warm water and then pour copius amount of water with 1/2 strength orchid fertilizer on them. They are crowded in the pots they are in and I do think they need repotting once blooming is finished. One is finished blooming, should I repot now or wait a bit. The one that has finished blooming I only water, with no fertilizer at this time??????

Paul

[Cym Ladye]

For this time of year, you are watering too much. NEVER stop fertilizing Cyms. just adjust the strength; You do not need to soak; You do not need warm water on Cyms; You definitely do not need to soak and saturate all the roots with water before fertilizing.

With all that water, there is a possibility you may have rotted roots on your plants which could contribute to the yellowing and die back of some of the leaves. The best way to kill a Cym is over-watering!

If they are crowded in the pots, plan to repot this spring but do not repot until the weather warms in your area, probably March would be my guess.

Have you referred to the stickies at the head of this discussion group that White Rabbit posted? If not, I recommend highly you do so. If you want the repotting and dividing procedures the Gold Coast Cym Growers use at their annual hands on workshop, please send me a personal note with an email addy to which I can send you an attachment. Many of the forum members have previously done so.

Cym Ladye

[Pokey49]

stickies?? no I was not aware of the stickies, will check that out

---------- Post added at 12:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:09 PM ----------

Cym Ladye- I am not seeing what you refer to as "Stickies"???

---------- Post added at 12:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:12 PM ----------

watering cyms....sounds like I dont need to water them weekly as some other sources suggest? So hard to tell if the roots are dry, moist or wet down in the middle of the pot, so many variations in water requirements between different genuses. But I guess this is how one learns, by killing a few with to much, to little water )

[Cym Ladye]

At the top of this page, just before the threads it says Sticky: Basic Cymbidium culture (links)
WhiteRabbit

There are several good links there to read, especially the one from the CSA. You can also visit the Search icon on the tool bar at the top of the Forum and type in Cymbidium care. Lots to read!!!!!

Frequency of watering is dependent on many factors: temperature, time of year, where it is grown, light, wind, etc. You need to understand what conditions you have for your plants and water accordingly. Orchid culture is different for all genera. What works for Catts will not be the best for Cyms. Learn specifically what each genus wants and then provide it if possible. Personally, I look first to see what I have to provide and then grow the genera that will fit into that culture.

CL