Dendrobium Proud Appeal Leaf Curl

[DSDNYC]

I need some help with this very popular orchid: Dendrobium (Proud Appeal). I am fairly new to orchids but seem to be able to grow a wide selection with success, but not this one. This plant seems healthy, but some of the leaves are severely curled. I thought it was a water problem, but now I'm not so sure.

help!

David

[Dorne]

I have the same issue, won't call it a problem as starting to think somehow it is normal. I live in the Dominican Republic and humidity never drops below 75% plus I water enough so no, its not related.

I know that in 'ordinary' plants leaves curl due to lack of water but that simply isnt the case in this instance.

Dorne

[Dorne]

ha ha.. I notice i'm classed as a Jr. Member. I wonder if that is because I am new on here because after 39 years of growing orchids I doubt it is due to lack of experience.

[catwalker808]

Proud Appeal is a fairly complex intersectional den hybrid. Someone can look it up, but if I recall, it has latouria, phalaenospsis, spatulata, formosum from various hybrid and species sources. These all have very differing plant forms, and therefore, very different leafing habits. Compare this with a cocker spaniel's long drooping ears x doberman with small perky ears x another dog with long upright ears (I don't really know a lot about dogs).

The point is, with the various sized ears (leaves) pointing in various directions, the leaves of Proud Appeal do tend to go in various directions. In addition, when leaves grow lush and quickly as yours seem to be (they are very green and the young leaves seem to be soft and droopy), they harden up crooked and droopy rather than upright when the develop more slowly and harden up in a more upright position.

Another less desireable possibility is that when a very complex hybrid like this is cloned in large numbers, or if clones are repeatedly cloned, mutations can occur. One difference in plant growth can be that the new growth is a little disorganized, with multiple simultaneous new growths instead of single or few discrete new growths.
Hopefull your plant is of the first condition and not a mutant. The plant does not seem to have a lot of random new growths.

[DSDNYC]

thanks for the advice. Much appreciated.

[Shirley]

Originally Posted by Dorne

ha ha.. I notice i'm classed as a Jr. Member. I wonder if that is because I am new on here because after 39 years of growing orchids I doubt it is due to lack of experience.

Dorne, Everyone who joins OB begins as a Jr. Member. It's not to do with age or experience, but to the number of posts that you've made. I think it might change when you have 30 posts but I'm not positive about that.
Welcome to the Orchid Board. It's nice to have someone with your experience become a member. I'm sure you'll be a great asset.

[Dorne]

aaahhh right, well thank you for clearing that up for me ^__^

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Dorne

ha ha.. I notice i'm classed as a Jr. Member. I wonder if that is because I am new on here because after 39 years of growing orchids I doubt it is due to lack of experience.

Yeah, your title and the number of flowers next to your name are based on number of posts. You become a 'Member' at 30 posts, and 'Senior Member' at 100 posts (which is when you also get your first flower).

As Shirly said, welcome to Orchid Board . It's always good to have people with your years of experience with growing orchids, to help relative beginners like me (just over 18months since I bought my second orchid after realising I had failed to kill the first ).

[Dorne]

hey Rosie thanks for that. As regards experience and Phalaenopsis believe it or not only now have I got to grips with 'growing' them instead of killing them. All those that say they are easy are nuts in my opinion. Get the crown or leaves wet and they go splat. Also noted that commercial growers 'top up' the moss on top of the pots not leaving enough bare space around the base of the crown. Get rid of most of the moss so they grow almost bare rooted in the pot and keep the leaves n crown dry and hey presto.. new leaves instead of dead plants... for me anyway.

[calvin_orchidL]

Originally Posted by catwalker808

Proud Appeal is a fairly complex intersectional den hybrid. Someone can look it up, but if I recall, it has latouria, phalaenospsis, spatulata, formosum from various hybrid and species sources. These all have very differing plant forms, and therefore, very different leafing habits. Compare this with a cocker spaniel's long drooping ears x doberman with small perky ears x another dog with long upright ears (I don't really know a lot about dogs).

The point is, with the various sized ears (leaves) pointing in various directions, the leaves of Proud Appeal do tend to go in various directions. In addition, when leaves grow lush and quickly as yours seem to be (they are very green and the young leaves seem to be soft and droopy), they harden up crooked and droopy rather than upright when the develop more slowly and harden up in a more upright position.

Another less desireable possibility is that when a very complex hybrid like this is cloned in large numbers, or if clones are repeatedly cloned, mutations can occur. One difference in plant growth can be that the new growth is a little disorganized, with multiple simultaneous new growths instead of single or few discrete new growths.
Hopefull your plant is of the first condition and not a mutant. The plant does not seem to have a lot of random new growths.

Great info! Thanks...this is the first intergeneric formosaexlatouria hybrid I've ever seen