Bollopetalum Midnight Blue leaves dying - Orchid Board

Michelle15 · #1 02-21-2016, 09:26 PM

I purchased a Bollopetalum Midnight Blue 2 years ago. It was in bloom when I purchased it and it bloomed very nicely for me last spring. Sometime last summer some of the older leaves started to yellow and die, but I was getting new growths so I didn't worry too much. But then the new growths started to die as well. I will get a new leaf growth, the new leaves are always much thinner and longer than the older ones present at purchase and they don't spread out much, a new pbulb forms, then the leaf tips brown, the leaves get pale and/or brown spots on them, yellow and die. I had two larger, 1 small and 1 new growth and new roots, and I noticed the largest of the newer leaves was getting spots. I had never repotted it, had thought it was in sphagnum moss. The other day I decided to repot, and found it was potted with a little moss but the rest was a peat based potting soil.
The roots look rather good. I had to cut out about 1/3 of them as they were rotten but there were a lot of roots. I repotted in a 50:50 mix of sphagnum and a coarse bark mix.
Since the repotting I noticed brown spots on the 2 smaller growths I swear were not there beforehand. I also accidentally broke off one of the larger growths.
I have this plant under LED lights, cannot put in a window as I have cats that will eat it. I did not see any obvious bugs
Are the leaves getting burned? Is this a virus? It is with other orchids and their leaves look fine.

estación seca · #2 02-22-2016, 06:48 PM

I don't grow this, but it looks like the humidity might be too low.

Also, the plant isn't getting enough water. This could be caused by dead roots, so the plant can't absorb water, or you not watering enough.

If you search Orchid Board on the name you will find a few threads detailing how people grow it. Use the Search function in the top maroon menu.

Michelle15 · #3 02-22-2016, 09:27 PM

I keep this one pretty wet as I know they don't like to dry out, now that I have it in a clear pot so I can watch the roots for rot I'll try watering it more often. Roots were not too bad, had some dead ones but most were healthy looking. I have humidity trays but I usually can't get the RH more than mid 40s. I can try misting it daily.

estación seca · #4 02-22-2016, 11:34 PM

Mid 40s is pretty low for most Zygopetalum hybrids as I recall. You can move a lot of leafy water-thirsty house plants around it, or you can get an ultrasonic humidifier. Misting doesn't do much since the water evaporates so fast from the leaves.