Doritis pulcherrima var. coerulea Yellow Leaves

[Clawhammer]

Do all three plants have healthy roots growing into the media? It is hard to tell from the pics. I would expect more green roots in the media from 3 plants. The two with prominent air roots look much worse than the other one. Perhaps those two are nutrient deficient from having only air roots?

[estación seca]

Light green color is caused by high light or by low nitrogen, magnesium or iron. I doubt phosphorus or potassium are the cause. Calcium deficiency wouldn't produce nice big, thick leaves. I would up the nitrogen and magnesium. Maybe water with tap water and save the RO for plants that really need it. Is there any iron in your tap water?

I still think it's possible your plants are normally that color.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Clawhammer

Do all three plants have healthy roots growing into the media? It is hard to tell from the pics. I would expect more green roots in the media from 3 plants. The two with prominent air roots look much worse than the other one. Perhaps those two are nutrient deficient from having only air roots?

Yes, a LOT of active root growth in the medium. I do have trouble with aerial roots in this section with phals and their kin, because there are auto misters close by so humidity is high. Aerial roots also get same fertilized RO water as what goes into the pot. I'll just unpot one of them in a couple days to check it out, and take a picture.

---------- Post added at 12:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:42 PM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

Light green color is caused by high light or by low nitrogen, magnesium or iron. I doubt phosphorus or potassium are the cause. Calcium deficiency wouldn't produce nice big, thick leaves. I would up the nitrogen and magnesium. Maybe water with tap water and save the RO for plants that really need it. Is there any iron in your tap water?

I still think it's possible your plants are normally that color.

They've been under some pretty high light. I just gave them a straight tap water flush yesterday. Don't know about iron in my tap water... I'll check. Funny you should mention the light green color caused by high light. I know this, but rarely think about it. Most of what I grow gets that reddish/purple blush in high light. I'm having trouble getting a light enough green on my cymbs (lack of spiking). I think I'll get longer chains for the light over them, and perhaps put in a second set of lights.

[estación seca]

Given that information I bet it's high light.

[Clawhammer]

I've not really noticed phals that get too much light having light green leaves (like cattleya or vandas). They usually show anthocyanins and get a dry edge.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Clawhammer

I've not really noticed phals that get too much light having light green leaves (like cattleya or vandas). They usually show anthocyanins and get a dry edge.

Whether they show anthocyanins depends a lot on how much they have - if the flowers are dark, that's true. But a a Doritis pulcherrima coerulea likely has very light flowers, with coerulea on the lip. So I wouldn't expect that result. If light that is on the high side is an issue, maybe like a blonde going outside in midsummer without sunscreen...

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

The leca is fresh, way less than a year in the pot. No idea how it could have a mineral buildup with RO water and weak fertilizer. I have plants that have been in same leca for three years or more, and mineral buildup has never been an issue. I don't use bark, and do plan on mounting one sooner or later.

No offense intended, even if it sounds that way, but...
Throw in the trash?!? tmoney, that doesn't even make sense to me. Why would you throw a growing plant in the trash that has a slight problem?

Have you considered a Kelpak treatment? I'm just reaching here. I really don't know what the issue could be.

[tmoney]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

The leca is fresh, way less than a year in the pot. No idea how it could have a mineral buildup with RO water and weak fertilizer. I have plants that have been in same leca for three years or more, and mineral buildup has never been an issue. I don't use bark, and do plan on mounting one sooner or later.

No offense intended, even if it sounds that way, but...
Throw in the trash?!? tmoney, that doesn't even make sense to me. Why would you throw a growing plant in the trash that has a slight problem?

hahaha, yeah, i know. i am ruthless with underperforming plants. a lot of reasons to get rid of them!! more space for fresh, good plants. can't spread bugs or disease. save water for ones that grow well. those are just the first 3 reasons i thought of. but you are right, don't give up so easily....

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by tmoney

hahaha, yeah, i know. i am ruthless with underperforming plants. a lot of reasons to get rid of them!! more space for fresh, good plants. can't spread bugs or disease. save water for ones that grow well. those are just the first 3 reasons i thought of. but you are right, don't give up so easily....

Not to mention the the waste of a good opportunity to learn a little more.
While there's green there's hope!

[WaterWitchin]

tmoney... I wouldn't consider them under-performing. They were bare root seedlings in June 2022. Two had three leaves, the other two leaves. Three very short roots on two of them, two very short roots on another. Look at the picture eight months later. It does take a bit of time to grow from seedling to blooming size ya know. There is something to be said for buying a blooming size plant. There's also something to learn by taking one from infancy to adulthood. As rbarata mentions, it's done for the learning experience.

Dusty... I have been using Kelpak on it, but it's a good idea to try if I wasn't. I use Kelpak maintenance dose on everything once a month. They got a soak then once a week for three weeks when I first received them.

Roberta... I remember being a summer blonde on the beach. Good times. Now I highlight in gray.