Den. unicum - just arrived - leaves yellowing/spots

[Stevie_White]

I just got my new unicum in, and in about 36 hours I had to take the two leaves pictured off due to their going from a normal appearance to this.

They are developing brown spots surrounded by green as the rest of the leaf yellows. Is this a pest (mites)? I see no bugs on them, and the two canes are still growing.

Is it possible that this is cold damage? I live in Northern Idaho, but we haven't had any temperatures below freezing while these were in transport.

All assistance is appreciated!

[Ray]

It could simply be reacting to the stress of travel plus a new environment. It looks to be a pretty healthy plant, otherwise.

[Toadwally]

Uncommonly, I've had that happen with new vandas. 1-2 lraves as they adjust to new environment.

[Roberta]

I'm actually surprised that it had leaves - the species is deciduous. So I think just an adjustment to a new home that may be cooler and drier than where it was grown. I'd expect it to lose the rest of its leaves. Normal pattern is flowers from bare canes, followed by new growth or at about the same time. Mine starts new growth, and blooms on bare canes around June.

Mine is mounted, so dries quickly when it gets wet. I don't dry it out at all, and it doesn't seem to matter. A potted plant could be watered more lightly, but not bone dry rest. (It gets humidity and dew in its habitat even when it doesn't get rain)

[Roberta]

Looking at that plant, I'd repot it - it has a nice new growth. Also, as it matures, the canes tend to become pendant. So you may want to choose a pot that is wider than it is tall.

Just for grins, here's mine, so you know what to look forward to. It's mounted, lives outside (so gets pretty cold, 40F/4 deg C nights lately) The bare plant that I'm holding is what it looks like right now, typical January. (It may look dead or dying, but definitely isn't) Other pictures show what it looked like last May/June, and I expect will do the same this year.

And Den hekousense... here it is today (typical January) , and the same plant at the beginning of last September. Normal bloom time is August/September

[Stevie_White]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Looking at that plant, I'd repot it - it has a nice new growth. Also, as it matures, the canes tend to become pendant. So you may want to choose a pot that is wider than it is tall.

Just for grins, here's mine, so you know what to look forward to. It's mounted, lives outside (so gets pretty cold, 40F/4 deg C nights lately) The bare plant that I'm holding is what it looks like right now, typical January. (It may look dead or dying, but definitely isn't) Other pictures show what it looked like last May/June, and I expect will do the same this year.

And Den hekousense... here it is today (typical January) , and the same plant at the beginning of last September. Normal bloom time is August/September

Actually Roberta, both of those canes are still growing (the tallest one and the second tallest). It looks like one just started later than the other. That's why I was worried about the leaves dropping. Shouldn't they stay on the cane until it's done growing?

Mounting it is a good idea if it's going to swing down. Do you think I could get away with it right now? It looks like it's already rooted into the moss it's in pretty good. I don't want to kill off the root system by changing it, you know?

[Roberta]

It might be worth waiting, to see what it will do. It's growing a little out of season - in the nursery, I think that it must have been kept pretty warm. For mine (admittedly in a more harsh environment - but probably closer to what it gets in nature) I won't see much growth for another month or more. I just wouldn't worry... let it settle in. Your house is certainly warmer than my outdoors, but probably cooler than what it has had up to now. So it's adjusting. (It is "thinking", "Hey it's not summer any more!).

[Stevie_White]

Will do. Let the little guy settle in and see how it goes. Thanks so much! I'll be back if leaves seem to keep falling.

[estación seca]

You live in Idaho. This is cold damage in shipping. It's impossible to prevent though people try. I strongly recommend you not buy orchids during cold weather.