Porroglosum mucosum Yellow

[Lian]

Hi!

I’m Lian. I’m fairly new to orchids and got four mini orchids last month. I’m planning a terrarium, and my Porroglossum mucosum keeps losing leaves.
I’m almost sure it’s a fungus problem, but maybe someone with experience can offer some help. I really don’t want to lose this plant.

Thank you all!

[Roberta]

Welcome!

Can you tell us more about your growing conditions? Temperature range, light, humidity... Also, did you just receive this plent (maybe it already had problems?) or is this something that has been devloping over some time?

These little Pleurothallids in general like to be fairly cool, and hate to dry out - they come from very humid cloud forest. But also need good air circulation. Is it mounted or potted?

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

I think you mean Porroglossum muscosum. You can read about growing conditions for orchid species at orchidspecies.com . The key to temperature symbols is on the home page. With this plant the growing temperatures are shown as cold to cool, meaning:

• Cold = 2500 Meters and Up, 50 F to 58 F night average (10C-15C)
• Cool = 1800 to 2500 Meters, 58 F to 66 F night average (15C-19C)

Days may be warmer but should not be too warm; perhaps not over 25C / 77 F. Cloud forest species struggle when nights are too warm, or when relative humidity is too low.

[Lian]

Hi!

I placed it in my terrarium so maybe was too hot for it (I live in north germany and we just had summer)
its an old closed aquarium(?) I think it had some fungus problem before. I put here some photos of the plant.
Thank you for your answer!!

[Roberta]

I don't see photos. To post photos, from the "Quick Reply" dialog box, click on Go Advanced. Then scroll down to "manage attachments". When you click that, you'll get a pop-up, Select your photos, then click Upload. When you post, the photos will be there. (maybe sideways... a "feature" of the old software, but we're used to it if it happens)
Some people have said that one needs 5 posts to show photos, but I see photos from new members so I think it will work for you.

[Lian]

Ouch yea they didnt make it... I hope this time it does
Thank you!!

[Roberta]

That works... on the second photo, that almost looks like sunburn. Heat damage maybe. The yellow leaf will drop - these plants do lost the occasional leaf naturally. But you do need to keep this plant cool That does look like a healthy plant.

Did you receive the plant in the pot with sphagnum? You might consider sliding it out of the pot to examine the condition of the roots, and the sphagnum at the bottom of the pot. Youi don't need to remove any of the sphagnum unless you need to replace it, just taking it out of the pot won't disturb roots, but it will let you see if there is a problem hiding.

The clay pot can be very helpful in keeping roots cool - it is wet and the evaporation provides cooling. Sphagnum does break down, so you want to be sure that it is not compacted - air is so very important.

[Lian]

So I guess too much light...
Yes it has a mix of spagnum and perlite. I think the roots seem to be okay. I will try to repot it into a clay pot

[Roberta]

Those roots look grsat and the moss looks fresh. You can put it back into the same pot. Another trick... you can put it, in its clay pot, into another clay pot just a little larger (no more medium). There will be an air space between the pots, and the outer clay pot will also wick and evaporate water, giving even more cooling. The plant will tolerate heat better if its roots are cool, so anything you can do to facilitate that, is good.

[Lian]

oh okay so I will leave it for now in the same pot and hope that it does well

Thank you so much for your help!!