Masdevallia Problem - Orchid Board

Bolero · #1 11-01-2009, 03:05 AM

Any thoughts on why these leaves are yellowing like this? I think it's some kind of pest but can't work out the problem. The new leaves are ok and I know the yellowing isn't caused by sunlight.

I have tried fertilising with a bit of Epsom salts to green up the leaves but this isn't working. Any thoughts?

elamental · #2 11-01-2009, 05:37 AM

Hello i don’t know much about masdevallias but i can tell you how i keep mine, i keep them on a tray of sphagnum moss under a big bird’s nest fern on the floor of a south facing conservatory, so they nice and cool with lots of humidity and in the shade (i may not be looking after them correctly according to the books but they are doing very well at the moment!!).
One of my hybrids did the same thing in the leaves are turning yellow and there being new leaves coming, i don’t think you have a pest or infection effecting the plant, i think it is just losing its old leaves to make way for new ones.
Hope this helps
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pekind4ever/4063740792/
Ps Im a bit new to posting and putting info on here

Bolero · #3 11-01-2009, 06:59 AM

Hi elemental, thanks for the info. Normally Masdevallia leaves don't age and make way for the new ones like they might on some other orchid types. Usually Masdevallias keep all their leaves, so if something like this is happening there must be a reason.

Lagoon · #4 11-01-2009, 07:29 AM

I'm not sure whats going on with yours Darren.
I do have 2 masdies that do shed their leaves (one of them) a few times per year, this is how I know its going to bloom.
Normally when the leaves do reappear is double and triple the leaf count then before. So some madies do have this habit, maybe this is one of them?

Bolero · #5 11-02-2009, 01:00 AM

Ok thanks, I hadn't seen that happen before so maybe that's part of the process.

Thanks again.

Tele fan · #6 11-14-2009, 07:26 PM

Your plant looks like it is sulking. Some of the new growths are starting to yellow and the leaves do not seem to be very glossy like new growths should be. I would try a different location that perhaps the light would be reduced. I have 4 tanks that I grow Masdie's in (t-5 lights) and I have used shade cloth in one of them. Plants that start to yellow go in there right after I check the roots for rot.

Bolero · #7 11-25-2009, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tele fan

Your plant looks like it is sulking. Some of the new growths are starting to yellow and the leaves do not seem to be very glossy like new growths should be. I would try a different location that perhaps the light would be reduced. I have 4 tanks that I grow Masdie's in (t-5 lights) and I have used shade cloth in one of them. Plants that start to yellow go in there right after I check the roots for rot.

Hi and thanks for the advice.

I repotted the plant and it had a huge and healthy root system, I rarely rot Masdevallias in this climate. I think it got some kind of infection and I'm not sure from what. But I have cut the older leaves and potted up in a fresh sphagnum moss. It is looking better already with fresh new growths coming through now.

Fingers crossed it looks ok. It's funny but it's the only plant out of about 60 of them that this happened too.