Leaves turning black and red - Orchid Board

mnguyen110 · #1 05-09-2013, 03:18 PM

Hi all,

One of my Catt's leaf is turning black and another red. Is the black caused by baterial? I read the leaf turning red is nothing to be concerned about and that it is a sign of the maxium light it can handle.

What should I do? Cut of the leaves? Use Physan 20?

There is also new growth about 1 high.

Thanks for any advice.

DavidCampen · #2 05-09-2013, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnguyen110

Hi all,

One of my Catt's leaf is turning black and another red. Is the black caused by baterial? I read the leaf turning red is nothing to be concerned about and that it is a sign of the maxium light it can handle.

What should I do? Cut of the leaves? Use Physan 20?

There is also new growth about 1 high.

Thanks for any advice.

That cattleya looks pretty sad. Which is the new pseudobulb? All the pseudobulbs look to be dehydrated. The red leaf does not appear to be the coloration that comes from a lot of light. The black looks like some type of infection. Physan 20 (quaternary ammonium chloride, 20%) might help. I also use copper soap (copper octanoate): Bonide

The plant looks to have multiple problems. What do the roots and potting material look like?

Gage · #3 05-09-2013, 04:11 PM

What kind of light is it getting? What kind of media are you using, and what is your watering schedule?

mnguyen110 · #4 05-09-2013, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidCampen

That cattleya looks pretty sad. Which is the new pseudobulb? All the pseudobulbs look to be dehydrated. The red leaf does not appear to be the coloration that comes from a lot of light. The black looks like some type of infection. Physan 20 (quaternary ammonium chloride, 20%) might help. I also use copper soap (copper octanoate): Bonide

The plant looks to have multiple problems. What do the roots and potting material look like?

This was a new dividsion given to me about 3 months ago with new bark. I'm not sure which are the new pseudobulb that there is a new growth (no in picture). I was watering all my orchids weekly but just increased it to twice a week. Should I repot?

---------- Post added at 12:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:50 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gage

What kind of light is it getting? What kind of media are you using, and what is your watering schedule?

It's under 50% shade cloth along with all my other orchids. It's in just bark and been watering once a week but just recently increase to twice a week.

NYCorchidman · #5 05-09-2013, 05:08 PM

Doesn't look like burning. Some of the leaves have already been trimmed off, possibly due to unsightly area.
The large black patches of irregular shapes....did you pay a lot for this? or does this catt make really wonderful flowers? If not, hmmmm
Get it tested.

It doesn't look any regular bacterial or fungal infections. It could be nothing, you never know.

I personally wouldn't pick a plant with so many questionable marks all over it.

I hope you find out what it is.

Leafmite · #6 05-09-2013, 05:19 PM

If the black is soft and mushy, remove the leaf. If it feels dry and hasn't grown for a few days, no need. It does look bad but it will likely recover. If it is rootless, stake it on top of the media and let the new roots (that come with a new growth) grow down into it. I use red lava rock for cattleyas so I don't need to disturb the roots but there are many mediums that work. Good luck!

NYCorchidman · #7 05-09-2013, 05:21 PM

They appear to look dry and hard.
I've seen lots of these on catts sold at a certain place. I avoid with all my might. lol

james mickelso · #8 05-10-2013, 02:33 AM

It looks like spider mites on the leaf with the old flower stalk that's cut off. The black could be many things. If it is not spreading, leave alone. If it continues to spread, cut it off and dust the cut with cinnamon. The red could be merely coloration. I have some cats with this mottled red coloration and it hasn't affected the plant adversely. But I would carefully pull off the dried sheath on the red pbulb. That is where the new growth is coming from. Clean this plant up and let the new growth be what is important.

mnguyen110 · #9 05-10-2013, 12:57 PM

Here's a picture of the new grow.

---------- Post added at 08:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:54 AM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by james mickelso

It looks like spider mites on the leaf with the old flower stalk that's cut off. The black could be many things. If it is not spreading, leave alone. If it continues to spread, cut it off and dust the cut with cinnamon. The red could be merely coloration. I have some cats with this mottled red coloration and it hasn't affected the plant adversely. But I would carefully pull off the dried sheath on the red pbulb. That is where the new growth is coming from. Clean this plant up and let the new growth be what is important.

Is it spider mites? I assumed it was webbing for the garden spider. Should I also cut of all the old flower stalks closer to the leaves?

james mickelso · #10 05-10-2013, 08:04 PM

All the pbulbs here are spent and doing nothing more than giving up their stores of starch and sugar to the new growing buds. Whatever damage that is being caused them is of little consequence. The important parts of this plant are the new buds. One looks like it is growing very well. There is probably at least one under the dried sheath on that back pbulb in the latest picture. I would very carefully peel off that dried sheath material from it. Bugs of all sorts hide under there and cause damage to the newly developing bud which can't be fixed once the damage is done. There should also be some latent buds on the older pbulbs. When was this repotted? The red coloration could be viral or fungal. But there is little you could do for it at this point. It is already in the tissues. As long as the black areas stay small and don't grow any more let them be. Again the important part of this plant is the new growth. Twice a week seems a little too much to me. Where do you live and what has the weather been like? The red coloration as well as the black could be from too much water. And this plant also looks way over potted. It could be reduced in size by cutting off a couple of back bulbs which have little real value and then repotted into a smaller pot. I'd like to see the rootmass. I doubt there is much of value there from the looks of this plant. It wouldn't hurt it a bit at this point to take it out of the pot, take a bunch of pictures and then trim it and put it in sphagnum moss or bark. The back bulbs which are starting to take on a grayish light brownish coloration can be cut off.