Onc. 'Sharry Baby' losing leaves

[Katalyst]

Hi there,
I've had a Sharry Baby for 3 years, within the last year all of the old leaves have yellowed and fallen off, leaving only old, leafless pseudobulbs. However, every year, this year included, the new growth looks great, and sends up a flower spike in late summer. I see folks with these amazing full Sharry Baby's, that hang on to their old leaves and look great! Not mine. Two old leaves left, and they're on their way out. The tips start yellowing so I trimmed them off, then this happens (see pics). Any thoughts on why this is happening? Thanks for your help!

[lepetitmartien]

If it has never been repotted, it should…

It's the oldest leaves, leaves die one day you know. If the leaves just fall and nothing more happens it's just the death of the oldest leaves.

We can't see the small spots, can you show them to us, are they new?

[Katalyst]

Lol, yes, I realize leaves die. Ha!! However, many Sharry babys I see hang onto to their old leaves and look great. Mine just becomes old leafless psuedobulbs and the new growth. The leaves actually don't fall off, I can't stand to look at them when they're all yellow and spotty. I just end up cutting them off when they get super ugly. It's started doing this in the last year. Maybe it just needs to repotted and isn't a disease (fingers crossed)?

I'll repot it today. It was repotted 2 years ago.

Here's a pic of the spots/yellow leaf. The spots aren't too new. When the plant used to hang onto it's old leaves for bit most of the old leaves were green with these dark spots (but no spreading yellow).

Thanks for your help. Much appreciated!

[james mickelso]

Salt buildup can caused spots but I feel this may be fungal in nature. I would repot as this new growth has put out new roots. When you have the roots cleaned off (carefully) dip them in a bath of fungicide for a minute. Then repot into a medium bark/sponge rock mix. Then spray the rest of the plant with the fungicide. Then drench the roots in another two weeks. I have been able to get rid of these spots before. Also is the water you use on these fairly free of salts? Do you use good clean (low dissolved solids) water to water this? Should be lower than 100 ppm total dissolved solids.Most orchids like good clean water to thrive which is why we buy orchids from growers and they are fiull and healthy (they should be anyway) and we get them and they decline. My major concern here is why you only get one new growth per season. You should get two growths off each pbulb and even off the older pbulbs. Oncids like a medium to medium high light level with moist (not wet) media and warmth with good air movement. Do you use anything like Superthrive or KelpMax to stimulate the roots? Does your fert contain enough calcium or magnesium or like Ray said boron? Is it getting enough fresh air movement? Is the medium under the roots staying wet and stale? Oncids and it's cousins have numerous fine roots and within these roots it can stay fairly wet. Shallow pots or something under the central portion oif the roots will help with this problem. I pile broken up clay pot pieces or rocks under the center of the pot and spread the root mass over this then fill with media. Try it. These pics are of a couple of oncid types that have multiple new growths off each newer pbulb. The last pic is a puzzle as to why this one only had one new growth. I think it was because it didn't have enough vitality to push more than this one. Hope this helps.

[lepetitmartien]

What mix is it in? And how old is it?

I've been mistreating my Sharry Baby (moving to some sorts of S/H) since last fall, and it's still growing like mad.

[WhiteRabbit]

These are prone to spotting, especially in damp air. Can you increase air circulation?

Definitely check the roots. The bract foliage doesn't usually hang around a very long time, but leaves that are on top of the pbulbs should hang around for some time.