Renanthera Philippinensis is dying!

[kadive]

I got this Renanthera Philippinensis from my last trip to Puerto Rico. The plant was very healthy until i got back home. Leaves are turning yellow, feels like a cracker (dry) and looks like is dying. HELP PLEASE!

[Silje]

Mmm...maybe it's shocked from the changes in the growing environment? Perhaps too low humidity now when you're back at home?

Plants that just up and die can of course also be something in the line of fusarium wilt and probably a lot of other things as well, but since it's been traveling and the conditions have changed, I would put my money on that it dislikes the environmental changes. Perhaps try to provide it with warm and as humid conditions as possible, but at the same time try to maintain some air circulation.

[Vanda lover]

I agree with Silje.

[silken]

How are you growing it? What type of light and temps and how much water? Are you growing it like a Vanda with roots exposed? I was just checking this in Orchid Wiz and the Bakers' cultural notes say it likes to have exposed roots or very open minimal potting media. Very bright light and a somewhat dry period in winter of 3 to 3 months but not staying dry for too long. Also fairly warm temps with lows of 69 or 70F for winter nights and 86 to 88F for the daytime temps in winter.

[kindrag23]

This may be a random question...but is that a root growing off the upper most portion of the stalk? Or is my vision really messing w me?

---------- Post added at 09:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:58 PM ----------

Also it may be throwing a hissy fit like @ silje says. Puerto Rico is really humid and come over here can be quite the shock to a plant.

[kadive]

Yes kindrag23, a root is growing off the upper portion, actually two roots. I'm growing indoors because i live in West Virginia. I water twice a day since i bought it two weeks ago. Temp inside is 70 degrees but where i have all my orchids i cover the vent to so don't get the heat directly. I have them in nice bright room, like i said the rest of my orchids are happy there. I don't know what else to do. When i water this plant the roots don't even change to green like my vandal, this one it's not responding to anything. Thanks for all the feedback!

[silken]

Have you tried some kelp (seaweed) on the roots? I bought a Vanda last Feb. that had very poor desiccated roots and the leaves were quite dry. I used this in my watering routine and soon had new roots sprouting from the old fairly dry ones. It could initiate some new root growth.

[kadive]

How i use the seaweed?

[silken]

Originally Posted by kadive

How i use the seaweed?

Just mix it according to instructions on the package. It comes in liquid and powder forms. Use it when watering your plant or mist it on the roots. The instructions on mine say to only use it for a few weeks and then stop for a month and use again. I mostly use it when I have an orchid with root problems. I give it a good soak in seaweed water and then an occasional watering. It works wonders on some orchids. Most hydroponics places sell it. People in the U.S. also often order from First Rays. He is a member on this board and sells good kelp products among other things.

[Vanda lover]

I found a huge difference when I used seaweed last summer. I'm going to buy some more. I have read that you can order it through Home Hardware in Canada.