B. cordata... Why is the baby leaf which it has black on it.

[DeafOrchidLover]

Hi! Had this for few months. There are few-several leaves that turns yellow which I know is normal. But this lit baby leaf, blackness started from bottom to up. I wonder what is wrong with it. . Yes, fairly new to brassosvola, and it's so lovely orchid which I got for my husband past July...
Any help, advices and tips which I would greatly appreciate. And also how to grow them.

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You can see the lit baby leaf which it has black on it. What is causing it? Hmmm...


That's what it looks like right now...


Other pic again, as you can see the black on it one leaf.

Looking forward to hear from you! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Psst! If you click on 1st and 3rd pic and enlarge the pic, it's on slightly left, near the pot. (Not in middle of plant, hee! Goof luck!) I hope you guys can see it.


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[Leafmite]

Remove the growth and begin using a Calcium supplement like Cal-mag right away. Also, for long term, add some egg or oyster shell (the egg shells release calcium as they decompose so it doesn't work right away).
The Cattleya family seems to require extra calcium.

[isurus79]

Yep, good a cal/mag supplement is always a good thing with this group. However, it looks like you have your cordata planted in spag? If so, you might not have a calcium deficiency as much as you just have plain old rot! These guys like to dry off completely before being watered again. The cool temps of growing areas in winter plus excess moisture will rot these guys pretty quickly.

[DeafOrchidLover]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Remove the growth and begin using a Calcium supplement like Cal-mag right away. Also, for long term, add some egg or oyster shell (the egg shells release calcium as they decompose so it doesn't work right away).

The Cattleya family seems to require extra calcium.

Leafmite, thank you sooo much! I didn't know that it requires calcium. I got catteyla as a early Christmas gift. I was soooo shocked n didn't expect this. It's new to me. More leaf falling off , grrr... I prob will inbox you for some more infos... Thank you again!

One more thing, calcium... Are you saying that I would have to use calcium pill and crush it? Mix it with rainwater? Or what? It sounds stupid question lol... Where can I get them? Thank you... :/


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[DeafOrchidLover]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Yep, good a cal/mag supplement is always a good thing with this group. However, it looks like you have your cordata planted in spag? If so, you might not have a calcium deficiency as much as you just have plain old rot! These guys like to dry off completely before being watered again. The cool temps of growing areas in winter plus excess moisture will rot these guys pretty quickly.

Well, it was like that when I bought them at orchid show. Was it not supposed to be in moss? I did check the roots, most of it looks good and some root are flat, probably rot. Should I change the potting media? What should I use? Thank you very much...


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[Leafmite]

isurus79 is right that sphagnum moss isn't the best medium. I have one of these mounted and the other in a clay pot with no medium.
I went through the 'Black Plague' when most of my Cattleyas and a few others were hit by whatever it is that yours has. My nodosa was the first victim. I was doing two things wrong. I was planting my orchids a bit too low in the medium and my orchid fertilizer did not have calcium. Now when I pot orchids, only the roots are going down into the medium.
Calcium can be satisfied in many ways. Ask at a gardening center and they should be able to fix you up. I just use the egg and oyster shell.
Good luck!

[DeafOrchidLover]

It looks like rot roots but there are some good root. Isurus79 is right... I'm gonna add pictures, three of them... Leafmite, I took moss out and clean most of it out. I found lit bark inside the root. Oh well. Here is the pictures.

It's roots... Tell me what do you guys think of? Thank you... I really appreciate your advices...


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[LovePhals]

The roots don't look awful. They can grow. They are white that's good. I had black rot too. I used calcium as recommended. I think someone actually recommended dried milk, which I use!! Haven't had a problem since on my Cattleya's. I use it once a month and flush it through. I may start using egg shells instead good idea!

[wintergirl]

It's a good idea to dry the egg shells first, then boil them. Then let them dry again and crush/grind up. Chicken/eggs have many diseases, I boil the shells.

[DeafOrchidLover]

Originally Posted by LovePhals

The roots don't look awful. They can grow. They are white that's good. I had black rot too. I used calcium as recommended. I think someone actually recommended dried milk, which I use!! Haven't had a problem since on my Cattleya's. I use it once a month and flush it through. I may start using egg shells instead good idea!

How do you do with dried milk? I'd be glad to. Sprinkle?? Flush it through? (With dried milk or what? Because i did some researching. It says it can flush through with raw water along with calcium... Hmmm I don't know. I'm cattleya newbie and rookie.) do have some egg shells that I just opened today and cooked some scrambled eggs, ha ha! Ofc with hardwood smoke thick bacon and toast. I better stop or someone is gonna get hungry after reading this. Just joking... I do have a new cattleya as early Christmas gift. I did repot it recently. I will post a pic of new cattleya tomorrow, need to take a pic.

Yes the roots do look well but I noticed roots are dried, hard, and flat. I've also felt good alive roots, so I believe that's good news. I hope so.
Thank you very much!

Again, I have a question. What is raw water? Is it from tap water or what? I'm not using my water, it's well-spring water, I do drink it. I do have rainwater that I saved for winter.



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