Encyclia Brown dropped leaves - Help!!!!

[marcoeverard]

This Encyclia Cordigera is getting brown leaves starting at the tip and eventually dropping off. Is this a disease?

[marcoeverard]

It has already lost 1 leaf completely. I think one was already going brown when I bought it last July.

[silken]

I am not much help to you. OrchidWiz says these grow pretty much like regular Cattleyas and can withstand a fair bit of heat in summer. They should be allowed to dry in between watering and not be kept damp in cooler winter temps. I find they have finer roots than most Catts so root rot is a risk. I have one that has never bloomed and yet I can bloom many Catts. I re-potted it a year or more ago and all the pseudobulbs slowly dropped all their leaves I figured it was toast. But gradually those mature bulbs put out a new growth on most of them and I now have 4 or 5 small leafed growths. No blooms still and I feel like it doesn't generate roots real willingly. I even recently tested for ORSV and CMV virus which were both negative. So I am just babying it with some seaweed water when I water and it is on a heat mat.

How are the roots on yours? I feel if they have good roots, you can get them to put out some new growths fairly soon. I also think mine goes into shock easily with any change, based on how it has behaved for me.

[marcoeverard]

I think the roots are ok and I might repot it in spring. I have been watering every couple of weeks. I dont think it is too wet or too dry. Do you think I should cut that leaf off?

[silken]

Originally Posted by marcoeverard

I think the roots are ok and I might repot it in spring. I have been watering every couple of weeks. I dont think it is too wet or too dry. Do you think I should cut that leaf off?

Make sure whenever you re-pot, that there are new roots just starting to grow. Unless it is in bad need of new media and can't wait. You could cut that leaf back just behind the yellow part into good green material and then use a bit of cinnamon to seal the cut. If it an infection, that might stop it.

You could also use a bamboo skewer inserted in the pot to test when it needs water since every 2 weeks doesn't sound like much watering. However over watering can be worse than under watering so the skewer would let you know how wet or dry the media is. Just put it in down fairly deep and leave it there. Replace in the same spot every time so you aren't stabbing multiple roots with it.

[marcoeverard]

I only water once every 2 weeks or so in winter as my orchid house has a fairly constant 80-90% humidity. Everything else is doing pretty well with this regime.

[silken]

Originally Posted by marcoeverard

I only water once every 2 weeks or so in winter as my orchid house has a fairly constant 80-90% humidity. Everything else is doing pretty well with this regime.

What are your day and night time temps in the greenhouse during winter? This one is not a very cool growing plant.

[marcoeverard]

MInimum about 15 deg - max 20 deg

[silken]

Originally Posted by marcoeverard

MInimum about 15 deg - max 20 deg

Should be OK although they actually have it somewhat warmer in the winter during the day. (24 -26) and a larger diurnal range. Still, they likely adapt somewhat.

[marcoeverard]

Thanks. I hope so and I have plenty of other cattleyas and even a vanda that are doing well. I was mainly concerened that it was a fungal infection.