Yellow Leaf on Cattleya - Help please! ( UPDATE 1/18 -Bad to worse)
 

Hi All -- I don't know what it is lately, but some of my Orchids are having issues -- Maybe it is the dry heat or my watering schedule?

My latest issue is with my awesome Cattleye Blc. Norman's Bay. I was treated to a stunning bloom this past July and the plant has been doing well since -- up until about one week ago.

I repotted the plant about 2.5 weeks ago (first time I have re-potted a Cat), but had to as it appeared to have some sort of pest (Looked like fluffy cotton and spots on the leaves).

During the repotting, I wiped done all the leaves with isopropyl after reading that should help the situation. It seemed to do the trick, but one of the leaves, coming up-out-of the booth pot mix was turning yellow and has a nasty brown spot. Note: I did take a piece of this leave off (with a sterile blade) because it did not look well.

So I am wondering:

1. Did the isopropyl Alcohol do more damage than good? It seemed to solve the issue of the cotton looking pest issue.

2. Is it normal for older leaves of Cattleya's to yellow and die?

I am just trying to learn what happened and see if I need to take any steps to get this plant go gin in the right direction again. Should I take that entire leave off?

As always, many thanks!

Jared

It is normal for old leaves to go yellow and fall off the pbulb.
Joann

Thanks, Joann -- I was concerned that the leaf in question was basically under the potting mix...I will keep an eye on things and hope for the best.

Thanks again,
Jared

The alcohol won't hurt the leaves of orchids but it does harm roots and buds. If your house is dry and warm, I'm guessing this was just a natural thing, as suggested, and nothing to worry about. Sometimes, after repotting, this happens, too, and isn't really a problem. I've just gone through black rot with my cattleyas but my house tends to be cool and humid. In these conditions, I learned that it is best to have the cattleya sitting on top of the medium with just the roots buried. Also, when watering, I have to be more careful not to get water in the new growths. Alcohol works very well stopping brown and black rot. I always keep a bottle or two around for the plants.
Good luck,
leafmite

I agree with Leafmite. Check the depth of the rhyzome. It should be sitting half in, half out of the medium. If planted too deep it can cause the leaves to yellow and fall off and the plant to decline.

I took a closer look at the leave this evening and it looks like it was starting to rot (leave and Pbulb). I removed and fixed the potting material. The rhizome mostly above the potting mixture. I will see how things go.

Thanks,
Jared

Bad to worse...
 

Things are not going so well with my Cattleya...Ever since I repotted it, it seems to be fighting me the whole way. First the yellow leaf, but now, something worse, one of the Pseudo builds has lost the creases and is a bit soft...it also looks like one of the other PB's is heading in that direction as well (BAD!!)....Any advice help? I think it is some sort of fungal infection...I just don't know of anything else that would have cause the issue ...Do the roots look bad? I can not really feel as they always seem to look dry to me (even after watering)
Thanks,
Jared

Now I am thinking the roots do look bad...after reviewing the picture again!

If the pbulbs are wrinkling, the plant is not getting enough moisture. Do your roots turn green with water?
Joann

Not really...The roots are starting to not look good...Some feel rotted...and have the "inner-string" when I pressed them a bit. At this point I am not sure what to do to try and see if I can salvage the plant or cut my losses ...

99% of the time I try to salvage and in my opinion catts are the easiest. Do you have any viable roots?
If not, I have really good luck with water culture to rescue ailing catts.
Joann

How much light is the catt getting? They like as much light as the leaves can take without burning. If they don't get enough light they can't utilize the moisture, and then they start to fail. Be sure to increase the light gradually, every few days.

Thanks for the input... have do another Cattleya about 2 feet from this one (Same window sill) that seems to be doing just fine, but maybe that is getting more sun...I will have to take a look.

I have to say the roots looks bad (dried up and turning brownish)...I am not sure if I should take the plant out of the medium and trim the dead roots or what.? :dunno:

Joanne -- what was the water culture you referred to?

Thanks,
jared