Cattleya leaf problem

[Roberta]

I concur with the general consensus - sunburn. The seasonal shift in sun can totally surprise you - and the plant... a sudden blast of light and heat, rather than gentle increase. For toasting leaves, the most dangerous time at my house is right around the vernal equinox in March when the sun suddenly clears the house or trees. Second most dangerous for me is the fall where again sudden sun shifts, accompanied by the seasonal hot, dry conditions, also can cause burns. For those growing behind a window, it may be summer instead but the common thread is rapid change. Vigilance is vital...also taking notes (and putting them on the calendar) can be useful, because the pattern is likely to repeat next year.

[littleflower]

Thanks so much for all the great information!

[JScott]

I have burned the heck out of plenty of plants due to being negligent about moving them accordingly as the sun changes position through the year. For me, the most dangerous time is fall. As the sun gets lower in the sky, the direct light creeps closer and closer to the side of the house, and stays there longer, and the covering on the patio doesn't protect them because the sun has gotten so low in the sky and the light creeps in under the patio (this patio faces south). As fall approaches, I have to keep moving the plants further from the edge of the patio and closer to the wall of the house, until finally there's no way to keep them safe and I have to bring them inside, or if the weather is still nice, I move them off of that patio to the northeast patio. They don't get enough sun there to leave them there all year, but it's sufficient to let them enjoy just a few more weeks of the nice fall weather.