Aerangis articuluta leaf yellowing

[floempie01]

Hi!
New user here! not a lot of experience with orchids, starting buying some during corona, to give me something to look after and care for.
Recently my aerangis citrata quickly lost its leaves, and although the roots still look greenish, the stem looks blackened/woodified. Don't know if that is the correct term but it looks like it has turned to wood.

Now my aerangis articulata suddenly has a yellow leaf that also turned completely yellow in about a day. Can this be related? I was thinking virus infection perhaps. I keep my orchids together in a small glass closet, but the other non-aerangis orchids have not been affected, so far.

[Roberta]

First, Welcome!
I doubt that your problems with Aerangis are related to virus, which kills slowly, takes time to get established in the plant, and only can be reliably diagnosed with testing.

Agraecoids, like Vandas, need both humidity and lots of air - the roots need air as much as they need water. They tend to do well mounted, or in very open and free-draining medium. How were you growing your plants? And which other orchids, that are doing better, do you grow. (Different orchids need different conditions).

[estación seca]

Aerangis are not easy for most people to grow in a house. They like high humidity, daily watering in the growing season and daily drying out of the roots.

[floempie01]

Thanks for the info! I decided to cut the yellowing leaf and move the Aerangis away from the other plants. I understand what you say about viruses, but because my other Aerangis had similar issues and my Orchid book advised to cut the affected leaf, I cut it. It felt drastic and I don't know yet whether it was the right decision. I'll have to wait and see if the other leaves stay healthy.
thanks though for the tips, trying to learn.

[Roberta]

I think that if both Aerangis had similar problems and the other orchids didn't, that the problem was related to the specific needs of Aerangis. They grow much like Vandas, but with lower light, and many species can grow cooler than most Vandas but can grow warm too. So the biggest consideration is the water/air situation. Ideally, they grow bare root mounted or in a basket with minimal, fast drying medium, daily watering and daily drying. Losing leaves may be a reaction to not being hydrated enough - either because they aren't getting enough water/humidity or because roots are rotten and so can't absorb water. They respond to "drought" by dropping leaves to conserve water, since leaves transpire moisture.

[floempie01]

Thanks, I guess that is more probable: that the same genus has the same problems, instead of virus infection. I am just surprised about the abruptness of the change -- the aerangis articulata has had the same care for the last 9 month, and then suddenly a leaf turns yellow.

Also, the citrata is so much smaller and with such small leaves (in contrast with the articulata), that I figured the articulata would be a bit more resilient. I still have a Mystacidii outside of the greenhouse, that still looks fine to me.

learning everyday, thanks.

[Roberta]

I have found Aerangis mysticidii one of the easier ones to keep alive. Mine is mounted and is a "root machine". It is also relatively cold-tolerant (nights down to 4-5 deg C are OK)