Cattleya with crepey (crepe paper like) texture on leaves - Orchid Board

curt.rmqb · #1 01-06-2017, 01:32 AM

Hi guys, and gals. My name is Curt, and I am a new member here, I've read many of the threads, but this is the first time I've posted. I have been growing orchids for about a year, I have about 20 phals, about 30 Cattleyas, and a couple dendrobiums. For a novice I've been very, I don't know if you'd call it beginners luck, or maybe I've just been a good student doing lots of research, but I've had great success. But now I've run into something I'm not familiar with, I'm hoping some of you can help me. I've noticed recently that a few of my Cattleyas have developed a crepe paper like texture to their leaves, and I'm at a complete loss. I've found no reference to this. I don't know what it is, or how to correct? Please help.

Leafmite · #2 01-06-2017, 01:47 AM

Is this actually on the mature leaf or along the stem? If you make five separate posts (perhaps comment on a few different threads), you can add a picture so someone can see what is happening. It is difficult to know if this is a culture problem, a disease, or a spidermite attack.

In the meantime, here is a good link (though you might have already found it): http://staugorchidsociety.org/PDF/Or...ySueBottom.pdf

This doesn't cover everything but it is a good guide for identifying diseases and how to treat them.

Welcome to the forum and I hope you will get the help that you need here and enjoy the fellowship of others who enjoy collecting orchids.

curt.rmqb · #3 01-06-2017, 01:55 AM

It's actually developed on the mature leaves. No I hadn't found that site, I am going there right away. Thank you for your quick reply, and the good feedback.

estación seca · #4 01-06-2017, 02:42 AM

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Do you mean the full thickness of the leaf collapsed to something like crepe paper, or do you mean there is a shiny webbed film over the leaves? The second would be spider mites.

curt.rmqb · #5 01-06-2017, 08:05 AM

Actually Estacion Seca, neither of the descriptions fit. The plants (2) look healthy, they have new growth, and shiny new white roots with beautiful green tips, it's just that the entire length of the mature leaves have a crepey external texture but it doesn't go all the way through the leaf as in top and bottom side, just on the top surface of the leaf. I have inspected the entire plant with a magnifying glass, and I see no sign of any type of parasite.

cattmad · #6 01-06-2017, 08:22 AM

Without a photo it is difficult to make a true assessment but from your comments that it is also affecting other plants it suggests to me from your description that they are under watered and are suffering stress from lack of moisture.
I would be confident to suggest it is not an infestation problem and if the pseudo bulbs are not withering from root problems (such as over watering causing root rot)your concern may be easily overcome by the application of more water. Hope this helps.

curt.rmqb · #7 01-06-2017, 08:43 AM

Thanks Cattmad, that is exactly what I was thinking. I have heard so many horror stories of overwatering, I am inclined to believe that they need more water. I only water at about 7 day intervals. I do have a few psuedobulbs that are a little shriveled also, but no parasites, and no root rot, just lots of new healthy roots, and also new growths.

---------- Post added at 06:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:38 AM ----------

Thank you Cattmad, I was so hoping someone would make that connection, because that is really what I had been thinking but I didn't want to lead you, you guys are much more knowledgeable than I am. I'm just a novice after all. Thank you so very much, and thanks to everyone for trying to help me figure this out.

dounoharm · #8 01-06-2017, 11:04 AM

hi curt! I lived up that way for a while and I found it to be so dry! I grew in a light stand while there, and had an assortment of phals, paphs, and cats....the cats got way too big for my light stand pretty quick, so I had to keep them on big saucers of gravel near windows.

anyway, all the light stand plants had a huge tray of gravel under them, and drained into a big tub of water that the animals loved to drink, lol....to keep the leaves plump, I had to water about every 3-4 days....so, yes, it may be that you aren't watering enough....

we moved down towards Amarillo, and I immediately STARTED BUILDING GREENHOUSES! first was a polycarb covering over a back porch, small and hard to use. just finished number 2, a much larger leanto off the back of a house. my orchids are soo happy now!

curt.rmqb · #9 01-06-2017, 12:22 PM

I really appreciate the input Dounoharm . And I really think we're on to something here. I am going to start watering on the 3-4 day schedule. I haven't been able to attribute this to anything else, so I'm going to give it a try and see what happens. And thanks to you all for trying so hard to help me out.

fishmom · #10 01-06-2017, 02:22 PM

Welcome, curt. Have you used a bamboo or other wood skewer to monitor the moisture in your pots? It is risky to say "I water every 7 days" or " I will water every 3-4 days" without knowing how much moisture is in the medium at your stated interval.

Also, phals, catts, and dendrobiums each have their own water requirements. My catts do well if they can dry out between waterings, phals not quite so much. Are you able to have different schedules for different plants?