Laelocattleya leaves rimmed with yellow-brown

[Acharn]

The Cattleya I bought last week has bloomed and I'm delighted. I'm fairly sure it's a Laelocattley hybrid NOID, because I have another that looked much the same when it was in bloom. I noticed when taking a picture today that two of the older leaves are yellow around the edges, and wondered if this is something to be worried about. It's a nice large plant, and there's a new pseudobulb already growing at the other end of the rhizome.

[WhiteRabbit]

[No-Pro-mwa]

Sun burn maybe.

[silken]

Originally Posted by No-Pro-mwa

Sun burn maybe.

My thought as well. Also they look like older leaves and may be slowly dying off.

[bethmarie]

Can you post a couple more pics? of the leaves and whole plant. I wouldn't think sunburn would edge the leaves so uniformly.

[Acharn]

I don't think it's sunburn. I've had some bad luck trying to find a spot with enough sun but not too much, and have scorched some nice plants. They are definitely the oldest leaves on the plant, though, so that may be it, and nothing to worry about (well, I'd like to prevent it but probably can't). Here are some more pictures. I tried putting a ruler in the one picture, but it only shows the length of the current bloom. I guess it's really time to divide the plant, after the blossoms have died.

[silken]

The rest of the leaves and pseudo bulbs look fairly healthy. I think its just old leaves. The plant will adapt better to re-potting if you can wait until you see new root growth before you do it.

[Acharn]

Ah, thanks. That helps clear up what's meant by, "... when you see new growth."

[silken]

Originally Posted by Acharn

Ah, thanks. That helps clear up what's meant by, "... when you see new growth."

Quite often with my Catts, as soon as a bloom is finished, that growth begins either putting out new roots or a new pseudo bulb which may develop new roots at the same time. Established plants adapt to the new media better if there are new roots an inch or less long that haven't adapted to the old media. They adapt more quickly to the new stuff making it easier for the plant to do well after being disturbed.

Of course if the plant is suffering and badly in need of new media to prevent root rot, then I will re-pot immediately.

[Acharn]

Luckily there's no problem with root rot. The roots extend a couple of feet outside the pot and I'm going to have to cut the plastic pot into small pieces to get the plant out without damaging the roots too much.

Probably I should post this as a separate thread, or maybe it's adequately addressed elsewhere, but I'm very confused about how often to water. Last year I watered my Catts every day. Then I say a page at the American Orchid Society website saying that once a week was preferred and that overwatering could prevent blooming. Since they hadn't bloomed, I tried cutting back to watering to once a week, and they seemed to do better with that. they still didn't bloom, but at least they started putting out a spike which died. Now the lady who sold me this one told me I should be watering twice a day, because we're in the hot season here. Obviously she knows how to grow Catts. I've started misting them instead of dunking them, but I really don't know what is the best procedure.

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