ADA (Brassia) aurantiaca
 

A friend has asked for advice about her plant. Never grown, so seeking advice for her. She grows in a net pot, mostly moss medium, cattleya level lighting, constantly sopping wet, humidity 60%+, never over 82F. It sits in a saucer of water, has beautiful roots, but every new shoot is pleated. It does bloom as well.

I have a few Oncidium tribe that occasionally pleat, but in my case it's that I've procrastinated too long to water as mine are grown in SH. She's an experienced grower and doesn't have a clue. Neither do I.

Any idea what's causing the pleating?

Were the leaves pleated when the plant was new? If so I'd guess that it's genetic. I have a Epidendrum hybrid, noturnum x eburneum that has leaves that are sort of pleated looking, but that's just the way it seems to grow.