Rhynchostylis Coelestis looking droopy...

[OrchidLoverSA]

Hey guys, I need some advice...

Amongst others, I bought a Rhynchostylis Coelestis in bloom about two weeks ago at a show. The vendor said it wants vanda culture and that it is fine with drying out during the day. It is mounted bare root on a piece of wood and it was bought in flower.

Now, the problem: Within a week of hot SA autumn weather its roots started shriveling up. After that the bottom leaves started curving down in a somewhat wonky manner. I think I once read somewhere that vanda type orchids do that when upser?

Anyway, I thought it was a humidity problem, so I wrapped the whole mount in sphag to try to keep it wetter for longer. It is still dry by the end of the day, but there is no way it can sleep outside in the greenhouse, the nighttime temps are too cold...

So, do you think I'm saving it or killing it?

P.S. The flowers got the cut as soon as the orchid started looking stressed.

[BradGC]

Id say that you need a Photo to help diagnose the problem.

Sometimes the bottom leaves will yellow when it has been relocated, especially if the temp is cooler in the new place.

the spag should be ok as long as it keeps it wet for a good hour or so, but if its bone dry after the hour, it might need 2 waterings during the day.

[WhiteRabbit]

I don't know how cool your night temps in your greenhouse are ...? I believe this species can take some cooler temps http://www.orchidspecies.com/rhyncoelestis.htm

If it's too dry, you might also try growing in a basket or clay pot with some well draining and fast drying media.

[OrchidLoverSA]

The problem is in winter it can go down to freezing here at night. If I keep it in one of the closed rooms in the house, it can get up to 25 degrees C during the day, and the residual heat should be enough to keep it happy at night. I'm sure it's not a temp problem though, unless it's a question of "too hot".

Now it stays wet for a couple of hours, and the leaves haven't yellowed yet, they are just beginning to arc down. Nor do they feel "floppy".

I'll try to post a photo soon.

Thanks for the replies!

[Discus]

Not sure where you are in SA, but if it's hot and dry (it isn't at the moment around here), my mounted Rhynchostylis coelestis gets watered several times a day (during high summer); you're best off watering it, waiting 10 minutes or so and watering it again, so the roots get properly wet. In winter, it's only every day or two. I try and avoid wetting the leaves of mine. My roots dry out daily; I don't think they like wet feet for too long.
The older roots seem to die off seasonally too, with only this year's making it through winter before the new growth in spring. That said, mine bloomed months ago (4 spikes!!! which I never got around to photographing), not now.

It's also possible it's coming to the end of it's blooming; the flowers on mine last about 3 weeks.

I believe in their native habitat, they are prone to a "dry season".

Any idea what the humidity is like in that room? It might be very dry, particularly in the highveldt.

[OrchidLoverSA]

Well, I live around Johanesburg, so it gets pretty dry. Especially now; we don't get rain in winter. Anyhow, the room it's in is pretty dry, but it's in there with about 80 of its other orchid friends and they all seem ok with the humidity. And it is now wrapped in sphag, which stays wet for hours, so that should help, shouldn't it? With regards to flowering, perhaps it was imported?

[Vanda lover]

The sphag should help. We have very dry summers here, and mine are in baskets with sphag and charcoal. This way they only need watering every few days in summer and once a week during the winter.

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by BradGC

Id say that you need a Photo to help diagnose the problem.

Sometimes the bottom leaves will yellow when it has been relocated, especially if the temp is cooler in the new place.

the spag should be ok as long as it keeps it wet for a good hour or so, but if its bone dry after the hour, it might need 2 waterings during the day.

Actually Brad, leaf drop would be associated with too high heat with no air movement or even direct sun. Leaves drop to reduce how much water it loses to the heat. More leaves means more surfaces for moisture to leave the vanda. Cheers!

And to make a suggestion about your Rhynco; High heat/high light must be accompanied by good air movement especially if you are increasing your humidity. Also high temps mean you give it a good soaking in the mornings and maaaybe in the evening with just enough hrs before nightfall for leaves to dry. But with watering once a day, mist! Misting is a good way to give the vanda moisture. Get some mist on the roots and on the leaves during the day assuming its not in direct sunlight which it SHOULDN'T be. And feed your plant. Don't be afraid to feed it every other day; its summer time! Its active grow time and growing boys and girls need to be fed!
Just a bit of knowledge; when you soak the roots to capacity of what they can absorb the remaining droplets that cling to the roots is what the plant absorbs through the air as water vapor (humidity)
Boom!
Now get this guy turning around and blooming again. (Only direct morning sun & 45-50% direct light from midday onward).

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[Discus]

Originally Posted by OrchidLoverSA

And it is now wrapped in sphag, which stays wet for hours, so that should help, shouldn't it? With regards to flowering, perhaps it was imported?

If the root problem is indeed lack of moisture, yes, sphag around the roots definitely helps, but don't overdo it as you can "drown" roots that aren't used to growing with too much water next to them.

re: importation, it's a definite possibility if you got it at a show, but I guess it also depends on the vendor you got it from. Also, if you have enough control over your growing conditions and understand a particular plant's flowering "triggers" you can make it come into bloom pretty much when you want it to. [like the "cold snap" for phalaenopsis].

---------- Post added at 05:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:51 PM ----------

As long as it's above about 60% RH, it should be OK. Other plants certainly help, particularly if they're "shut in" to that room. If you don't have one in there, fans really help orchids, particularly when windows are closed (even at night). Even a smallish oscillating desk fan arbing about on the floor will make a difference.

H2O sell some pretty nifty humidifiers, but they are expensive and break quite easily.

[OrchidLoverSA]

Perhaps I'll try a fan, but I seem to have solved the problem: It's looking much happier and is even growing a new leaf. I guess I picked up on it's stress early and so it didn't even start dropping leaves.

I don't really want to invest in a humidifier, since everyone lives in the greenhouse for most of the year, and the rest of the family might object to me turning the guest bedroom into a jungle...

Thanks for all the help guys!