Catasetum lower leaf has yellow edges...

[Yazz]

Bought her a couple of weeks ago from a greenhouse. All was well until the leaf edges started turning yellow.

All my instincts say 'look at the roots!', but have read only repot them in the spring after dormancy.

What could be the problem? Could there be some sort of deficiency?

[Yazz]

Hope a little background will help...

Have drooled over the Fdk. After Dark 'Black Pearl' since I started googling orchids. I know I'm an orchid newby, but we can dream.

So, we were at an orchid greenhouse, great informative people there, leisurely selecting a coveted few to take home. All the shopping was done, we were yacking, when orchids were starting to get taken out of a van.

The owner had been to an orchid show and a guy was showing me the blue ribbon winners. They were so beautiful! Needless to say none of those plants in that crate were for sale. He pulled out another crate and said 'These are for sale.'

Respectfully, I started nosing around in the 'for sale' crate. Down at the bottom, I saw an orchid sign with a picture of the flower of my dreams. "Oh yes, it will be mine..."

She looks like she was raised in a greenhouse. The topdressing was mushy, so picked down to where the lava rock started and replaced it with like-type fresh dressing. What I can see of her roots, they are great with new nubs here and there.

Black Pearl is now in a house with 50% humidity, looking out a bright east facing window, on a humidity tray, getting watered and fertilized three times a week.

The yellow leaf is getting yellower...

What am I doing wrong? Does the change in climate have something to do with the leaf? Is there some mineral lacking?

Should she ideally be raised in a greenhouse? If so, I will take her back to the greenhouse and trade her for something else.

Any opinions / feedback would be appreciated...

[lotis146]

I don't have any of these so I can't be of much help to you but from my general orchid knowledge I can say that it's not unusual and not necessarily bad when older (lower) leaves die. I will ask though about your fertilizing habits; you said you fertilize 3x/wk? At what strength? Some say "weekly, weakly" while others fertilize every time they water though still weakly.

[Yazz]

Originally Posted by lotis146

I don't have any of these so I can't be of much help to you but from my general orchid knowledge I can say that it's not unusual and not necessarily bad when older (lower) leaves die. I will ask though about your fertilizing habits; you said you fertilize 3x/wk? At what strength? Some say "weekly, weakly" while others fertilize every time they water though still weakly.

Lotis, Thanks for mentioning that old lower orchid leaves do die. Have some orchids that are shedding older ones, but never thought about that on my new baby.

My fertilizing habits are 1/2 strength for all except the paphs who get 1/4 strength. I flush and feed all the plants when they need it. (Have a variety of pot sizes, medium mixtures and chids with different watering requirements.) Once a month, for a week, everyone gets just water, except those who are in fertilizer hog mode.

---------- Post added at 02:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:27 PM ----------

Originally Posted by katrina

They do this sometimes as they are maturing. I usually don't see it until later in the growing season but, being further south, your plant is likely further along than most of mine. You can see by the dried leaf remains that it's lost one prior to this one. Again, I don't worry about this as long as the growth looks good (yours does!) and it's not happening to upper leaves rather than the lower ones.

If you're growing inside then keep in mind this group needs a LOT of light. If it's not getting enough light it's not going to grow or bloom as well as it should. I grow all of mine outside this time of the year under 40% shade cloth that doesn't cover them all that well so they are actually getting a good deal of full sun. You could easily grow this outside in a protected area - Texas sun being much stronger than Ohio sun, I'd be hesitant to grow them in full sun down there but it will enjoy more light than most cattleyas want.

As for humidity...I haven't found them to be all that fussy about it...they are water hogs but, for me, they grow fine in high or low humidity. The only thing I've noticed about lower humidity is the leaves will "sap" more and the backs will develop sooty mold more easily so I try to hose the leaves frequently when the humidity is low but they do seem to get ugly quicker during dry times. Not all...but some do.

During their active growth time...lots of light, heavy fert, and lots of water = happy, happy ctsm.

Katrina, Wow, I just took a good look at her and see two other remains of leaves. What a load off my mind! Won't worry unless it's the upper leaves doing the swan song.

The east room she's in has white slat blinds with the slats turned inward to let the most light in. It's the brightest room in the house. Have thought about putting my sun-loving plants outside but have one reservation. My neighbors on both sides have multiple cats. The little buggers have managed to kill three of my pink flamingos. Have put pine cones in the gardens, but they still find places to poop. If she doesn't bloom this year, will figure out a cat proof place outside for next year.

Thanks for the heads-up on sooty mold. That will be my indicator for too dry air. Live hear Houston so things are pretty humid most the times. But you never know.

Giving her lots of water, fertilizer, and hope enough light. Time will tell. Will post pics if there's a shoot starting.

Thank you for all the info and putting my mind at rest...

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Yazz

[/COLOR] Have thought about putting my sun-loving plants outside but have one reservation. My neighbors on both sides have multiple cats. The little buggers have managed to kill three of my pink flamingos. Have put pine cones in the gardens, but they still find places to poop. If she doesn't bloom this year, will figure out a cat proof place outside for next year.

Get some hangers/baskets and hang them up and out of reach of the ornery kitties. Or, a nice tall(ish) shelving unit.

BTW - I've heard motion activated sprinklers are a great way to deter unwanted kitties.

---------- Post added at 07:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:17 AM ----------

Originally Posted by AvantGardner

It's normal. You should see my leaves. Yikes. Sooty mold took hold, and my humidity was hovering between 70-90%. Cinnamon and neem oil did the trick. Nice looking plant, best of luck!

I've used soap and water and it doesn't seem to help all that much...a little, but not a lot. I'll have to keep the neem oil in mind.

I wonder if it's the heat that's more the culprit than the lack of humidity? So far I'm not having any problems w/it this year and it's been way wetter than normal but it's also been cooler. Well, most of the time it's been cooler...temps are starting to go up now.

[Yazz]

Originally Posted by katrina

Get some hangers/baskets and hang them up and out of reach of the ornery kitties. Or, a nice tall(ish) shelving unit.

BTW - I've heard motion activated sprinklers are a great way to deter unwanted kitties.

Thinking on a tall(ish) shelving unit with pine cones in the lower levels. (Cats hate walking on pine cones.) Have a spot picked out under the patio that gets morning sun and shade the rest of the day. My neos would love being outside too.

We've thought about motion activated sprinklers. They are pricey and a pain to set up. We have lots of pine trees in the yard and I toss the cones anywhere we don't want cats.

[katrina]

They do this sometimes as they are maturing. I usually don't see it until later in the growing season but, being further south, your plant is likely further along than most of mine. You can see by the dried leaf remains that it's lost one prior to this one. Again, I don't worry about this as long as the growth looks good (yours does!) and it's not happening to upper leaves rather than the lower ones.

If you're growing inside then keep in mind this group needs a LOT of light. If it's not getting enough light it's not going to grow or bloom as well as it should. I grow all of mine outside this time of the year under 40% shade cloth that doesn't cover them all that well so they are actually getting a good deal of full sun. You could easily grow this outside in a protected area - Texas sun being much stronger than Ohio sun, I'd be hesitant to grow them in full sun down there but it will enjoy more light than most cattleyas want.

As for humidity...I haven't found them to be all that fussy about it...they are water hogs but, for me, they grow fine in high or low humidity. The only thing I've noticed about lower humidity is the leaves will "sap" more and the backs will develop sooty mold more easily so I try to hose the leaves frequently when the humidity is low but they do seem to get ugly quicker during dry times. Not all...but some do.

During their active growth time...lots of light, heavy fert, and lots of water = happy, happy ctsm.

[Plodde]

Did u get your orchid from rare earth orchids? I just read another post that mentioned this vendor sold an Fdk that had a virus, and is now urging people to discard their orchids from his nursery that were bought recently. He is also offering a refund for orchids bought in the last two years.

[Yazz]

Originally Posted by Plodde

Did u get your orchid from rare earth orchids? I just read another post that mentioned this vendor sold an Fdk that had a virus, and is now urging people to discard their orchids from his nursery that were bought recently. He is also offering a refund for orchids bought in the last two years.

I bought my Fdk from Clown Alley two weeks ago. The owner had bought her in Baton Rouge during an orchid show. I bought her as she was being unloaded off the van after the show.

Rare Earth Orchids is showing great integrity by refunding money for those who had bought virused orchids from them. I like their business ethics.

Glad you posted the warning. It's good to get the word out and that there is a solution.

[AvantGardner]

It's normal. You should see my leaves. Yikes. Sooty mold took hold, and my humidity was hovering between 70-90%. Cinnamon and neem oil did the trick. Nice looking plant, best of luck!