BLC Lily Marie Almas "Sun Bulb" Looking Awfully Strange

[Scott WPH]

All:

I've had this plant for almost two years. It has bloomed twice for me. The first bloom cycle was decent and since that time, the plant has limped along ever since. This past spring, I repotted it into a very chunky mix using Orchiata and large perilite. I water every week and fertilize every other watering during the warmer time of the year. Over the winter, I water every two weeks and fertilize weakly once per month. Day time temps are 70ish and nighttime temps are 55ish. My lights are one for 12 hours per day. A fan runs constantly in my grow room. The humidity is kept at 50-60%. I use rainwater and MSU orchid fertilizer for rainwater.

As you can see from the pics, the plant is currently in bloom, but it's a marginal performance at best. The plant is very odd looking and seems to be getting worse albeit it's a slow progression. It does appear to be developing new roots at this time.

Is this Chlorosis?

Is this a virus?

Should I try mounting this particular Cattleya?

Any advice would be appreciated.

First pic is first bloom. Second pic is second bloom. The rest of the pics are it's current condition.

[Fairorchids]

Watering weekly in summer & every 2 weeks in winter is much too little, especially if potted coarse bark & perlite.

I use a mix consisting of:

• 3 parts medium size bark
• 1 part seedling size bark
• 2 parts medium charcoal
• 2 parts medium perlite

but in clay pots to encourage drying out.

In the greenhouse I water twice weekly from March through early December, and once weekly from mid December through late February.

Considering how yellow the leaves are, you might have it slightly too close to the lights?

[Ray]

I generally agree with Kim's assessment of the light level, but please provide the details on your feeding regimen, both summer and winter.

At a bare minimum, knowing it can do no harm, I'd add a tablespoon of Epsom Salts per gallon the next 2-3 waterings.

[SouthPark]

Totally agree ----- try some magnesium application a couple of weeks after fertilising. I apply fertiliser at the beginning of each month, then cal-mag 2 weeks after that. So a monthly application of each ----- but not at the same time. I read that somebody mentioned that mixing cal-mag with fertiliser can possibly lead to precipitation - so that's the only reason I do separate treatments.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

I read that somebody mentioned that mixing cal-mag with fertiliser can possibly lead to precipitation - so that's the only reason I do separate treatments.

In a concentrate, yes. When mixed to proper dilution fro application, it should be no issue. Epsom Salts is never an issue.

[DirtyCoconuts]

What does epsom salts do?

[Orchid Whisperer]

Epsom salts provide magnesium and sulfur.

Ray: A tablespoon per gallon is a helluva lot of Epsom salts. It will probably dissolve, but probably results in a total dissolved solids (TDS) that is quite high. I'd try a quarter to a half teaspoon per gallon.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

What does epsom salts do?

It's one way of getting some magnesium into the orchid, one of the apparently essential elements needed by orchids. If not using epsom salts, then there's also some commercial items. One that I've been using is called B.A.M.

I just use it in the middle of each month. Somebody mentioned once that there's the possibility of cal or mag or both precipitating out of solution and not becoming available to the orchid if mixed with regular fertiliser. I haven't yet found out whether this is true or not.

So - I've just stuck with fertilising at the beginning of the month, and the cal-mag two weeks after that.

Now ----- I don't know how accurate this following information is - but it offers something about magnesium and calcium etc.

Click Here

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

Epsom salts provide magnesium and sulfur.

Ray: A tablespoon per gallon is a helluva lot of Epsom salts. It will probably dissolve, but probably results in a total dissolved solids (TDS) that is quite high. I'd try a quarter to a half teaspoon per gallon.

OW - I have applied as much as two tablespoons/gal and not seen any issues.

As my water here contains almost no magnesium, I regularly add a teaspoon per gallon, but for a "curative" dose, more is really no issue.

[Scott WPH]

Thanks everyone. I will begin applying cal-mg. I'm anxious to see the results.