Problem plant

[Aceetobe]

This was in a basket hung and I guess I didn’t realize how bad it actually was until I removed the basket. It was doing amazing until about 2 years ago when all of a sudden started declining. I moved it from front yard hung in a Plumeria to back - thinking the watering in back is more consistent. The decline has continued, and yesterday I pulled it down to look at it. Probably the worst looking plant in my collection now.
The old growths seem to be consistently dehydrating at top - and it seems to progress through old bulbs. The new growths look OK - send out new roots, etc but never thrive. The leaves still are rigid.

[estación seca]

It needs more water.

[Shadeflower]

I think the sun has done this. Excessive temps and too much light from being exposed to hot sunlight.

I think a shadecloth would sort all dehydration issues.

[Aceetobe]

Originally Posted by estación seca

It needs more water.

It's watered the same as everything else in the collection - roots look good, media is not decomposed. At this time of the year, it is watered around 5x per week. Enough for the media to just approach dryness.

I think the sun has done this. Excessive temps and too much light from being exposed to hot sunlight.

I think a shadecloth would sort all dehydration issues.

Under 60% shadecloth, temperatures never exceed 85F/30C.

[estación seca]

My guess is because the plant has grown out of the basket, there are next to no living roots in the medium in the basket. The roots don't stay wet long enough to absorb much water.

[Shadeflower]

Conditions sound good and I understand the concern since it was a healthy pant and then over 2 years from seemingly little change has turned into this so this is beyond my expertise.
I'd tip on pests or a virus and hope someone can help you figure it out more.

It could maybe be a lack of fertilizer but that is hardly ever the case, just something to also maybe consider. Lack of fertilizer can cause lack of vigor.

[Aceetobe]

Originally Posted by estación seca

My guess is because the plant has grown out of the basket, there are next to no living roots in the medium in the basket. The roots don't stay wet long enough to absorb much water.

I have plenty of plants that outgrow the basket and have no problem. It's one of the great things about growing in baskets is getting specimens - and that you can do "ball culture". I typically line my baskets with a very small amount of palm fiber to keep the media in the basket which lets the roots grow into the media and grow out. This one had outgrown its basket for a while before the decline appeared.

I will check again the media for live roots and I'm sure there are some there....but it's part of what makes this so mysterious for me.