Problems w/ leaf color/drop on Mtssa C.M. Fitch 'Izumi' and Phal. Ever Spring 'Pearl' - Orchid Board

reanaosrhyt · #1 11-13-2009, 04:38 PM

On my Mtssa C.M. Fitch 'Izumi' some of the leaves keep turning brownish at the tips, then the color progresses and the leaves fall off. So far, I haven't worried about it because there is some new growth that this isn't happening to. This is in spike right now. I just figured I'd ask because the tips of the two spikes have turned brown and I have no idea why (maybe the two issues are related?) I have no idea, this is my first non-phal orchid. I bought it this summer. Is this normal for this type of orchid?

Secondly, I have a Phal. Ever Spring 'Pearl' which I rescued from the same nursery as the Mtssa mentioned above. Unlike the Mtssa, I've had phals for years. It was in horrible shape when I got it, sitting in sopping wet peat moss, with most of its roots rotted. Since I repotted it in bark, it's made a great come back-lots of new roots and even two spikes! It's in spike right now with a few big buds (I accidentally broke off a young spike 2 months ago when I was moving). The past 2 weeks or so I have been concerned about its health. Two leaves have turned yellow and fallen off and one is in the process of turning yellow. I have no idea as to what is causing this. It is not in the normal way a phal looses it's leaves--they are still pretty fleshy, but yellow.

What is wrong with my two plants?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Haeleigh

pics to come if they are needed and I can figure out how to get them up.

Zoi2 · #2 11-13-2009, 11:31 PM

How often are you watering each plant?
Joann

reanaosrhyt · #3 11-18-2009, 05:43 PM

Each is being watered once a week. Both are grown under lights, but the phal is not placed directly under them.

I recently took the phal out of its pot to check out the roots, and there was some rotting, but not much. I cut the rotted roots off and repotted it in a better draining pot (I found that the pot it was in wasn't providing very good drainage--it was a little soupy). Could this have been the problem with the phal?

Zoi2 · #4 11-18-2009, 10:12 PM

Phals do not like their roots constantly wet and they do like air circulation. This could be your problem.

What are the pbulbs like on the mtssa?
Joann

reanaosrhyt · #5 12-10-2009, 06:35 PM

sorry it took so long to respond--I don't have internet at home for the moment, but I do get my email sent to my phone--so I did get your response when you posted here.

The Phal had crown rot. I was concerned because leaves were still turning yellow and falling off even after repotting and the introduction of a fan to the room. I never left water on the crown...so maybe the root rot spread upwards? I cut off as much of the rot as I could today, and I'm left with 3 leaves and 3 small roots (which were aerial). Maybe it will survive, but I'm not too hopeful--I had to leave a TINY bit of the rot because if I cut any higher it would've gotten rid of the remaining roots!

The Mtssa is doing better than the phal, but not well. Leaves are still dropping. I have several pbulbs with no leaves now. However, the pbulbs look nice and healthy-no wrinkles and nice and big. I think it might be good to mention that it is mostly the bigger pbulbs losing leaves--and leaves are still on most of the smaller pbulbs. Is it possible that this may be part of the natural aging process? I am so worried!

Also, the new leaves on the Mtssa are turning slightly yellow--could this be due to the fact that it is newly under lights (for the past month or so)? I took it out of it's pot to check roots today, and everything I saw looked good--as far as I could see, no rot. any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks for your help!