Yellow Leaf Edges? - Page 2 - Orchid Board

butterfly_muse · #11 05-30-2013, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJF

What time of the day do you mist them?

Whenever I think about it, honestly. Normally in the afternoon once I get home from work.

WhiteRabbit · #12 05-30-2013, 08:10 PM

Not that I think it's causing the yellow edges, but I'd skip the misting, use a skewer in the media, and water when media is very nearly dry, or has just become dry.

How far back from the window is this? My inside orchids all grow on my narrow sills, so are very near the glass. I have a couple Phals in a west facing window that gets direct light mid afternoon to early evening this time of year - but they are acclimated to that.Perhaps more light than they require, but no burn. Another is doing well on a north facing sill. Gets a little direct light in the evening this time of year, tho no direct light in winter ... Even tho Phals are considered "low light" orchids, they still need some moderate light to bloom.

What type of fertilizer do you use? What dilution? Do you flush the media once a month?

I do agree with James that the slightly yellow edges may not be a concern. If mine, I'd probably just keep an eye on it, but others know more about such things. ..

butterfly_muse · #13 05-30-2013, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Not that I think it's causing the yellow edges, but I'd skip the misting, use a skewer in the media, and water when media is very nearly dry, or has just become dry.

How far back from the window is this? My inside orchids all grow on my narrow sills, so are very near the glass. I have a couple Phals in a west facing window that gets direct light mid afternoon to early evening this time of year - but they are acclimated to that.Perhaps more light than they require, but no burn. Another is doing well on a north facing sill. Gets a little direct light in the evening this time of year, tho no direct light in winter ... Even tho Phals are considered "low light" orchids, they still need some moderate light to bloom.

What type of fertilizer do you use? What dilution? Do you flush the media once a month?

I do agree with James that the slightly yellow edges may not be a concern. If mine, I'd probably just keep an eye on it, but others know more about such things. ..

They're probably around 7" away, 11" at farthest point. They were on the actual ledge itself about 2" away from the glass and their leaves were turning black, so they are definitely not acclimated to that type of sun. I do keep the skewers in the media and water when dry - as a matter of fact I watered them tonight. I only mist to keep the humidity up - it does make a difference, if only for a little bit. And recently I was doing it because it gets so damn hot. Our air conditioner has been broken since we got here last Saturday....It has not been a pleasant week.

I think the sudden change of both light and temperature plus intensity of light is what is causing it. I don't know what you mean by flushing the media but if you mean running water through everything, I do that, yes. I can't find the fertilizer at present but it's the miracle grow orchid one, and I read that since my guys are in bark the ratio is preferable.

WhiteRabbit · #14 05-30-2013, 09:04 PM

Yes, by flushing I meant running lots of plain water through the media

I don't know what the humidity is typically in your area ? I always think of that part of the country as being humid, but have limited experience ... Summer daytime humidity here is usually low - less than 30%, often low 20's, sometimes teens; 10%, or just under is not unheard of (tho not especially frequent), especially during very hot weather. The humidity does go up at night, so it isn't bone dry 24/7, but still averaging moderately low, I imagine ... I don't do anything to try to increase humidity for the plants at all. When it's very hot and dry, they need, and get, more frequent watering. If you feel misting is working for you, than I can't argue

- just make sure that any water that may have gotten in the crown is evaporated by night fall, and that media isn't remaining too wet due to it - but if you are using a skewer, you should be good as far as media not being too wet

How long does your window get light? You will probably need to try to slowly acclimate the Phals to more light than they are getting now, in order to get spikes. If your window receives light all afternoon, it may be too much, but maybe they can be slowly moved closer ... Or another window if you have any ... Or, it's possible if the window gets sun all afternoon, that they may be fine where they are

I honestly just place plants where I think they will do ok, and if it works, it works, if not, I move them (always trying to acclimate them slowly to stronger light if that's what I am doing)

I haven't used that fertilizer - I see it's 30-10-10 - how much do you use per gallon ? I don't know if it contains urea or trace elements ... if using tap water, I don't know how important the trace elements are in fertilizer, but if using pure water, they are necessary - also, it's a good idea to add a small amount of tap water to the pure water to add trace elements. (just trying to rule out or identify possible causes of the yellow edges ...)

Orchids4ever · #15 05-30-2013, 09:11 PM

Hi
I dont know if you remember, but NYOrchidman posted about the same Problem a while ago
and i have 2 Phals doing the same for a couple of Years now-i grow under Lights.The yellowing is not getting bigger on mine. I had them higher up closer to the Lights and i thought that what did it-so i moved them-they did not change at all in the last 2 Years-still the same-but the new Leafs dont have the yellow Edge.

butterfly_muse · #16 05-30-2013, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Yes, by flushing I meant running lots of plain water through the media

I don't know what the humidity is typically in your area ? I always think of that part of the country as being humid, but have limited experience ... Summer daytime humidity here is usually low - less than 30%, often low 20's, sometimes teens; 10%, or just under is not unheard of (tho not especially frequent), especially during very hot weather. The humidity does go up at night, so it isn't bone dry 24/7, but still averaging moderately low, I imagine ... I don't do anything to try to increase humidity for the plants at all. When it's very hot and dry, they need, and get, more frequent watering. If you feel misting is working for you, than I can't argue

- just make sure that any water that may have gotten in the crown is evaporated by night fall, and that media isn't remaining too wet due to it - but if you are using a skewer, you should be good as far as media not being too wet

How long does your window get light? You will probably need to try to slowly acclimate the Phals to more light than they are getting now, in order to get spikes. If your window receives light all afternoon, it may be too much, but maybe they can be slowly moved closer ... Or another window if you have any ... Or, it's possible if the window gets sun all afternoon, that they may be fine where they are

I honestly just place plants where I think they will do ok, and if it works, it works, if not, I move them (always trying to acclimate them slowly to stronger light if that's what I am doing)

I haven't used that fertilizer - I see it's 30-10-10 - how much do you use per gallon ? I don't know if it contains urea or trace elements ... if using tap water, I don't know how important the trace elements are in fertilizer, but if using pure water, they are necessary - also, it's a good idea to add a small amount of tap water to the pure water to add trace elements. (just trying to rule out or identify possible causes of the yellow edges ...)

I believe it does have urea in it but I've read a lot of literature, Ray's included, that says that urea basically doesn't matter. It's an apartment, so all of the windows we've got face west and get sun from probably 1-3 o'clock (we moved in and then literally went back to work so haven't been home during the day to see when the sun actually comes around) until the sun sets at 8:30 or so. They used to be in a shaded southeast window, so the intensity is a LOT more here than it was at our other place. I can probably move them closer over time, but for now I think the drastic change was the catalyst for the yellow. They were fine and had no issues until I moved them into this house, so. As for the humidity, Maryland freaking sucks. In the spring and summer rain is extremely common so we're typically anywhere between 65 to 100% humidity. I hate it, lol.

WhiteRabbit · #17 05-30-2013, 09:13 PM

Oh! I just had a thought about checking the light where your Phals are currently - I think I have read some posts that there are light meter apps for iPhone and android - if you are able to get one, you could check precisely how much light they are getting

butterfly_muse · #18 05-30-2013, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Oh! I just had a thought about checking the light where your Phals are currently - I think I have read some posts that there are light meter apps for iPhone and android - if you are able to get one, you could check precisely how much light they are getting

I've read (and my fiance says - he's an engineer so I trust him) that the light meters on phones are pretty inaccurate and I'd have to spring for an actual one.

WhiteRabbit · #19 05-30-2013, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

I've read (and my fiance says - he's an engineer so I trust him) that the light meters on phones are pretty inaccurate and I'd have to spring for an actual one.

I haven't tried them - but you don't need an exact reading, just in the vicinity ..

Found this thread Free light meter iphone app

Quote:

all of the windows we've got face west and get sun from probably 1-3 o'clock (we moved in and then literally went back to work so haven't been home during the day to see when the sun actually comes around) until the sun sets at 8:30 or so.

yeah - that's a lot ...

Quote:

In the spring and summer rain is extremely common so we're typically anywhere between 65 to 100% humidity

should be plenty of humidity then ... why mist ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orchids4ever

Hi
I dont know if you remember, but NYOrchidman posted about the same Problem a while ago
and i have 2 Phals doing the same for a couple of Years now-i grow under Lights.The yellowing is not getting bigger on mine. I had them higher up closer to the Lights and i thought that what did it-so i moved them-they did not change at all in the last 2 Years-still the same-but the new Leafs dont have the yellow Edge.

thanks for the helpful input!

butterfly_muse · #20 05-30-2013, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

I haven't tried them - but you don't need an exact reading, just in the vicinity ..

Found this thread Free light meter iphone app

yeah - that's a lot ...

should be plenty of humidity then ... why mist ?

thanks for the helpful input!

I mist bc the humidity in my house is generally 55% or lower. Outside is where the nasty is, and that can sometimes cause the inside to reach 60% or so. Right now with no A/C it's like 65% humidity (in case you haven't noticed, I am miserable right now, haha. It's 81 degrees in my house..at 9:30 at night...).

I am almost positive at this point that it's the light that caused the yellow. I've got new leaves coming up on 3 of my 'chids and they have brown/black on their edges, like they do when they're getting too much sun.