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» Willy World » Gardening Reference » Gardening in 2003 » Orchid problem

Author Garden: Orchid problem mich168 Super Gardener Member # 1217 posted                       Help! I am trying to figure out why my orchid's new leaves have turned black and dead looking on the ends! The orchid is a Cattleya hybrid and it is stitting on a table in my workplace. The whole problem seemed to start with the day the a/c for the building went out and the temps got to be 100+ inside. Dummped a lot of water on the plant and left the excess on the plant the plant sits on (on top of pebbles). Was it the high temps, too much water? What should I do? Thanks for any help!! * * * * Plants: 821 | From: Southern California, USA | Registered: Jul 2003  |  Seeded: 4.60.31.82 Will Creed guest posted                 Both the high temps and the excess water could be causing the black tips. Orchids should never be allowed to stand in water. I don't know what material your orchid is potted in so it is hard to tell you just how to water. However, it must be in a container that allows water to drain through it. Seeded: 24.239.134.109 mich168 Super Gardener Member # 1217 posted                       The orchid is potted in layers. bottom is gravel, middle is a mulch type mix (bark, leaves, etc) the top is bark. I let the plant dry out thoroughly, Then fed it, didn't leave the plant sitting in water (and the a/c got fixed.) Now I have noticed a new leaf starting to grow out but the leaves that were black at the tips, well they are just getting worse. The black is moving back on the leaves. Are those leaves a total loss? * * * * Plants: 821 | From: Southern California, USA | Registered: Jul 2003  |  Seeded: 198.74.36.20 Will Creed guest posted                 Once leaves start to turn brown at the tips, they often progress to all brown. So yes, those leaves are probably a lost cause. Just trim them off. Cattleyas don't like to get very dry. The porous mix that you described will make it pretty hard to overwater. I suspect that underwatering, combined with fertilizer, may be the cause of the leaf tipping. Fertilizer should never be usd on dry potting media. Seeded: 24.239.134.109 mich168 Super Gardener Member # 1217 posted                       Just thought I'd give out an update. The Black and dead sections on the 2 leaves, has stopped moving up the leaves. So they dont appear to be dying any longer. The new leaf is growing out nicely. So, I hope the plant has recovered from being baked that one day. I am watering the orchid less, but a little more often (I was watering once a week). I just have one question now, one of the old leaves was wrinkled after getting baked and does not seem to have recovered its smooth surface. Am I correct in assuming that this leaf will just stay wrinkled? * * * * Plants: 821 | From: Southern California, USA | Registered: Jul 2003  |  Seeded: 198.74.36.20 Will Creed guest posted                 Yes, you are corrrect. Seeded: 24.239.134.109

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