yellowing leaves and more

[tina jacobs]

morning everybody

Here is the link to go to the pics

tinajacobs/orchid geeks - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

when I lifted the funky stuff off my cym yesterday I was shocked I found this white stuff that looked like mold I thought the ark might have decomposed so badly that that is what it turned into, but when I showed it to my mom which is no expert she said it looked like some sort of cotton wool and I kind of agree. I got this cym from the breeder is this what they get planted in to retain the water.

Or

Has my bark mix decomposed so bad that it has become that?

The leaf are also from the same cym I sprayed it with plant pesticide the day before might that be the cause of my leave damage or is it from the cotton holding to much water and its not draining properly.

It’s only that leave that is that bad, but there is another leave that looks like it might turn yellow. Must I cut it off

I also received a new kind of orchid this morning from a colleague it’s the one lying next to the keyboard. Can someone tell me what its name is and what are its needs?

[norris]

Hi Tina, I think your new orchid is a Dendrobium, but I have no idea what you've got going in that Cyms pot, it's kinda scary though Hopefully it is something the grower added and not mold.

[tina jacobs]

lol HAHAHAHA

That was funny i know it shocked the heck out odf me thanks i could not find my new orchid in the book i had

[patticake]

That's bizarre- I would rinse the roots completely and pot-up in a fresh mix. I hope it doesn't re-appear!

[tina jacobs]

so do you think its mold i am very concerned could it be fungus

[patlee]

Your new orchid does look like a den. Unfortunately I am not the expert of dens ,but I'm sure someone else will jump in here with the info you need. In the meantime, you can go to the AOS web site and get a cultural sheet on the care of dendrobiums.
That white stuff around your other orchid, it reminds me of the gooey insulation that expands to fit the crevices of whatever you are insulating. I hope this thread can give you a little more detail and that you have luck with the chid. Keep us posted if you find out what it is. I have never seen anything like it before

[tina jacobs]

i went and got the culture sheet but there are so many diff kinds of den that it will take me awhile to figure out exactly which kind it is

will keep you posted about the white stuff i am going to phone the breeder and fask him what in the heaven it might be but i dont think he is going to tell me the truth

[jerrymeola]

The white growth is probably a fungal growth but while I have seen it fairly regularly it does not seem to attack the orchid. I usually remove and replace all the medium and forget about it.

Your little Dendrobium keiki looks like a Nobile Den. You will know when it flowers (Jan-March in the northern hemisphere probably June-Aug for you) because the flowers on a Nobile grow from the cane not on a stem like common Den. With either type Den you do not need to do anything special. If you are growing them outside give them as much light as they will take without the leaves browning.

The second photo of the dead leaf is more important. The blackening at the bottom of the leaf is a sign of fungal infection. If you see this type of blackening on a green leaf it is serious and can destroy a plant rapidly. Since your photo is of a yellow leaf it may be aftermath of a leaf dying of old age and not a serious problem. When it is fungal the rot will spread rapidly and needs to be cut off before it reaches the rhizome.

[tina jacobs]

Originally Posted by patlee

Your new orchid does look like a den. Unfortunately I am not the expert of dens ,but I'm sure someone else will jump in here with the info you need. In the meantime, you can go to the AOS web site and get a cultural sheet on the care of dendrobiums.
That white stuff around your other orchid, it reminds me of the gooey insulation that expands to fit the crevices of whatever you are insulating. I hope this thread can give you a little more detail and that you have luck with the chid. Keep us posted if you find out what it is. I have never seen anything like it before

Originally Posted by jerrymeola

The white growth is probably a fungal growth but while I have seen it fairly regularly it does not seem to attack the orchid. I usually remove and replace all the medium and forget about it.

Your little Dendrobium keiki looks like a Nobile Den. You will know when it flowers (Jan-March in the northern hemisphere probably June-Aug for you) because the flowers on a Nobile grow from the cane not on a stem like common Den. With either type Den you do not need to do anything special. If you are growing them outside give them as much light as they will take without the leaves browning.

The second photo of the dead leaf is more important. The blackening at the bottom of the leaf is a sign of fungal infection. If you see this type of blackening on a green leaf it is serious and can destroy a plant rapidly. Since your photo is of a yellow leaf it may be aftermath of a leaf dying of old age and not a serious problem. When it is fungal the rot will spread rapidly and needs to be cut off before it reaches the rhizome.

where is the rhizome i just need to know so when i check my plant for futher infection.

can this infection spread to my other orchids that are near it

[tina jacobs]

oh and i phoned the breeder he said it was a new medium that they where growing them in is he trying to fool me or could this be the truth

[Tobi]

Hi Tina,
I agree with Jerry in that it is probably a surface mold. Although unsightly, it shouldn't
hurt your orchid. This tends to crop up on older bark that stays moist. I would replace
the media and make sure you keep good air circulation around it. Mold likes wet conditions
and thrive when the air movement around is not sufficient.

[solay]

I've had white things that grow in the bark too but never on top like that. It is usually inside the pot and when I report the Cyms. I just throw it out. It's white in color and kind reminds me of baby powder. Anyway, it really doesn't hurt the plants but I agree it is definitely something you don't want to see. Gross!!! i sometimes get mushrooms growing on top too.