Sick 'CHIDS'

[grandmapenguin]

I have a few 'Chids' that aren't feeling well. Can anyone help

#1 Phal Noid Nice looking new leaf but the others are soft and limp.

#2 Oncidium 'Popcorn' picture can speak for itself. Just feeling "pewney".

#3 Zygo Noid again picture can speak for it's symptoms

#4 Den Yellow Song. It was doing great and all of a suddden lowest leaf turned yellow and now upper leaf color is weakening.

I have been strictly using Worm tea with Essentials and Companion.
Would appreciate any help all you Geeks can muster.

Thanks in advance

Terry

[patticake]

Wow... Your phal looks to be rather dry. The lower leaves sometimes go that way- As long as the new growth is healthy, it should be o.k.- The oncidium looks like there's a pool of water in the bottom of the pot. They like to approach dry betweeen waterings. I think this guy looks like he's got a case of the soggies. I would re-pot it into a fresh mix and check out the roots while you're at it. The Zygo looks very thirsty! My Zygo doesn't like to dry out completely. As far as the Den- I don't grow this type, so I'm not much help here. I'm sure someone with more knowledge will help out soon.

[Stelios]

my 2cents for number 2 is that it is overwatered and over fertilized, check the roots and your medium. Or maybe you don;t have good air circulation. Are you a smoker? I recall reading that you should wash your hands before touching orchids as tabacco in cigarettes can have a virus that affects orchids.

[butt0n]

I think the nobile is fine; mine tend to lose some leaves after a year or so. The cane will still spike with or without the leaves.

[kid a]

Would being by a cold window do that to a phal? That Phal was at my place for a few months in the front window. The oncidium was a bit wrinkly too when I got it, it hadn't changed much just the leaves on the right had started yellowing, i think it was struggling for moisture in the roots though, alot of the roots on top were dried up. I talked to Jenny about the zygo the other day actually lol. I think it was underwatered and to warm since there was a vent under the window ledge. I did have a fan on them and no fertilizer or anything just r/o water. I'm wondering if the dendrobium is a deciduous type though. She doesn't smoke, I do but not in the house.

[katrina]

I could be wrong...it's sooooooooo hard to tell w/only a pic BUT that zygo just might have some rot issues. The blackened leaf concerns me. They do like to be moist but soggy will do them in...also w/these guys...LOTS of air circulation is a must. All of mine sit directly under a ceiling fan that runs 24/7 and their leaves never stop moving unless I'm taking them for a shower or I'm cleaning the ceiling fan blades. Check the roots...I'm thinking you'll find some rot there. Just my guess.

The oncid...unfortunately...I had quite a few that looked similar during the winter of 07. For me...it was root rot. Sad, sad things...hardly a healthy root on the plants. I've been able to save a few of them. Unpot and see what you're dealing with. Clean off the dead roots and personally, I'd remove that little shriveled pbulb so that you pot it a bit lower when you repot. Soak w/a rooting hormone for about 20 minutes or so then repot into fresh mix and a smaller pot. Go w/a pot just big enough for whatever root mass is left and a wee bit extra room for new roots to grow. It'll probably look off balance but that will ensure no soggy center. All hope is not lost if it is rot. I have a few that...while they wouldn't win any beauty contests...they have recovered from it all quite nicely.

I should've added...on the soaking in rooting hormone...I meant something like SuperThrive. I understand there are powders out there but I've never used one on an orchid.

[Hummer344]

The first three pictures may be over/under watered. I would check the roots to see how viable they are. When mine start looking like this, I start thinking about shovel prunning them, then it gives me an excuse to buy new ones(of course I, like most geeks, don't need a excuse to buy more orchids). This from a person who just bought 4 new orchids yesterday.

[CharliesAngel51]

Terry, I have a Den that had two leaves turn yellow shortly after I got it. It was in a small pot with large bark. My first thought was to repot it but Jerry said it was too young to re pot and that I should soak it insted of pouring water through it. I took his advice and left it in the small pot and now I soak it for about 20 min once a week. No more yellow leaves. It is actually getting a new growth. Don't know if this will work for you but so far it is working for me. I have only had this Den since Sept . So who knows what the future holds for it but given my record with orchid killing , this is an accomplishment for me. LOL

Margaret

[solay]

The Zygo looks like rot to me and from experience usually it's a goner. Sorry. Hope I'm wrong.

The Den. on the other hand looks like it may be just the natural yellowing. I get that on some of my dens. too.

[lmartiny]

You've had a lot of input that trumps mine, since I'm still pretty new, but I was going to say the phal seems dehydrated, the onc should get a repot and try to cover some of those roots, I don't know Zygos but looks like a clip and a clean up and the dend (nobile?) looks OK. The plants have moved around during the winter months and have had different exposures. They are bound to stress. Mine have. Get them back into your routine and I'm sure they will respond.

[grandmapenguin]

I am awaiting a shipment of S/H from FirsRays.
Should I play and repot the two into S/H?

I do appreciate and thanked you all individually
for all your neat advice. The water was in the bottom because
I was watering and doing a 15 min soak.
Could I use the root stimulant I bought from Jerry?
Either Essential or Companon I have to read the bottles.

kida took care of my Chids while I was gone for three months so that
is the reason she answered. NO I DONT SMOKE in fact I'm very allergic to nicotine.

Terry

[katrina]

Yep...the essentials is a root stimulator so that'll work just fine.

Throwing in the companion couldn't hurt even though I don't believe it can help to stimulate roots... it might help to boost the plants immunity a bit.

I don't know about the s/h...I'm sure someone w/ semi-hydro experience will be able to answer that one. Good question...I'm curious what the answer will be.

[articuno75]

Terry~ I agree with Patti on the Phal that it is dehydrated. Some of the pleated will go away with time, but not all. The rest and the newer leaf should be fine.

The Ionocidium Popcorn looks to be "out of the pot". Try and get the rest of the plant back into the medium. Honestly, I had one of these and I killed mine. I think my problem was controlling humidity with this one. They like conditions similar to Oncidium Twinkle.

The Zygo looks very dehydrated and probably has some bad roots. I'd suggest a repot. Keep this one moist. Here is a link that I pulled from AOS. This should help. They like intermediate temps. Terry I told you cool temps between 70 and 75. I meant intermediate (oops ) Orchidementia grows these really well. I think she even brought one of these back from the brink of death. I'd seek her advice.

The Denbrobium Yellow Song is a Yamamoto nobile Debrobium. There bred to withstand one heck of a beating, LoL. These are really tough and can handle a lot. Yours looks fantastic! The yellowing is normal and I wouldn't worry about it. Loss of leaf is fine as these are decidious. Keep the plant on a regular watering schedule and give it plenty of light.

I hope this helps.

[articuno75]

I don't suggest the Popcorn in S/H.

[grandmapenguin]

Originally Posted by articuno75

I don't suggest the Popcorn in S/H.

Which ones could I try Jenny. You saw them when you were here. Should I just try the weak looking ones

Terry

[articuno75]

Truthfully I would try S/H on plants that have more vigor. Trying something like this with sick plants might just do them in, unless you are planning on just experimenting on them anyway. You would probably have more success with the Phal. Jay has done a lot of S/H. I recommend him and his advice.