Promenaea culture question....

[katrina]

I bought a Promenaea 'Cameleon' last year....perfectly healthy little division when I got it and it's been doing fabulous all winter. I have it potted in a clear 3" slit plastic pot w/sphag. Cool temps and med light all winter. Again...sailed through the winter w/not so much as one event.

I noticed on Sunday what appeared to be 3 little flowers spikes (YIPPEE!). However, in the past 2 days I've also had 3 leaves just turn yellow (quickly) and fall off. 3 leaves...3 different areas...all appear to be an old "outside" leaf of a mature pbulb. Nothing else seem amiss with the plant anywhere else.

My first thought was "normal shedding"...sort of like when a stanhopea's old leaves get nasty and since these leaves are much thinner it would make sense that they would just fall off. But not having had any before I thought it best to pick others' brains on this situation.

The only thing that has changed culturally in the past week is warmer spring temps...but it hasn't gotten above 76 in the house during the day and that was only one day it got that high...still dropping into the 60's at night.

Other than those 3 leaves...all else seems OK. Is this normal for these guys or should I be looking for something I'm doing wrong?

[kmarch]

Can you please clarify the name of the orchid? What's the grex or species as the case may be?

[katrina]

You know...I knew the tag didn't seem "right" but I went with it. It's a good question and right now I can't answer it so let me know do some digging.

[katrina]

Ok....I haven't gotten too far but I have discovered a misspelling...it's Chameleon (not Cameleon) and I don't believe the [ ' ' ] belong around the Chameleon. Still looking for more info...will return.

[katrina]

I should've waited to post that last post...as soon as I returned to my searching...BINGO!!

Prom. Chameleon = Prom. Limelight x Prom. gutttata and to further dissect...
Prom. Limelight = Prom. stapelioides x Prom. ovatiloba

[rcb]

Katrina, I only have one Promenaea, and it also turns it's leaves brown and drops them very quickly. It does this when it gets warm, fertilized, or dry. Sorry I haven't figured out how to take care of this one. Hopefully someone will answer who does know.

[katrina]

I appreciate the reply Renee. This is the only one I have too and I'm really leaning toward it being some natural shedding thing but...well...??

[katrina]

Ok...I'm losing 2 more leaves now. They've begun to turn yellow- not brown - yellow -- and soon they will drop. Could this be a result of the cold to warmer temps and now back to cooler temps? Please tell me yes.

Renee...you said your does this for just about any reason, right? That being the case...temp changes would probably cause this. Right?

It's just so strange because it's made it this far w/out any changes. Just got it last summer...lost maybe a couple of leaves when it first got here but not one change since then. All winter...just sat there. Now...this. ?? Plus, it's getting ready to flower. ?? It's only going to have 3 flowers but I thought that was pretty respectable for a newer division in a 3" pot.

[rcb]

Katrina, yes my one Promenaea turns it's leaves yellow then brown and drops them quite often. This happens in about a day. When I first got this plant I assumed it was rot, but the p'bulbs never seem to be affected. It basically always looks like it is about to die.

I just went out to the AOS site to check the culture specifically for Promenaea and it just confused me more because they say this genus is int to warm, and mine does not like warm. It also doesn't like fertilizer. I assume this because it always drops it's leaves when I fertilize or it gets warm, but maybe the leaf drop is normal? I just don't know. BTW mine is in spike right now too.

[katrina]

Thanks Renee! I know what you mean by the rot...I looked real closely this weekend and the pbulbs are perfect...roots are perfect too.

A couple of months ago I was thinking it might be nice to have a few more...lower light and small is a nice combo...this event is making me re-think that thought.