Howeara decline

[Vivienne]

I posted about this plant in a different thread but need some advice.

As mentioned before, I purchased this plant back in Jan/Feb when the weather was awful. I suspected some chill damage but nothing I do seems to stop it. The roots are firm... no rot that I can detect. And yet the steady and slow decline of this plant is just puzzling me.

Attached are pics taken...
- when I first got it in bloom.
- when I mounted it 2 days ago.
- today - now yellow leaf... the next one is starting to yellow... and then there's the only new growth which looks okay... for now.

Suggestions??

[palito]

what about light? is it getting enough? it may take a while for the plant to start responding to its new conditions.

[Tobi]

Vivienne,
This is getting uncanny!!! It seems we have alot of the same type orchids.
I also have a Hwra. Puanani 'Lava Burst' which I got for a gift in early spring.
Gorgeous Red flowers. I repotted mine in a medium bark, perlite and a little
NZ spag after it flowered. I was concerned at first because the pseudobulbs
always looked shriveled. However since I repotted, it has 2 new healthy
looking growths and seems to be doing fine. I have a pic of the flowers in
bloom when I bought it. Will show you the new growths when I get off
my duff and take some some pics. I hope yours survives because it is
a beautiful orchid.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

This may not be a good plant for mounting, but even if it will eventually adapt, and you adapt to its needs, the process of moving it to a mount means that the plant has to grow new roots that are more properly conditioned for a mounted existance. Any time I make this drastic a change, I expect the plant to regress to about 1/2 size, then in another year or two, to come back up to full size. Watch your new growths to make sure they are not continueing to decrease in size. I think this kind of plant like to be a little on the damp side, and the species that gives the hybrid its red color, a Cochlioda, is a very cool grower.

[Vivienne]

Tobi - very wierd. I loved this little guy when I bought it... and if this one doesn't survive I will get another. I have a new growth, but 1 new growth compared to the 8or so pbulbs I've lost... errr. Truly the only thing I can think is it is related to the frost/chill damage it received when it was originally shipped to Colorado. Of my 60 orchids it is the only one with a problem and I can't account for that problem any other way.

[Vivienne]

Thanks Cynthia. Sadly, I think I'll be looking for a new plant to replace this one. It sure didn't like the pot (old or new).

[prisana]

Vivienne, sorry to hear of your plant's decline. It's always bothersome to know that you've done everything right and yet some of the stubborn plants out there just won't respond to anything.

Are you going to throw it out ? Since it's already on the mount and all, even with some setbacks it might just start a miracle...so why not keep it but just don't have to worry about it much anymore...

Don't forget to post a pic of the new one when you get it..

[Orchid664]

I am growing the same plant in semi-hydroponics under lights. It seems to like being a little wet, and it may be drying out too fast mounted.