some photos of concern...please help me help my plants!

[SShide77]

Hi,

Ive posted before about a few problems I am having with my orchids, but did not have photos at the time.

I have recently moved and since, a few of my orchids are worrying me.

I've tried to label the pictures as best I can for identification with the problem.

First, my dendrobium. Im not sure what kind it is. So first off can someone help me with that? Secondly, I've attached the picture of a yellowing leaf and want to know if this is normal or not. And, one of the canes on my dendrobium has a greyish-black spot. I dont know what it is. What should I do about it?

Next, I have what I think is a mini-phal. It isn't doing very well. One spike has dried out completely, and the leaves are turning yellow. I have no idea what is wrong. Also, there seem to be some leaves growing out of a few of the spikes, could these be the beginnings of keikis?

I've also recently bought an phal. at a nursery that was in the"kids corner" which basically consists of small plants tha are kid size. I want to know if it is a mini phal or just a baby plat (or both)? THe snapple bottle is for scale.

Last, can you help me ID this phal? It's my favorite, but it was NOID when I got it so I would just like to try and find out what it is.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks,
sarah

[digitalgate]

did you put your plant in direct sun? Or did that suffered at the store?
If the situation turn for the worse only after you reach home with the plant?
Look like bacteria rot on the Dendronium. The Phal's leaf being cut off before you reach
home? suggest that they have bacteria problem before you have it. They cut it out to
control the bacteria rot.

[SShide77]

so what should i do about the bacteria rot? it doesnt seem to be anywhere else on the plant.

[kmarch]

Hi Sarah,

I can't answer all of your questions but will address the ones I can.

Originally Posted by SShide77

First, my dendrobium. Im not sure what kind it is. So first off can someone help me with that?

Yup. It's what we call a phalaenopsis-type dendrobium. It has nothing to do with the genus phalaenopsis but rather is called that because there is usually a large dose of Den phalaenopsis (properly called Den. biggibum) in the breeding. It's probably the most common type of dendrobium and is the one refered to in the AOS culture sheet on dendrobiums found at AOS | Home.

Originally Posted by SShide77

Secondly, I've attached the picture of a yellowing leaf and want to know if this is normal or not. And, one of the canes on my dendrobium has a greyish-black spot. I dont know what it is. What should I do about it?

It is normal for a dendrobium to lose a leaf or 2 every once in a while so it may be no cause for concern, however yellowing leaves can be an indicator of overwatering and root loss. How are the roots? If they are whitish or greenish and plump, firm, and crisp, they're good. If they are grey or black, soft or mushy, they're rotted.

I can't see the black spot well enough to tell what it is. Is it firm like the rest fo the cane or is it soft and mushy? If the latter, then it could be some kind of bacterial rot and will need to be removed.

Originally Posted by SShide77

Next, I have what I think is a mini-phal.... there seem to be some leaves growing out of a few of the spikes, could these be the beginnings of keikis?

Yes, they could be keikis. If they grow leaves and roots then they're definitely keikis.

Originally Posted by SShide77

I've also recently bought an phal. at a nursery that was in the"kids corner" which basically consists of small plants tha are kid size. I want to know if it is a mini phal or just a baby plat (or both)? THe snapple bottle is for scale.

Well, if it is in flower it is definitely not a baby (keiki) phal, it's mature size. Minis are fairly popular these days so it must be a mini of some kind.

Originally Posted by SShide77

Last, can you help me ID this phal? It's my favorite, but it was NOID when I got it so I would just like to try and find out what it is.

Further ID wont be possible because there are so many phal hybrids and because even within one cross there can be so much variation.

I didn't address the cause of the yellow leaf on your phal because there are others on the forum that know about these things much better than I do. They will probably be able to give you better answers on that question.

Good Luck!

[jerrymeola]

The black spot on the den looks normal and nothing to concern you.

Phal leaves can yellow and fall off if there is any kind of variation in the temperature, watering, humidity etc. When it is older leaves like here you just accept it and more will grow. It is when new growth falls off that you have problems.

[SShide77]

Thanks so much Kmarch! The black on the dendrobium isn't mushy, just a discoloration that is just as hard as the rest of the cane.

[brookn]

On the Phal, the leaf yellowing in the middle of the plant is not usually normal. It looks like there are 2 Phals in that pot, has it been repotted since you bought it? What medium is it in if you have repotted it, and how are you watering? Are you using fertilizer, if so what kind? And where are you keeping it, this will help us determine how much light it is recieving. Let us know, and we can probably give you a pretty good diagnosis.

[SShide77]

I haven't repotted it since I got it, but it seems to be in a mixture of some kind of bark and sphag. I water it about once a week, whenever it seems to be nearing dry. I use a fertilzer called Terracycle, which is an all natural fertilizer, Im not sure what the make up is off the top of my head.I keep it under grow lights about 4 feet back from a southeast window, my other phals seem to like it there.

[brookn]

I would say that you need to check the roots. If you can, move the bark as much as possible and give them a check. If you see brown or mushy roots, it needs a repot. I had 2 Phals that were in the same pot, they hated living together, and had to be separated. That is not always the case though, sometimes 2 plants will do fine in the same pot, it is dependent on the plants.

[NancyH]

Hi, I will throw in my 2 cents on the Dend. with the lower leaf that is mottled and yellow. I had some phals. that had a similar looking problem with large mushy spots on some leaves. I treated the plants with some Physan and then cut the leaves off and sealed them with some cinnamon powder. I also took some alcohol and rubbed the remaining leaves under and over the top of the remaining leaves. I did not want anything wierd to spread. It seems to be working as no other plants have developed the same problem. Good luck, the rest of the plants look great to me, as others have mentioned, check the roots.
Good luck, Nancy

[made4engineering]

What Jerry said.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Dens just don't hold leaves very long, especially lower leaves, so looks normal. On the second picture, showing Phal leaves, I am concerned about the tiny light colored spots on the upper green leaves. Could this be scale? If scale, the little round scale like things can be easily nudged off by pushing with a finger nail. If they are rigidly attached, it is nothing.

[patlee]

SShide 77, The first picture in the second row looks like my Doritaenopsis Elfin King ( with all the hybrids, I don't want to say it is this exactly!) Anyway, it what the grower called a "compact grower". That is, under 13 inches.

The phal next to the Snapple bottle looks a little like our Hybrid Project phal. Are the leaves mottled or just a normal green? Inquiring minds want to know...

[SShide77]

The leaves are just a normal green.