S/H Den Biggibum var compactum- purple leaves?

[vcuchick]

I have a Den. biggium var compactum growing in S/H. Last year it was awesome- plant bloomed to beat the band with lots of new vigorous growth and I even won some awards with it!

This year is different- Only 1 flower spike on the only new growth. I noticed in the last week or two the leaves on the entire plant have turned an unsual shade of burgundy-purple. (wha???)

I have 3 plants from the same cross and this is the only one with this issue. They grow in an east window in a nursery tray w/ fan nearby. I use superthrive with every watering, distilled H20, and MSU fertilizer once a month.

I have posted pictures of the plant from last year, this year, group shots, and the difference with the sibling as the last shot.

Any ideas?

[PocoGigio]

When did you move it to s/h? Did you move it just prior to last years beautiful display? Last year's canes look a little shriveled now compared to the first picture. It's possible those canes have since lost their roots to s/h transfer if you moved it just before those beautiful blooms. If you've had it in s/h for a long time, I'm not sure if it's due to transfer root rot. Decant the plant and check the roots - that should tell a story.
Did that particular plant get the most light in front of the window? The darker purple tells me it got more light than the others. Even 6" closer/farther in front of a window make a big difference in footcandles. Is the purpley one the one closest to the window of your 3 plants?

[vcuchick]

Originally Posted by PocoGigio

When did you move it to s/h? Did you move it just prior to last years beautiful display? Last year's canes look a little shriveled now compared to the first picture. It's possible those canes have since lost their roots to s/h transfer if you moved it just before those beautiful blooms. If you've had it in s/h for a long time, I'm not sure if it's due to transfer root rot. Decant the plant and check the roots - that should tell a story.
Did that particular plant get the most light in front of the window? The darker purple tells me it got more light than the others. Even 6" closer/farther in front of a window make a big difference in footcandles. Is the purpley one the one closest to the window of your 3 plants?

it was moved into S/H in May 2009, the picture was taken Oct 2009. Yes, it's the only one that's "purple" I have since reversed the order of the plants and put my Hwra Lava Burst closer to the window to promote the spike formation in time for this year's October Show, I plan to decant the plant in the morning as I feel some "root clearing" would be benificial, I was hoping it was sunburn, but wanted to check with others...

[dounoharm]

seems like a little too much sun, try moving it further back from the window....gl

[Ray]

It might too much sun - although some would argue that the purple coloration indicates the proper light level - or nutritional in nature. I think the latter, as feeding plants in semi-hydroponics once a month is close to starvation, and if they get pure water the rest of the time, you actually risk extracting minerals from the plant. It certainly explains the lack of flowering.

I kept one of the plants from that same batch. It was fed at the recommended 125 ppm N at every watering, and I just returned it to the greenhouse after enjoying the 5 spikes of blossoms on 3 new growths.

[vcuchick]

Originally Posted by Ray

It might too much sun - although some would argue that the purple coloration indicates the proper light level - or nutritional in nature. I think the latter, as feeding plants in semi-hydroponics once a month is close to starvation, and if they get pure water the rest of the time, you actually risk extracting minerals from the plant. It certainly explains the lack of flowering.

I kept one of the plants from that same batch. It was fed at the recommended 125 ppm N at every watering, and I just returned it to the greenhouse after enjoying the 5 spikes of blossoms on 3 new growths.

Thanks Ray! I did cut out some dead roots (which is to be expected) put it back in S/H and moved it a row back from the window. I've upped the Fert. a "little" but how would you recommend a small-time grower fertilize? I usually use 1-2 gallons of distilled H20 about twice a week so I don't have enough plants to need a RO system yet. (only 15 plants) how do I measure the MSU correctly into the gallon jugs so that I know I'm getting the right concentration? The plant did have 2 new growths, but they seem to be 'stalled' so I think you're right in that in my fear of over fertilizing, I under fertilized.

Unfortuately, I don't have the space available to mix it in large batches. Any suggestions folks?

[Ray]

Sorry for taking so long to respond. I just got back from a 2300-mile trek around the southeast - mostly without internet access.

If you divide 10 by the %N on the label of the fertilizer, the result is the teaspoons per gallon to use for 125 ppm N. If you round up or down a little for measuring convenience, it's no problem, as you'll still be in the 100-150 ppm N range.

One thing to keep in mind: if you are using distilled water, you need to use a fertilizer designed for it, like the MSU RO stuff. If you use a fertilizer intended for use in mineral-bearing water supplies (pretty much all others), the pH will be unacceptably low and potentially damaging to the plants.

[tropQLD]

Originally Posted by dounoharm

seems like a little too much sun, try moving it further back from the window....gl

Hi - newby to the forum here.

These are found wild not too far from where I live . They will take full tropical sun if adapted to it (mine get 50% shade with full sun in the morning) - so unlikely that it was too much sun (unless it was a sudden shock). Mine are in S/H and also some in LECA but not S/H.

They don't always go red in the sun either - sometimes that is cold or a nutrient (not necessarily deficiency) thing.

I would re-pot into fresh LECA and maybe a larger pot ('over-potting' in S/H might actually help with stability of conditions - at least in my observations) as a precaution.

I would also ensure adequate fertilizer - particularly calcium (it doesn't look deficient however). It looks like a healthy plant that has had it rough only the last few months - like it lost its roots through cold or something.

Also - at first glance it doesn't look pure compactum (lithocola) - maybe 50% - 75% - but that may just be the growing conditions. See attached (if i did it right!) - only a backbulb division and they do get longer - but more indicative of the true Palm Beach to Port Douglas coastal form. This is in S/H.

[orchids4me]

Good advice given here I guess after all the adjustments its next blooming cycle will tell if this is what it needed.
Good luck with it. I love these little guys
Congrats on that award you had recieved also. They are all beautiful!
Good luck with the one.