Need help folks

[WTFD00D]

This is my Ren Nancy Chandler red dragon. It's about 15 years old and all of a sudden this...........

Can anyone tell me whats happening here?

[made4engineering]

WoW! What a plant! Its just getting rid of old leaves is all. Those bottom most ones are doing to fall off soon also.

[kmarch]

How sudden is "all of a sudden"? Did this happen overnight? Over the course of a couple of weeks?

[FLaCo]

It looks a bit awkward since it looks like it is just a section of it in between the far bottom and the rest of the plant. It doesn't look like it some that progressing upward...you know what I mean. Usually, the bottom leaves are the worse looking ones and then it will start progressing upwards as the plant gets older and rid of the old leaves. Kevin is asking the right question...how sudden is sudden.

[WTFD00D]

It was a couple of weeks. I live in Florida and most of my orchids are strating to get into a growing stage after the winter but this really struck me as strange.

[solay]

That's a really different looking orchid you got there. I don't know much about orchids yet but I'm with you. I'd be really worried. By the way, what tree is that in the background? it has some large fruits or something on them. Just curious.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Sunburn maybe?

[WTFD00D]

Thats the neighbors Grapefruit tree, this plant hangs in a Tangerine tree and only gets indirect sunlight so I dont think its sun burn.

[FLaCo]

I don't think it is sunburn either...like you said it is in a screen house and it gets indirect light. Sunburn gives it like a light brown transparant spots on the leaves...this looks like it is painted on.

[solay]

Wow, big grapefruit tree. Now back to the yellowing. It reminds me of what my citrus fruit trees do. They just turn a bright yellow like that sometimes before the leaves drop. Is is a certain vitamin or mineral deficiency?

[digitalgate]

may be insect in the stem. In either case you don't have roots from the main stem. You cannot stem cut to save the plant. The "yellowness" will travel up the plant you end up
lossing the plant. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
By the way, i put my Renanthera in full sun.

[digitalgate]

on second thought, if the "yellowness" does not travel up the stem. Then i believe it is
chemical burn. Did you spray any bug spray accidentally?

[WTFD00D]

Ill get more pics tomorrow, looks like it has stopped traveling and the yellow leaves fell off. I guess its a waiting game but the rest of the plant looks great still so I dunno.

[made4engineering]

Its just getting rid of old leaves. Just because the leaves are not at the very bottom doesnt mean this is not the case.

[digitalgate]

WFTD00D, why is the plant root so short?

[HawaiiMiki]

You may have root rot (or old media, including the wooden basket). Not enough roots to support the vegetative growth so the plant is reducing the need for water, etc., by dropping leaves.

As an aside, Ren. need lots of light. We grow them in direct sunlight here in Hawaii. Without high light, they will not bloom (only grow very tall).

[WTFD00D]

Well, the yellow leaves dropped and it appears to be all done.....maybe.

I will move her to sun spot instead of indirect light. Where you see the pic taken is not where it normally is, it normally hangs in a tree, just moved it there for the pic.

The roots stayed the same for a long time after I purchased the plant and recently have started new grouth. Its the only ren I have and for being an older plant it did not seem to have much root but I figured that was normal.

Like I said, Ill get more pics up soon, been busy.

I have a large Vanda in bloom ya really need to see....

[tina jacobs]

what is the average life span of an orchid if yours is fifteen years old, that’s really old guys don’t they have to die eventually, not an expert so don’t take me to heart wtfdood.

[hera]

I suspect an insect may have burrowed into the stalk. Look for entrance holes.

[digitalgate]

i was hoping your plant might some root at the top.

[Leisurely]

I have Ren. Nancy Chandler, Ren. Brookie Chandler and Ren. John Tew all growing in a large ten gallon plastic tub with a small amount of large grade charcoal. Like other members, I grow my plants in full sun until about three o'clock. The plants are about six feet tall and the stems have lost all leaves at least half way up. These plants are also about fifteen years old. There is a massive root system running all along the bare stems. By the way they survived thirty one degrees this past winter with only a blanket for protection. Orchids can take a lot more cold than most people think. I currently have two blooming inflorescence and six more spikes that are finger length. It took the leaves months or even years to drop on my plants. If I were you, rather than risk losing a valuable plant, I would treat for both fungal and insect problems. My lawn service does that. If there is browning sometimes they can't determine if it is fungus or insects so they treat for both.

[WTFD00D]

Well, looking ok I think, she dropped those leaves and all seems well now. I moved her to a spot with slightly more sun now as suggested.

[WTFD00D]

Also, if you notice the top of the plant, ever since Ive had her the leaves have grown quite larger then they use to....maybe Im doing something right?

[WTFD00D]

a few of my other plants

[WTFD00D]

Here is one of my vandas in bloom. I rescued these plants about 2 years ago from a lady who was closing her orchid shop and she felt bad because she was only going to the shop 2 days a week and could not water them properly so she gave me 10 of these large plants for $10 each...lol

The find of a lifetime, Ive nursed them back pretty good, almost all of them have bloomed several times now.