The Orchid Garden

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Question:

i have a cybidium orchid and some of its leaves have black spots on them mostly older leaves what is the possible  cause and how do i get rid of it. the orchid gets morning sun and late afternoon  sun , it  stays in the green house in winter with 50% humidity and is fertilized every other  watering. the spots have not affected any of my other orchids .(phals, cats ,vandas,brassia and onicidiums).thanks for any info given. robert san antonio,tx

Response:

i have a cybidium orchid and some of its leaves have black spots on them mostly older leaves what is the possible  cause and how do i get rid of it. the orchid gets morning sun and late afternoon  sun , it  stays in the green house in winter with 50% humidity and is fertilized every other  watering. the spots have not affected any of my other orchids .(phals, cats ,vandas,brassia and onicidiums).thanks for any info given. robert san antonio,tx

Robert, My first guess would be that the older growths are getting ready to die back. Leaf spotting and eventual death is part of the process. -Rod- Venger’s Orchids Website http://www.vengers.com/

Response:

i have a cybidium orchid and some of its leaves have black spots on them mostly older leaves what is the possible  cause and how do i get rid of it.

Mindcloak,    What Rod Venger noted about the spots is pretty much true, the older leaves can be effected by black spots and some other worrisome maladies.      My question is whether the black spots are on the top or bottom  surfaces of the leaves.  If the spots are on the top surface only then it may be caused by either a bacteria or fungus which is normally not very harmful to the cymbidium, but for appearance sake  should be taken care of by watering it and spraying the foliage with a good general bactiricide/fungicide per label instructions as a preventative measure to eliminate or reduce the spotting on the other leaves in the future.  It the spots are only on the underside of the leaves and seemed to have appeared after a cold spell where temperatures were below 40 F and it has cym ensifolium in it’s background, it is highly possible that  you are seeing what is known in some circles as "ensifolium crud".  This is not harmful to the cym but can look horrible.  Cyms with as little as 10% ensifolium in them can be effected by this.      Hope this helps.  Good luck and good growing. Jim Kawasaki

Response:

Okay, I admit it… I am a fool for a bargin!  I have looked at purchasing an orchid before but always thought they were too expensive (I haven’t looked for them on the web before!) so when I found a plant priced at $25 that was on sale for $5, I bought it. It has one shrivled up flower left on it so I i know it will have pretty flowers but I don’t really know what to do with it now that I have it. Do I prune it?  Where?  Do I pull the brown stuff off?  Do I leave it in the plastic pot or put it in a clay pot? I do really well with other tropical plants but I have never gotten anything flowering to flower for me ever again so I not overly confident about this! I have an Ott light on it and I know about the shrivleing steams if it is either over watered or underwatered but you all are talking about mounting them on cork! ACK!  What have I gotten  into? Please help! Lisa — Posted via Talkway – http://www.talkway.com Surf Usenet at home, on the road, and by email — always at Talkway.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Okay, I admit it… I am a fool for a bargin!  I have looked at purchasing an orchid before but always thought they were too expensive (I haven’t looked for them on the web before!) so when I found a plant priced at $25 that was on sale for $5, I bought it. It has one shrivled up flower left on it so I i know it will have pretty flowers but I don’t really know what to do with it now that I have it. Do I prune it?  Where?  Do I pull the brown stuff off?  Do I leave it in the plastic pot or put it in a clay pot? I do really well with other tropical plants but I have never gotten anything flowering to flower for me ever again so I not overly confident about this! I have an Ott light on it and I know about the shrivleing steams if it is either over watered or underwatered but you all are talking about mounting them on cork! ACK!  What have I gotten  into? Please help!

Well, mounting orchids on cork is generally reserved for those who have special growing areas or greenhouses.  Now, if you could tell us a little about the orchid that you bought…such as…what type it is…then perhaps all of us who have had more experience killing…erm…growing orchids could help you not repeat the same mistakes. —Prem

Response:

I am an Secondary Ag. Teacher. We have a 18′ * 45′ greenhouse in which we are presently raising poinsettias.  An orchid grower gave me about 25 various varieties of orchids.  I am running a daytime temp of 78 F and night temp of 62F. will this affect the orchids dramatically?  I would also be interested in a web site or reference text for use.  As i browsed through the comments on the line many indicated that they water  once or twice a week and feed twice a month.  My students water MWF and feed MF. Is this excessive?  true, I can’t tell you  the name of the type of orchids.

Response:

I am an Secondary Ag. Teacher. We have a 18′ * 45′ greenhouse in which we are presently raising poinsettias.  An orchid grower gave me about 25 various varieties of orchids.  I am running a daytime temp of 78 F and night temp of 62F. will this affect the orchids dramatically?  I would also be interested in a web site or reference text for use.  As i browsed through the comments on the line many indicated that they water  once or twice a week and feed twice a month.  My students water MWF and feed MF. Is this excessive?  true, I can’t tell you  the name of the type of orchids.

C.R., Your temps are probably suitable. Certainly unless you have cool growing Orchids none are going to be harmed More than likely, and this is qualified by various factors, you’re watering way too much. As a first autoresponder will send you a file of basic cultural info. For more specific info you can visit our website at http://www.vengers.com/ and click on "Cultural Files". -Rod- Venger’s Orchids Website http://www.vengers.com/

Response:

I am an Secondary Ag. Teacher. We have a 18′ * 45′ greenhouse in which we are presently raising poinsettias.  An orchid grower gave me about 25 various varieties of orchids.  I am running a daytime temp of 78 F and night temp of 62F. will this affect the orchids dramatically?  I would also be interested in a web site or reference text for use.  As i browsed through the comments on the line many indicated that they water  once or twice a week and feed twice a month.  My students water MWF and feed MF. Is this excessive?  true, I can’t tell you  the name of the type of orchids.

My first concern would be the attraction of white fly to the orchids from the poinsettia. If your not in or near the south then forget this concern. My second concern would be your fertilizing. A rule of thumb I was taught is weakly, weekly. I would cut your dilusion to 1/4 recomended usage. My third suggestion is to remember: most orchids die from over watering. And finally , the temps are good until you find out thru research exactly what you have, as far as genera and there preferences. Good luck, Michael

Response:

Filed under: Cymbidium Orchids

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