Encyclia radiata finally blooms - but I don't know....

[mauraec]

My E. radiata has been in bud for almost 6 weeks, but is finally blooming. It's very pretty, although not as fragrant as I thought it would be. Mostly, I'm worried about the brown spots on the leaves - a few of them were there when I got it during the winter, but all of them seem to have it now, even the tip of the newest growth is brown. I haven't had this issue with my E. fragrans, or E. pentosis, so I don't know what's going on. Anyone have ideas?

[Desdinova]

I suspect fertilizer buildup.

[pavel]

Lovely flowers. I would suspect perhaps bacterial spot, but will be interested in others' input. Some plants do just seem to be more prone to such though it typically is just unsightly as opposed to a health risk.

[mauraec]

Really? I hardly ever fertilize - in fact I don't always even manage weekly/weakly.

[Dorsetman]

Really? I hardly ever fertilize - in fact I don't always even manage weekly/weakly.

However, the plant may still have compost around its roots which contains too much stuff - from past fertiliser applications or just from decay of the compost ( yes, even if it is inorganic - even rock wool decomposes ).
Assuming you have a meter - surely you have a meter Maura ? - try this . Take some plain water - distilled, non-ionic or rain- whatever; measure the EC and the pH. Should come out about pH 6.0, EC <75. Pour this into the plant, let most drain out, then catch the last tablespoonful or so. Then take some meter readings of that last drainage. If using bark compost which has started to decompose, you may be shocked at what you get - I have seen pH 4, and EC 1200... That means that the roots are being killed , and the plant will be in less than perfect health. This would certainly explain the die back from leaf-tips.
As to the spots, which are bacterial in origin, they are very difficult to avoid if you have good humidity ; there isa paradox here ; low humidity means no leaf spots , but poor plant health . High humidity means great plants, but high risk of bacterial and fungal infections. The great trrick is finding the right compromise. When you have that figured, let me know would you ?

Will pm you later in reply elsewhere.
Best ,
G.

[mauraec]

However, the plant may still have compost around its roots which contains too much stuff - from past fertiliser applications or just from decay of the compost ( yes, even if it is inorganic - even rock wool decomposes ).
Assuming you have a meter - surely you have a meter Maura ? - try this . Take some plain water - distilled, non-ionic or rain- whatever; measure the EC and the pH. Should come out about pH 6.0, EC <75. Pour this into the plant, let most drain out, then catch the last tablespoonful or so. Then take some meter readings of that last drainage. If using bark compost which has started to decompose, you may be shocked at what you get - I have seen pH 4, and EC 1200... That means that the roots are being killed , and the plant will be in less than perfect health. This would certainly explain the die back from leaf-tips.
As to the spots, which are bacterial in origin, they are very difficult to avoid if you have good humidity ; there isa paradox here ; low humidity means no leaf spots , but poor plant health . High humidity means great plants, but high risk of bacterial and fungal infections. The great trrick is finding the right compromise. When you have that figured, let me know would you ?

Will pm you later in reply elsewhere.
Best ,
G.

Thank you, Geoff. I suspect you and Julie are right - I was thinking only about my own fertlizing habits, and I have not indeed repotted this one yet. I know this will shock you, Geoff, but I have yet to acquire an EC/pH meter. I have light meters, hygrometers, all sorts of medium-amending materials (limestone, oyster shells, Miracid), a rain meter, 5 variously placed thermometers, but only when we had Siamese Fighting Fish did I have a pH meter and I've no idea where that has gone to. I am relieved to know the spotting is from the lose-lose/win-win amount of humidity it receives (about 60% on average, and even more this soggy summer in Atlanta). I will, of course, look into getting myself a proper meter, and until I can afford one, I will plan to repot the Encyclia once it's past blooming. The more I think about it, the more conviced I am that the medium is decomposing - particularly in view of the fact that neither of my other Encyclia species have the slightest sign of bacterial damage, and one was potted upon arrival from a trans-atlantic voyage, the other I repotted shortly after it bloomed last year.

[coeruleo]

i just got one of these mail order, it came in bud and the buds are opening now. they smell terrific! very vanilla in strong light, the scent fades quickly in shade. it showed up a bit crusty looking, with bad roots, but no spots like this. i will probably end up repotting this weekend. the new growth is beginning to put out roots. i got a pentotis seedling too...

[catttan]

Beautiful, Maura. Great pictures, especially the first one.

[mauraec]

Beautiful, Maura. Great pictures, especially the first one.

Thank you, Yew - I have so many more to post, but have not had time yet. I've been trying to work with the 105mm prime lens, but it requires a lot of thought and work in comparison to the zoom. I often have problems with underexposure that didn't appear that way on the LCD - but when I have the time and energy to take photographs now, I know it's a good day. By the way, I gave Phillip's bonsai trees and materials to the Atlanta Bonsai Society, to have them auction them off at their annual auction on August 24th. I will receive some of the proceeds and the group will get their share. They have been very good to me. I still have my dwarf pomegranate, Phillip's comical ginseng, and a flamboyan tree that I bought in Puerto Rico in his memory before we left - I will post photos of them when I can - they are all in need of judicious pruning, but I'm not confident enough to do it myself. How is your bougainvillea?

[catttan]

- ............ How is your bougainvillea?

I've given up on it....it is just too robust to be trained and I'm just not good enough to do it. I'll just stick to orchids and enjoy others' efforts.

Glad to see you're back with the orchids and the photography. That 105 lens is one awesome piece of glass. My youngest son, Sam has just bought a D600 to replace his D7000 and he is very pleased with the pictures taken by it.