Sick looking cattleya forbessii seedling.

[playtime8978]

I need some advice on this Catt forbessii seedling, I have had it about 3 months and It is not looking well at all. It was sat about 2 ft away from a Metal halide light and watered about once a week, I have moved it furthers away fr the light it is now about 4 ft away from the light and no developments the new growth seems strong and has good roots n it but the older leaves I am worried about, temp is around 21c where it is now and around 24c where it was before I moved it around 3 days ago. I am scared of over watering it after losing two adult phals that way but I am wondering If I am not wtering enough the other seedlings that came along with it are doing well but this guy is not happy, any advice as to remedy my problem and what it is and what I am doing wrong much appreciated I dont wanna lose any of my orchids by stupid mistakes

[cindiras]

The older leaves are showing a lack of water. That could mean only the roots by the newest growth are viable and providing water to the plant. It could mean the heat of the Halide lamp drew water from the plant faster than the roots could take up fresh water. It could mean there was not enough humidity in the area around the plant. First thing to check is the roots. Unpot, give the roots a 10 minute soak in tepid water, check to see if the older roots are mushy feeling and remove any that are rotting and repot. It should be able to handle the higher light output of the halide lamp, and the higher temps near it. The second step to try would be a humidity tray beneath the pot. I have been using plastic see-through drip trays with a double layer of marbles filling the tray. Set the pot atop the marbles and fill the drip tray to just below the top of the marbles with water. Keep an eye on the water level, it disappears rapidly!

[Becky15349]

That catt is being cooked! It was prob not aclimated to the light slowly enough, and it nees more water. Curling leaves mean water stress
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[playtime8978]

I didnt think of acclimatising it! thank you so much both for the repliesand advice. I will slip it out of its pot tomorrow morning and see whats going on under the medium but it I am thinking that I have 'cooked' it by not getting it used to the brighter light, it was under flourescent for its first few weeks with me and has gotten ill looking after I moved it to the metal halide, a humidity tray might be a good idea though it is on one at the moment but it has run out of water yet again ( only filled it a few days ago) I shall soak the roots for a few minutes and check them out just to make sure there is nothing nasty going on in there and water it more often I am just so scared of over watering.

[wetfeet101b]

What is the humidity in the growing area?
It looks like the plant is dessicated. Most likely due to the plant evaporating (Transpiration ) more water from the leaves than the roots can take in.

Plants do this usually in response to high temperatures combined with low humidity.

[playtime8978]

The humidity is about 50% at the lower level I dont know what it is on the higher level I am guessing lower than the lower level so I think I need to at least have a humidity tray up there before my others start looking sick as well, Thank you for your help, Orchid Talk members rock

[playtime8978]

OH my! not a good sight in the morning, I whipped this little guy out of the pot and to my horror the roots are rotted except the new ones, any advice as to what to do now,I know I need to get rid of the old roots but do I divide the plant where the new roots are and ditch the rest or just remove the dead roots and repot as is. I really didnt expect this I thought it was just too dry for it so close to the lamp, the medium was soggy to the bottom of the pot and was watered about 4 days ago. I really could kick myself I have made this mistake on two phals over watering and really didnt think I was over watering this little guy, I had repotted it as the medium had broken down in the old potting mix and put into this about 4 weeks ago.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hi Carrie,

Let those roots dry out between watering. Also, remove the squishy roots that should simply fall away when you touch them. I do not recommend dividing the plant with so few roots. Good luck.

Cheers,
BD

[playtime8978]

The roots are not falling away but they are hollow and squash together, Do I leave all the growth on it and just remove all dead roots and repot or do I need to cut off some of the plant where it has no roots and throw it away?

[Phyrex]

I never cut anything off that isn't completely dead as there are always nutrients left in the p-bulbs that the new growth can use. Just remove the mushy/hollow roots and repot it into new medium. Then make sure that the medium dries out between watering but ensure that it doesn't stay completely dry for too long. I'd put it on a humidity tray to help the recovery. Make sure the water that stays in the humidity tray doesn't touch the bottom of the pot because the media will suck up the water and stay too wet.