Question
QUESTION: Jim,
My parents brought me a cattleya from South America whose leaves have started turning brown. I've had it since June of this year (2008) and potted as soon as they brought it up, it seemed like it was doing OK, but now the leaves are turning brown which is concerning me; not sure if it due to the end of summer coming. I have been watering it once per week and using 20-20-20 on a weekly basis as you had recommended.

You can take a look at the orchid by visiting the links below, please notice that the images were taken at high resolution and thus are large; it may take a bit of time for the images to render.

http://www.caripito.com/images/orchids/orchid4.jpg
http://www.caripito.com/images/orchids/orchid5.jpg
http://www.caripito.com/images/orchids/orchid6.jpg
http://www.caripito.com/images/orchids/orchid7.jpg
http://www.caripito.com/images/orchids/orchid8.jpg
http://www.caripito.com/images/orchids/orchid9.jpg

Thanks in advance for your advise,
Angelo

ANSWER: Hello Angelo,

I am afraid I was not able to access the photos you sent, I kept getting a message that the it was unable to locate.  I tried many combinations of the address but none would work.  

At any rate, I will try to answer your question.  

Most cattleya will hold the leaf for several years, for yours to be losing all of the leaves is a little unusual.  When you potted it, did you use potting media that was fairly loose and open?  Cattleyas prefer having an open media that allows air to circulate up and around the roots.  If the media you used is more compact plus watering once a week may be too often.  With an open media you would probably have to water every 3 to 7 days.  Use the 20-20-20 to feed it.  

Cattleyas prefer bright light, almost full sunlight.  Temperatures above 55F with humidity above 40%.  

Hope this helps.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Jim,

Thanks for your reply, I do appreciate it. Some of the leaves have turned brown, not all of them.

I am not sure what is going on with my web server, but you can access the pictures via the following link,

http://71.42.14.237/caripito/images/orchids/orchid4.jpg
http://71.42.14.237/caripito/images/orchids/orchid5.jpg
http://71.42.14.237/caripito/images/orchids/orchid6.jpg
http://71.42.14.237/caripito/images/orchids/orchid7.jpg
http://71.42.14.237/caripito/images/orchids/orchid8.jpg
http://71.42.14.237/caripito/images/orchids/orchid9.jpg

Please take a look and let me know what you think. I checked the media and think it is OK, it is not wet so I don't think it is overwatering. I have been using 20-20-20.

This may just be a case of the plant changing some leaves OR the change of season, but I wanted to ask to make sure.

Thanks again,
Angelo

Answer
Hi Angelo,

I apologize for taking so long to respond.  I've been running back and forth to the hospital to check on my mother's care.  

Thanks for the new links to the photos, I was able to view them although they were fairly large and took a little time to download.  At any rate, they helped me understand what you were talking about.  

It appears that almost all of the cattleya have shriveled growths which usually means there is a problem with the roots - either too wet or too dry.  Regardless of season, the growths should be fairly plump and firm.  

I would suggest taking them out of the pot, remove the media and check the roots for firmness, if they are soft and mushy they are rotten but if they are shriveled, thin and hard they are dry.  Hopefully there are some plump firm live roots left.  

Place the growths in a large plastic bag with a couple sheets of barely moist paper towels then close the bag.  Place it in a warm shady place for 3 to 4 weeks, check to see if there are any new growths appearing at the base of the old growths.  If there are none, reclose the bag and wait another 4 weeks and look again.  If after 3 months there is no evidence of new growths, there is only a remote possibility it will ever produce them.  I hope there are new growths and once they have roots over 3 inches long you can pot it along with the mother into a pot with media.  

Hope this helps.  Good luck.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.