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Zygopetalum leaves curled

Discussion in 'Issues, Disease and Pests' started by KMG, May 31, 2021.

  1. KMG

    KMG New Member

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    I've had this one for several years and the leaves have always been quite stiff and curled, some almost tubular.
    It blooms maybe twice yearly and the flowers are healthy.
    What could be causing the leaves to curl like this?
    20210531_082110.jpg 20210531_082247.jpg 20210531_081955.jpg
     
    J E likes this.
  2. Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

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    Location:
    Oak Island NC
    Lack of humidity?
     
  3. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Do you have other Zygopetalum that grow normally?
     
  4. Sabinchen

    Sabinchen Well-Known Member

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    Maybe humidity or pests. Spray a bit water at the leaves backside min. two times a day. The substrate looks verry dry too. And it looks as you watering with hard water.
     
  5. J E

    J E Jaime Escobedo

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    It's somewhat dehydrated
     
  6. KMG

    KMG New Member

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    This is my only zygo. Lots of Phals and a couple colmanaras that do really well.
     
  7. KMG

    KMG New Member

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    Yes; very hard water here. :-/

    No pests, but will try misting the leaves.

    I moved it to a west window; which would normally be too much afternoon sun for my other orchids...in the last couple days it has started to put out a new flower spike. So it's evidently happier in this spot, but those leaves are just kind of ugly.
    :(
     
  8. KMG

    KMG New Member

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    20210605_101210.jpg
     
  9. Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

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    Misting is not a particularly good way of raising the humidity.

    Humidity, by definition, is “water vapor in the air”, not “wet leaves”. Water on leaves does not evaporate readily, orchids are poor at foliar absorption of water, and pockets of water sitting on the plant make great little incubators for bacteria and fungi. Did a way to evaporate/disperse more water into the air.
     
  10. Sabinchen

    Sabinchen Well-Known Member

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    You can use Bowls with lattice where the Orchid standing on it. The Bowls is filled with water. And the Orchids are standing dry on the lattice.
    For the hard water, mix it with demineralized water 50% to 50%
     
  11. KMG

    KMG New Member

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    good suggestion - thanks!
     
  12. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    A lot of Zygos are cool growers and will generally not thrive in the same conditions as most phals. Also, spikes don't appear that quickly after a change of conditions. Except for crown rot, orchids don't do much very fast.