Welcome to the Irish Orchid Society › Forums › Irish Orchid Society Orchid Forums › General Discussion › General Orchid Cultivation Issues, Questions & Advice › Nutrient deficiency?
- This topic has 2 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 3 years, 5 months ago by
David Morse.
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- 24th September 2021 at 8:31 am #2917
David Morse
ParticipantHi All,
I would really appreciate some advice. I suspect some of my plants are exhibiting signs of nutrient deficiency. The older leaves have a mottled appearance. I feed between 70 to 100 tds at every watering with Akernes Rain Mix but maybe this is not enough.
Any advice would be really appreciated! I have some photos included.
Happy growing,
Caroline - 28th September 2021 at 7:45 pm #2920
David Morse
ParticipantHiya Caroline,
Firstly, Akerne’s Rainmix is an excellent orchid fertiliser and I have used it myself for years. If you have applied it at the recommended concentration there should be no deficiency issues.
Such blotching can often be seen in the OLDER leaves of cattleya/laelias and is natural. If the newer leaves seem healthy I wouldn’t worry.
I have also seen similar blotching in orchids that have been getting prolonged strong sunshine and they recovered their uniform green appearance when transferred to the shade. If this is true in your case the problem should resolve over over the winter.
I don’t think it is virus disease as typically the symptoms would be yellow streaking/circular patterns/black pitting indentations (and sometimes flower colour-breaking).
So I would wait and see. Anyone else have comments on this? - 12th October 2021 at 7:11 am #2921
David Morse
ParticipantHi Shane,
Thanks so much for your reply and advice I really appreciate it. I do give them high light and I also have strong LED lights so that might be what is happening. One of the plants pictured is a Dendrobium Farmeri so I am probably going overboard on the light.
Many thanks again,
Caroline
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