Sunburn on Orchid leaves - causes, prevention, treatment

[@TheRealCoryKent]

Hi Danny. I absolutely love your channel. Ever since I bought my mother a Phalaenopsis for Mother's Day, I have been watching you loyally, everything I needed to understand how to help my mom's plant. Like many, I got the orchid in a plastic pot full of sphagnum moss, even though it was from an actual specialty garden and flower store. When I took it out of the pot, all but the first inch or so of the roots were yellow-brown and mushy. I cut them all back, took off the blooms so it could concentrate on root development, and planted it in a ceramic pot with aeration openings on all sides, and external drainage tray built-in along the bottom. I filled the pot with about 85% small orchid chips and 15% or less sphagnum moss to hold some moisture. I put the whole plant and pot in a plastic tub with a layer of rocks that hold water, to create a high humidity environment, and placed it next to a balcony window that gets sun for 10+ hours a day, but the sun angle can only hit the balcony; it cannot shine through the door directly, so it is bright but no direct sun. Well many months later, new roots are starting to come out and just this past couple of weeks, I can see new baby leaves growing in the middle. However, yesterday I was testing the heater along the baseboard, and I accidentally left it on too long. On top of that, it turns out one of the leaves was leaning against the heater, and now has a large burn on it. I've watched some videos but I'm unclear at this stage of recovery if the size is too big to cut off just the injured portion as you did in this video, or if I should cut off the whole leaf (and how to go about doing that), or just leave it until the other new leaves have grown. I took a picture for you to see, and I'll send them to your email. Thanks to you I have been able to do such a good job helping this orchid recover, and I just love this "little girl" now, so I don't want to mess it up. Please let me know, either here or if you want to make a video about it, I don't mind that either. Thank you so much, I just love your channel and videos! :)

[@crazybirds9673]

Your vids have been a huge help I have just bought orchids and I'd love have them last me a long time. And your vids have also shown me how pick a good plant and what to look for. Thankyou.

[@wendylivingston6513]

Thanks for this video. I decided to leave my sunburned orchid as is since she’s growing new leaves and trying to bloom.

[@julioaugusto1529]

This made so much sense. My phalaenopsis suddenly got several sunburns on its leaves last summer but it never gets any direct sunlight. However, it was an extremely hot morning, around 98ºF by 10AM

[@alishazablow1003]

That’s what just happened to 3 of my phalaenopsis. You can see the window blinds shadows on the leaves. Left lines were it was protected and where it wasn’t.

[@barbyoung2897]

Thanks for clarifying the difference between “sunburn” and damage from overheating. I had my Phals overwintering in a greenhouse covered with shade cloth. As they started flowering, I brought them into the house (much cooler) and the sudden change in temp seemed to cause flower drop on 2 of them. So I put those back in the hothouse. A few weeks later I noticed these 2 were really struggling, and their leaves quite warm to touch, despite getting no direct sun. One of the newest leaves turned yellow and literally fell off. So now I’ve cut off the flower stems and I think I can see a tiny new little leaf starting to come on. (Roots and old leaves still look fine) I’m pleased that it’s more likely heat damage than some disease. Fingers crossed I can nurse them back to health now! (Next year I think I’ll bring them all inside when the first flower stems start to grow)

[@ylvarw]

Hi Danny, another video suggestion =) i coudn't find one about it, when orchids change the form or color of the leaf depending on the ammount of light it recieves... like when an orchid starts producing long thin leafs instead of short wide leafs. And how some leafes sometimes are curled or twisted (not dehydration wrincles) because lack of air moisture etc... =)

[@capblap]

Hi Danny :) Would it be possible for you at some point to explain anthrocyanin in vandas. I have a vanda oranooch that I do believe I burned. Or is that just the anthrocyanin that is good for vandas to show? Thank you for all of your help and I hope you have a blessed day! Also, and sorry to add more to your already huge list of questions, could you explain the difference between the leaf types of vandas. I believe mine is semi terete which helps us determine light requirements?!? thank you so so much :)

[@thadathilvlog]

Thankyu

[@chloerosenberg8466]

hello there, my orchids are sunburnt, plus some roots, I've gone to the local plant shop to get some first aid care, orchid food, with patience, will the roots recover?

[@stephaniemcdaniel5744]

Hi Danny! I have an issue with my phal’s leaves that I can’t identify what it is after soooo much research I’m wondering if you can help me??

[@snpydhk]

hi Dani, i am new to Orchids. your videos are very insighful! Fairly good with plants in general. how do feel about egg shells in orchid pots? a friend does it and swears by the practice. His orchids do look good

[@lindsaynicole8967]

I received an orchid as a birthday gift last September. I had to put it in my car and drive 2 hours then work for 3 with my orchid in the car. She got sun burned but the flowers stayed on for a while. 3 new leaves have grown and it just re-bloomed on one of it's stems! If the other stem didn't re-bloom, should I trim it? There does appear to be some discoloration on the other stem but it's still green all the way up

[@cincin5112]

hi ...thanks for this vid....it has helped me ..

[@nasimakhandakar4169]

Thanks ❤️❤️

[@olgacandelaria7761]

How can I differentiate between sunburn and other leaf spots like fungi or bacterial infections???

[@Saiege]

Mine aren't yellow. But instead, most leaves that were exposed to the sunlight has bleached white. Nothing is really yellow, but does that mean it is fully damaged?

[@GenRN]

Ugh. Living in zone 8a in Texas and trying so hard to get my orchids to re-bloom. It is October, Fall for us. So I’m putting them outside at night trying to expose them to the colder temperature. Morning came and the sun has moved and one ended up in the sun. My leaf spot was dark and then dried with spots of white which I kind of think were fertilizer salts. The most damage was on a bottom leaf of 12 leaves (phal) so I just cut off the ugly part and cinnamon-ed the cut. I was afraid that the 54° F (12°C) temp got to it. I’m feeling kind of devastated because this is my 1st real screw up after 3 years of keeping them and I can’t get them to bloom. They have to live inside and I can’t get a big enough temperature swing. It’s either too hot or too cold but these crazy plants have me setting alarms at midnight and 3 am to run them back in the house when the temp drops. I’m feeling desperate for flowers and almost giving up. 😂. Each of them has like 12 gorgeous lush green shiny leaves BUT they won’t give up the flowers.

[@oanad5722]

Dani, I have a question. I have a cattleya with at least 12 canes which in the last year grew canes in 3 directions. Whenever I see orchids online they are a lot smaller. Is there a reason why people don't have orchids with many canes? I also saw a lot of videos and tutorials on dividing orchids. Why are divisions preferred over big orchids? It would be nice if you could do a video about that. 😊

[@alisonmaczka7359]

Oana D I may not be Dani, but I can partially answer your question. Sometimes it can be a space thing. I have a limited growing space and if I want to be able to have a wider variety, I need to focus on compact plants and divide when they become too large. Sometimes it's a money and space thing. For some spectacular plants with unique/gorgeous blooms, fragrance or other desirable traits, a division or two can net the seller a tidy little profit. Or some trade divisions for divisions of other plants. There are many reasons people choose to decide their divide their plants. These are just a few possible reasons.

[@mechanicalbees7698]

Hello Dani! Thanks for the great videos! I have a question. I thought your vandas all went bare root again? Thanks if you reply!

[@LightWhisperStudio]

Is there possibly any way I can send you a picture of my sun burnt orchid for what you think I may do with it? I have removed the SEVERELY damaged leaves and have left two that also have a bit of sunburn but weren't nearly as bad at the others, not sure if i should cut these two leaves due to the fast of the location of the discoloration and would love your expertise on the situation.

[@liliansather683]

Hi Dany I saw you have a huge vanda in media clay pellets or bark? I ask because my vanda lost almost all roots , what can I do? Please help me i don't want lost! It's very hot here I watering twice a day fertilizer 20-20-20 ,once a month,she is hanger out side under Palm .SOS thanks in advance.

[@shannondarling1001]

My orchid got sunburn on the stem and 3 new buds fell off. I had it in front of a sunny window for a week. The stem is turning yellow. What should I do?

[@mirandabeaudry7936]

Have you ever seen sunburn on aerial roots? I adopted an orchid (phal) from my family who was neglecting it and it’s in recovery and i’m trying to find the right lighting for her. Otherwise healthy roots have gotten a faint tan “stained” look to them as I’ve been getting into a weekly watering regimen. I’m not sure if it’s because the water was very cold when I hydrated it or if the roots are being overexposed (or both)

[@mirandabeaudry7936]

Disregard :) I just found your How to water Phals and water quality is the culprit! Thanks for having such a great reference library on KZbin!

[@idkwhattoputherebuthi153]

Half of my orchid’s crow has burned but the leafs are fine, I gave it water because it was wilting, will it be okay? I have removed it from it’s location

[@gbeagle417]

So I must be the 907 person that's burned their orchid. So from what ur saying about the green parts that remain on the leaf. Maybe mine will come back.. I only have like half my leaves not burned and only have about 6 leaves.

[@cherylpenn4509]

have an orchid taken from the bin so sunburnt I dont know if I can save her.......

[@SAMMIsLIFE]

How do u know if theres an infection spreading?

[@duriandolly9216]

I am planning to repotting some orchids tonight. They are in need of some hydrogen peroxide. My question is, after I spray the roots, should they be rinsed, before placing in fresh bark? Thanks!

[@rubysch3534]

duriandolly hydrogen peroxide turns into water so no need to rinse afterwards

[@kandieb3]

I’ve had my orchid in same window for a few years and suddenly this summer it got bad sunburn.

[@charmainecartuciano6647]

thanks for the video im so guilty to newly purchased deep purple den phal orchid yesterday,because i know that she loves sunlight so i put it quickly under sunlight at 8 am and at 11 am i notice that the leaves are geeting warm and turning golden yellow.Im so guilty for her then i cut the leaves and walkaway then bite yhe leaves that i cut .lol.... taste like a tea bag

[@ehehehehe2815]

Will an orchid mounted in cyprus on a tree all year round get sunberned ??