On Oct 15, 5:47 am, "Sinister" wrote:
Hi,

I have a Drac vespertilo (sp?) in spike (2) right now. It's in a
humidity tank made out of a 5 gal aquarium with a plexiglas lid, and
computer fan inside. It's in sphag, in a little basket. I lost the 1st
2 spikes due to my own stupidity (moved it to poor air circulation for
1, and bumped the tip off the other). I've had this plant since Feb.
Point is, I have a very happy, healthy drac growing in my house near
NYC.

What is dimly shaded? I think you need more light. I have a 26W CFL
less than a foot from the plant, shining directly on the plant. Now
the light is going through the plexiglas, but it is anything but
'dim'. It's rarely less than 75-80% humidity, the temps of NYC. I
don't think that ethylene is your problem. Do you grow other orchids?
'Dark' or 'shady' to you may be midnight for the plant. Light! Light!
Now, not brilliant noontime equatorial light, but LIGHT! It (the tank)
is in a NNE window, too. Also what kind of air circulation are you
giving it?

Carolyn

Dimly shaded would be a north-facing window that is shaded by a large
magnolia, blinds and pulled curtains. It is in a hanging basket made of
wire and osmundum fibre, filled with sphagnum and directly in front of a fan
that is constantly blowing on low. The sphagnum is constantly wet/damp. I
have a humidifier that blows directly beneath the plant and the readings of
65% humidity are from a very unreliable device.

I do have a Dendrobium gonzalesii in another room. Oncidium 'Sherry Baby'.
Paphs, Phals, Cats. I have a few here or there. Some have done well,
others have died. Namely, the Paphiopedilum.

The problem is that leaves keep falling off. But the leaves that fall off
recently look perfectly healthy save for the fact that the ends of the stems
are black. They're not a dark green color indicating that they don't have
enough light.

Thanks,
-dxtrwrd

I think (well, I'm convinced) that it needs more light. You can see
mine here
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/...091232087.html
I just posted the picture. Although (as the thread describes) it has
not been growing all the time in that container, it has been growing
just about that distance from that light (26W CFL). Fairly bright,
especially compared to your conditions.

I think that your seemingly 'perfectly healthy' leaves are rotting off
due to too much water combined with too little light. It's probably
enough water for what the plant wants, and even with your air
circulation, I can't insist enough, GIVE IT MORE LIGHT. That's an
unobstructed NNE window behind everything. I know that they say dracs
prefer shade, and mine never sees bright direct sun, but you can see
it is not shade! And the lights are on 16 hrs. There are 2 spikes,
with what I am sure is another on the way.

If I have learned nothing about orchids, I have learned that most are
underlit in the home.

OK, so sit back and tell me about your paph. Or is that one 'lost'?

Good luck!
Carolyn