I also got scape blast on my almost ready to open Elvas.
Could be a sudden temperature change from 40 to 60 and then back to 40 in NYC or fungus for Bud blast.
Sad... Strangely seems to effect my Elvas plants only.
I have to budding Elvas and both got Bud blasted.
My Baby Star and another miniature look okay. Cross my fingers.
Anyone experience bud blast during weather change ?

michele

I have always had problems with Elvas. This is the second year I was trying to grow one and see the flower, and this was the second time I bought a new bulb to make sure that it is not me... But it seems it is me or Elvas is quite unreliable just as White Nymph is. I have not seen Elvas flower in real life that developed fully yet. So next year, I will have to buy a new one once again. One has to keep steadfast if the is curious.
And it was so interesting. I picked up a bulb from the same box and sent it to Cindee, and her Elvas bloomed for her like a dream. Her bulb and my bulb were sisters or brothers, yet mine did the same as the other one last year, and dried the flowers down on the top of the 5 inches scape. We have talked about Elvas not too long ago and we got a lot of similar stories and we got a lot of opinions from successful owners that Elvas was one of the easies for them. I start to suspect that maybe Elvas is sensitive to certain weather, and maybe Southern California is not good for it. Who knows.

My Elvases did the same thing, but I bought them at the grocery store, and the bulbs were definitely not top class to begin with. THey were small in size and dry looking. Their second buds are coming up better but look like they will bloom at about 6" like the others. I sure would like to see taller stems on them , but at least these buds do not look dry. Have you managed to grow an old one on for a year and see if it develops better?

Not yet. I must have done something wrong with last year's bulb, because it did not grow large and produce bloom for me. It does not matter. I keep on tending for it and this year's disappointment and buy a new one in October.

Michelle,
Sorry for the delay in responding to this. Did the leave just brown up after awhile? Any photo's? If no other leaves push up you may want to treat with an insecticide, a systemic would be best in case there is anything inside the bulb. If new growth continues to push up It may just be an odd leaf.
Chaz

Another possible cause is over watering (I saw this happen once on my first Hippi -- it had five full size and healthy leaves but the sixth 'grew in' yellow to a length of about 2-3 inches then died). Shortly after the yellow leaf the hippi went 'limp' and let its leaves sag to the ground. If you suspect it might be overwatering, I'd recommend a quick and careful repotting in a drier/better draining mix. (This will also give you an opportunity to check for root rot or rotting layers of the scale - other results of overwatering.)

Once I moved my hippi in question out of pot and remixed the soil with a bit more perlite and repotted back in, it was far happier. Needless to say it was watered less often after that! The leaves were back up in a full and happy position within hours. It took it a little while to grow a new sixth leaf, but it made a recovery :)

I sure hope your problem isn't insects, but I'd definitely follow Chaz's advice: better safe than sorry when it comes to insects that harm hippies.

I've had a few hippis exhibit the same symptom of small yellowing leaves growing in from the center of the plant, and I suspected over-watering as I tend to have a heavy hand when it comes to that part of care... I allow my hippis to dry out more in between waterings now, and I water most from the bottom, filling the deep plastic saucers instead of dumping water on them from overhead.

I normally check for moisture by sticking my finger down into the medium as far as it will reach... if I feel even the slightest bit of moisture, I know it's too soon to add more water. I also have a plant meter that measures light, moisture, PH levels and fertilizer... I use it to check for moisture, and it's been a big help in knowing when watering time is. A good moisture meter will only set you back about 24 bucks, and I consider it a good investment, especially when I think of all I've spent on my bulbs!

The leaves come up yellowish and wilt. To be on the safe side, I have throw away the Appleblossom bulb so it won't infect the rest of my collection.
Thank you all