Hello,
This is my 1st post and i have been a big fan of this forum for many different reasons. I have a Phrag (Dick Clemente and Bessae) I noticed the other day that on the new growth, that the tops of the leaves started turning brown. the mature plant is doing fine and still flowering. PLEASE HELP. this is my favorite plant in my collection and do not want to loose it. I have a pic but i'm not sure how to attach it.

Thanks

Hello and welcome to the slipper orchid forum! It sounds like rot to me but if you can, please post a photo.

Run to the plant and throw cinnamon on it first!!

Yes, a photo would make it easier to say what it may be and make it easier for us to help you!!!

Do you have a digital camera? I can help you with instuctions on how to post a picture!

Hi and welcome! If you want to email me your photo I will display it for you.

i am not sure how to post a pic pls advise
thanks

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff216/keyprocessing/Orchid.jpg

here is a photo hope it works

I think it is lack of humidity!

Welcome to the forum Derek!:welcomesof:

Ramon:D

i actually have this sitting on a humidity tray. i made the humidity tray, i used a deep ceramic plate and i placed rocks in it and fill the water up to the top of the rocks but i am careful not to leave the bottom of the pot in standing water. i usually refil about once a week.
do u still think it can be humidity?

How wet is the media? How often do you fertilized too? My Jason Fischers and besseae hybrids mostly sit in water.

Ramon:D

i keep the media pretty wet. i was advised when i purchased to keep wet all year. Come to think of it i haven't fertilized in a while, maybe it is a lack of fert? I noticed that when i water sometimes, i see little white bugs inside the media swimming around. Is this a problem? they've been there for a while and it hasn't affected the plant yet.

thanks for the help, and thanks for the warm welcome.

That is one also it could be high mineral in the water quality.

Ramon:D

forgot to mention that i use bottled water since i do not have RO or distilled water.

Some of the bottle water have a lot of minerals added to it. In supermarkets and some stores have e distilled water that you can buy.

Ramon:D

Good job, you posted a pic!

It could be a combination of things.

What do you have it potted in...bark? Is the bark decaying? When was the last time you repotted?

If you see bugs in the media it is time to repot. Are the bugs white and fuzzy, or are they gnats?

I see some dessication (pitting) on the leaves. This could be from spider mites, or from some sort of nutrient problem. The browning tips could be from water quality, amount of water and perhaps too much sun?

If the roots are in poor condition and the plant is not taking up water, you can water all you want to no avail, the plant will still dehydrate. Personally if I see bugs crawling around in the mix I would immediately repot into fresh medium.

I agree with MOST of the previous comments. Little bugs crawling around inside potting media when you water is not good, so definitely repot!
Most bess & it's hybrids like to sit in shallow water, change the water at least weekly. I don't think it's low humidity, I have a GH, so lack of humidity is not an issue for me & I see this. If I'm in doubt - Dragon's Blood!
Most bess & hybrids if in too much light will have leaf curl, this is not the tips, it is the whole length of the leaf both sides.
The water quality is a good point, adding fertilizer isn't going to help if the mineral content is too high. Invest in a TDS meter, they are not expensive at all.

Since no two grow cultures are alike, try the things that folks have suggested here and see what works for you.

I hope it gets better for you!! :fcrossed::fcrossed:

i keep the media pretty wet. i was advised when i purchased to keep wet all year.

Bingo! That is your problem right there! Multiflorals do not like to stay wet at all times, keep them on the dryer side, not bone dry but moist and not sloppy wet. Constant wet = ROT which can lead to the plants demise very quickly.

Bingo! That is your problem right there! Multiflorals do not like to stay wet at all times, keep them on the dryer side, not bone dry but moist and not sloppy wet. Constant wet = ROT which can lead to the plants demise very quickly.

DING DING DING!! We have a winner! You are right on it!! I was thinking that too.

Bingo! That is your problem right there! Multiflorals do not like to stay wet at all times, keep them on the dryer side, not bone dry but moist and not sloppy wet. Constant wet = ROT which can lead to the plants demise very quickly.

I think I got mixed up with members and their plants here and I got you mixed up with another member who has rot on his roths, sorry! Try what have been suggested here and see what works. Provide more air movement, very important. I have also seen the same thing on my besseaes and bess hybrids, I provided more air movement and kept them less wet and that usually solves the rotting problem.

I have had the same problem in the past with besseae and it's hybrids. I've not been able to narrow it down, but keeping the mix evenly moist definitely helps. If there are accumulated salts/minerals in the mix, the roots will burn when the mix dries out and perhaps will cause the leaf problem. For me, the problem occurs when the temperatures get a bit cooler in the fall.
This year I have fertilized more, and the plants are much more vigorous than previously. The key is not to overdo it, and just give it straight water every third watering or so.

Phrags handle a bad mix much better than paphs, but will perform better when repotted annually, especially if they are wet all the time. I would try fresh mix....

Thanks for starting this thread. I had a similar problem with a Phrag I had which no longer exists but I'm learning and have learned so much from this wonderful forum. I have another Phrag so I'll be watching.

I found the reason as to why my Phrag was slowly dying.

I took apart the compost as suggested and as i was spraying the roots off; out came a HUGE pincher bug. It must have been eating the base of my plant. Thankfully the plant is doing fine now, eventhough I had to trim a few leaves back.

Thanks for the help everyone and I have just increased my family to a Berenice, P roth x mica, Liemen, Pinochio and a few others. I am very excited about the new additions. I will post the pics when they flower.

Excellent! :thumbsup: Looking forward to seeing your photos!

Nice new plants!

Awesome...:cool: