Phrag leaf tips turning brown

[Melody]

Originally Posted by slipperfreak

Like I said, you can't use straight distilled, or even tap, if you don't fertilize - orchids (along with all plants and all living things) need minerals and nutrients to survive. But you have to be careful not to provide more of these things than the plant can utilize. Brown leaf tips - as we see on this Phrag - are caused from an accumulation of unused salts in the plant's cells, which kills them. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using straight distilled - as long as you are fertilizing the plant properly. Some fertilizers don't have calcium and magnesium in them (which are present in tap water but not distilled), so you either have to use tap water or get a cal-mag fertilizer (or supplement with lime/oyster shells and epsom salts). Some people have tap water that is so hard they have to use pure water and supplement cal-mag as I just explained. When it comes to Phrags, which are sensitive to minerals, almost everyone gets better results with pure water (tap water does vary in quality).

You seem to be offended by my initial reply - I didn't mean to be confrontational or rude or anything... I'm just stating fact. If you're new to orchid growing then you can trust me here - I've been doing this for 9 years and Phrags are one of my specialties. If you ask any accomplished Phrag grower they'll tell you the same thing. I'm sure Linda Thorne is a great orchid grower, so there had to have been some kind of miscommunication here.

Slipperfreak: *sigh I think the only miscommunication and misunderstanding is between you and I. and I am offended that you fail to see that and that your tone comes across as cacophonous. I also want to apologize for any of your toes I have stepped on, I didn't mean to sound distrustful of your expertise. I will try to stay away from phrag threads and leave them to your expertise, and others like you.

To Connie Star: I apologize for this occurrence on your thread and wish you the best of luck with your plants.

Sorry Everyone.
Sincerely,
Melody

[slipperfreak]

Originally Posted by Melody

Slipperfreak: *sigh I think the only miscommunication and misunderstanding is between you and I. and I am offended that you fail to see that and that your tone comes across as cacophonous. I also want to apologize for any of your toes I have stepped on, I didn't mean to sound distrustful of your expertise. I will try to stay away from phrag threads and leave them to your expertise, and others like you.

To Connie Star: I apologize for this occurrence on your thread and wish you the best of luck with your plants.

Sorry Everyone.
Sincerely,
Melody

There really is no need for an apology Melody! This Board is here for people to discuss orchids, share experiences, and to learn from others - I'm just trying to be helpful. I'm not trying to be unpleasant or disrespectful, and I apologize that I've sounded that way. The last thing I want to do is alienate one of our new members! I sincerely hope that I haven't made you feel uncomfortable here, and I hope that you continue to post openly - we're happy to have you.

[Connie Star]

Originally Posted by slipperfreak

After looking more closely at the photos, I'm concerned about the third one. Is this the same plant (it doesn't look like it)? It appears to be browing from the base of the leaves towards the ends. It may have crown rot - I'd check it out.

You're right, Joe. Picture 3 is a Phrag klotcheanum. I took that picture in December, and since then I trimmed it, mostly by just gently tugging on the rotten appearing leaves. It seemed to get much better and I took a picture of it today. There is a newer section (what do you call that, anyway?) that looks healthy and doesn't have much brown. Nevertheless, I'm going to cut back on the fertilizer. I now have a lot or rainwater, thanks to the storms.

[Connie Star]

Originally Posted by Melody

Slipperfreak: *sigh I think the only miscommunication and misunderstanding is between you and I. and I am offended that you fail to see that and that your tone comes across as cacophonous. I also want to apologize for any of your toes I have stepped on, I didn't mean to sound distrustful of your expertise. I will try to stay away from phrag threads and leave them to your expertise, and others like you.

To Connie Star: I apologize for this occurrence on your thread and wish you the best of luck with your plants.

Sorry Everyone.
Sincerely,
Melody

No need to apologize, Melody. OB is a great place for all of us to learn from each other.

[slipperfreak]

Originally Posted by Connie Star

You're right, Joe. Picture 3 is a Phrag klotcheanum. I took that picture in December, and since then I trimmed it, mostly by just gently tugging on the rotten appearing leaves. It seemed to get much better and I took a picture of it today. There is a newer section (what do you call that, anyway?) that looks healthy and doesn't have much brown. Nevertheless, I'm going to cut back on the fertilizer. I now have a lot or rainwater, thanks to the storms.

That does look much better! Nice job.

New fans of leaves are typically referred to as "new growths".

[D_novice]

I recently fell hard for Phrags and have gotten a bunch of them in the past several weeks. I believe the brown tips and yellowing has occurred since I've had them but I can't rule out that the process had started before they were mine. Some people even in this thread say this is just part of Phrags; others mention too much fertilizer though I haven't used much (though I probably put some RePotMe time release 11-2-12 pellets in the pots). They aren't getting colder than 50 degrees; the air they are in might be a bit dry though they're in dishes with gravel and water and around many other plants and on a table with humidity trays; and they get very bright (direct but not all day) light. The leaves getting the most light aren't the ones turning yellow or brown - it's generally the older leaves.

First 4 photos, Phrag Grande Macrochilum Giganteum FCC/AOS, 4" pot, not in bloom

Next 2 photos, Phrag Franz Glanz (besseae Winter Sun x richteri Green Giant), 2nd photo shows one leaf brown at tip, no yellow, but others have brown tips also

Final 2 photos, Phrag Cotton Candy 'Green Hornet Grasshopper' x 'Hanne Poppow Tickled Pink' - this one has crinkled new growth that I didn't see when I got it, but I can't imagine that in 10 days I've dried this plant out! I'm hopeful that this new growth can recover

link to photos of brown yellow leaf phrags on imgur

Thanks for any additional tips!