Phrag leaf tips turning brown

[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.

[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".

[Izzie]

I agree with the too much fertilizer- I've seen the same thing on some friend's phrags.


If it was another kind of houseplant, I'd say it looks like fluoride poisoning from unfiltered tap water.

[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!