Mottled leaf paph loosing it's mottled look.

[Paul Mc]

What does this mean? Too much light or too little?

Also, I have continually had issues with mine. While it consistently sends up new growths and new leaves, all the old leaves continually start turning yellow at the tips, progressing up towards the base while browning and turning dry along the way.

I understand from my local OS that the water in our municipality is actually really good for most orchids, including paphs. Everyone in the OS uses our water to water them. I fertilize maybe every 3 weeks or so (ok, I'm bad about it - but I'm getting better since I never used to fertilize, lol...).

Any thoughts or comments?

BTW, I have been doing my due diligence in reading about the mottled leaf paphs in an effort to learn what I can but still have these issues. My other paph is growing like a weed and is extremely happy, but not this one!!!

[quiltergal]

Paul, can you tell us what Paph. it is? That would help. How often are you watering? When was the last time you repotted?

[Paul Mc]

I water when there is no condensation in the clear plastic pot (generally about twice a week - only once with light fertilizer). Repotted in late spring. It's a Wizardy x Nedra Coyner.

[Shiffdaddy]

Just throwing it out there that a lot of plants (not sure about this specific orchid) use nitrogen as a mobile nutrient. So when the plant is putting out new growth the old growth turns yellow because they are sacrificing nitrogen from themselves for the new growth.

Again just food for thought. Dont know what is happening for sure though. Pics?

Ben

[RosieC]

I found that my mottled Maudiae types faded in too much light. I moved them to slightly lower and the colour came back.

Not sure if this is the only cause, but it did seem to make a difference to mine.

[Paul Mc]

Wish I could post pictures, but I trimmed and clipped them up a bit a few days ago.

[silken]

As RosieC mentioned, I would go with too much light. I have read that the mottled varietis usually prefer less light than the plain green varieties.

[quiltergal]

Too much light doesn't explain the old growth die off. Paul, how many fans does this plant have?

[Paul Mc]

3 fans, 1 is almost completely dead. One is brand new and one is from last year.

[Cym Ladye]

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

3 fans, 1 is almost completely dead. One is brand new and one is from last year.

Sounds like a basic root problem to me on loss of growths. Light and heat can both affect the mottled leaf paphs.