Split leaves & Brown tips - Path - Orchid Board

MESFLR · #1 01-16-2013, 11:42 AM

Hi,

I have a young Paphiopedilum rothschildianum Charles E x Borneo which looks healthy and might bloom this Spring.

It has abundant new grow and a good green color. I am watering the plant every other day and have not added any fertilizer.

However, now I am noticing that few of the tips are turning brown and the leaves are beginning to split. I don't think this is a disease.

Should I add some vitamins or water less or let it be?

Thank you for any help in advance.
Mary Ellen

WhiteRabbit · #2 01-16-2013, 11:23 PM

Can you post a photo? How big is this plant? Is there new growth? It's possible the fan is dying due to age.
What type of media is it potted in? How large is the pot? Watering every other day seems likely to be too much, but several factors affect that. Do you use a skewer to determine when to water?

Bill U. · #3 01-17-2013, 02:06 AM

I wonder if some of it may have to do with water quality? I personally do not have paphs (yet) but if they are anything like phrags, the brown tips and splitting could be chalked up to high levels of dissolved solids in the water source. OR your plant could be looking for some more humidity as well!

I would check out the dissolved mineral levels in your water source (if from tap water, etc) and/or let your water sit out a bit to help get rid of nasty chlorine molecules (which I know that phrags don't like, I am not sure about paphs). You could switch to a distilled or RO supply source with fertilizer. Or, you might just want to put it over a humidity tray and/or give it a light misting in the morning to help increase humidity.

There are lots of different things that could be causing this from the info that you have given us. But if you are going to make a change, start the changes slowly and do one at a time to see if there is any improvement/worsening of the condition. Good luck! Keep us posted!