Baby P. Chain Xen Queen leaf with brown spots and wilting edges

[Irena Wang]

Many apologies if this has already been posted somewhere in this vast forum, but I need a little help with my P. Chain Xen Queen.

This is the 3rd new baby leaf that has been growing from my plant (Bought it back in April 2013), and I really love this plant, because it's the 1st phal that I've bought that I haven't killed (yet) via over watering or whatever other horrible beginner mistakes I have committed to poor previous phals I've bought in the past. (Yay! Progress! I think...)

Since buying, I have repotted it from the moss to a bark mixture after it finished flowering (Repotted 5/25/2013'), and (I live in California) I think I found a good place on my desk next to a West facing window where a crack of window lets a little fresh outside air in. Since I've repotted my plant, it has rewarded me already with two beautiful new leaves, two new air roots, and I've seen lots of new roots growing on the bottom around the plant as well (through the plastic container) every time I take it out of the terra cotta pot to water. I water via placing my plant in the sink, and letting the water run till it fills up the pot naturally (through sinkhole at bottom) to the top, and let all the water drain out. I mix it (every other watering) with a Gubler Pro-Blend 19-8-16 Orchid Food (when I remember, I try!), and I try to water it once a week (or when I feel that the bark looks/feels dry).

I was thrilled to see a 3rd leaf come out, but I've noticed that as of late, this new leaf seems to be growing a lot of small brown spots near the base where it's growing out from, and the edges of the outer most tip seems to be... I'm not sure, shriveled/blackened/thinned out... just basically, it looks like quite a sickly leaf. I've attached a photo, but I realize it looks bad... I'm going to try to get a better quality photo up when the daylight comes back around.

Just wanted to see what I can do to rescue this phal, I know it's a beginner's orchid, and seeing how this is the 1st one that I've actually had that I haven't killed yet... I'd love to take care of it well enough for it to reward me with blooms again. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks!

[Silje]

Hmmm...that leaf looks pretty good to me.

The spots you're referring to is quite natural, I think. It could be related to light and that they become more prominent when the plant receives more light, and it could be a genetic thing, some phal species have mottled leaves, and others don't. And it could be a combination of both, and probably other factors as well.

I don't know the color of this particular phal, but I've found that my dark red/purple phals typically have more spots on the leaves than the white ones.

It's very difficult to see the shriveled/blackened/thinned out edges on the picture. I think I can see a tiny bit of dried edge on the top of that leaf, but it could be just the image that makes it look that way.If I see correctly, that could maybe be a tiny bit of sunburn, or maybe even a tiny mechanical damage. Nothing that I would worry too much about.

Some of the phals that have a tendency to purple spots can also have a bit of a darker edge around the leaves, but they should not appear shriveled or thinned out, even if the coloring is a bit strange.

[james mickelso]

If it is sitting in a decorative pot or clay pot it probably isn't getting enough air to the roots. Phals and most orchids need some air movement through the roots and with this pot encased in another pot it isn't getting any air and is suffocating. Put something in the bottom of the outer pot to lift it up a little. This will increase the space under the inner pot. If the fresh air from the window is too cold or dry it could affect the phal leaf also. Air movement around the plant is good but a cold, dry breeze isn't.