Falcorostrum with Brown Tips - Burns?

[DennisKennedy]

My Dendrobium falcorostrum is showing what appear to be brown scorch marks on the tips of its leaves. This is more pronounced on the new growth. Are these likely to be burn marks caused by too much sun?

My orchids are in a 50% shadehouse but we have had a few days over 40 degrees centigrade lately.

I had a problem in spring with overfertilizing which caused black burn marks but these are clearly different being a definite brown color. The only reason I am not sure these are the result of too much sun is that they are confined to the tips of the leaves.

I regularly scorch my cymbidiums (which are outside) but their burns are not confined to the tips.

Any thoughts?


Dennis

[Undergrounder]

Hi Dennis

falcorostrums typically live at the tops of beech trees in relative cool and humidity most of the year round. I think the cool, misty Barrington Tops is where they come from.

Anyway falcos always like a bit more humidity than your standard kingi. I reckon the dry air could quite easily cause brown leaf tips if its hot enough. I'd move it to the coolest, dampest place in the greenhouse for the rest of summer.

I'm worried about mine too but we've been lucky up here with the cool temps this summer so far.

[DennisKennedy]

Thanks Undergrounder I'll move it to a lower shelf among the ferns for the heat of summer.


Dennis