Phrag Giganteum with leaf tip die-back

[whygreenberg]

Hi...I recently received a Phragmipedium Giganteum. There are two fans, one with 6 leaves, in spike, on its second bloom. The other fan is newer, has two leaves. Both leaves on this newer fan are a little on the yellow side, and one has a good start of die-back from the tip. I have only used distilled water to water it, and it is potted in sphagnum.

I'm not sure what to do since all it's gotten is distilled water. I'm hesitant to unpot it and really check its roots out since its in bloom and there appears to be possibly a third bloom on the way.

Advice?

[Lagoon]

This is just me, I would check on the roots, you don't have to pull it all out, but do your best to pull it back abit to see the roots. The sphag maybe breaking down and there is lack of air at the roots.

Or, It's possible its not getting enough water?

The only time I've seen this in my phrags - not enough water and or too much fertilizers.

Any photo's to share?

[Tarzin Iowa]

Hi. I also have a lot of trouble with leaf tip die-back on Phrags. This is usually caused by under-watering of the real high water types. However, yours can tolerate less water than many of the others. None-the-less, they should not completely dry out.

:iagree: that the best bet is to pull it out of the pot and check the roots. Phrags can tolerate this in bloom better than most orchids. Besides, if in doubt it is better to lose blooms than kill or set back the plant. Sphagnum can really deteriorate fast if low quality, packed tight, and over-fertilized. I prefer a more reliable mix for Phrags. A mix that is more open would be a better choice, at least for reliability. If you stick with the sphagnum, really leach it out heavily a couple of days after fertilization.

I also have some Phrags that insist on lofting the next growth out of the media. When this happens, the next growth always has leaf die-back. These plants are a real pain since the only remedy seems to be to repot it with the new growth in media.

Tarzin

[Ray]

Another thing to consider is pH.

As you recently acquired the plant, you don't know what fertilizer residues might be present in the potting medium. As you only use distilled water, when some of those residues dissolve, you have no idea what the pH will be, and it might be simply awful.

[whygreenberg]

Thanks, Guys...That is all really helpful. I will get over my hesitation and check out those roots momentarily.

cheers,
yvan

[whygreenberg]

Well...I did take the whole plant out of its pot, and was not happy with what I found. Quite a bit of bad roots...I'd say about half were rotten. Removed all that I could and will be completely repotting. Sad.

I've only had it for a 2-3 weeks. Don't know where the person who gave it to me got it from, but wherever it was...

[Lagoon]

That's a real shame! Phrags do bounce back real well, though reblooming will take some time.
Best wishes on the recovery