Phalaenopsis leaf tip problems

[Arizona Jeanie]

Hello Gene, and welcome to the Orchid Board! Stick around, there's lots of good information here, plus a lot of opinion and advice from experienced growers.
You have accidentally posted your question in a thread started by "Phal grower" with his own question. Not wanting to hijack his line of questions and answers, you need to start your own thread with your question. Here's some information on how to do that:
http://www.orchidboard.com/community/easy_pages.php?p=4
Go to the "Beginner Discussion" area, click on the "Forum Tools" tab along the top, and choose "Post a New Thread". (Or just use the blue "New Thread" button on the upper left.) Go ahead and enter your question, post it, and start your own thread, and all will be right with the world! You may get back some questions to answer about your own growing conditions and circumstances, that information really helps with getting you the right advice.
Congratulations on retirement, getting interested in orchids, and figuring out how to join into the discussions here!
And Phal grower, apologies for barging in but I thought a bit of re-direction was in order for Gene.

[Selmo]

Phalgrower, you may have a humidity problem. How high/low is your humidity. Low humidity will cause leaf tips to dry out, looks like this.

[Dollythehun]

I have had a similar problem in the past. I started using a cal mag suppliment and that eliminated my problem. It wouldn't hurt to check your water quality as problems can accumulate over time.

I grow in a north/east greenhouse window in northern Indiana. My window goes down to 64f at night with no seemingly I'll effects. Humidity hovers at 50-60%.

[greenpassion]

Originally Posted by rbarata

It looks too much light together with age. Note that the other phals next to it have the same symptoms and the affected leaves are the oldest.

I have to agree about possibly too much light. Those photos are spot-on what one of mind did, and I thought it was a nutrient deficiency until I wrote in myself here on the OB. I did in fact have that one particular phalaenopsis in a Southeast window, which was way too much. I moved it to an East window, and since doing so, all the new leaves are normal and it is spiking nicely now.

[Phal grower]

Arizona Jeanie thanks for clearing that up no worries. My humidity is north of 60% at all times so we're good there. Dolly I'm leaning toward nutrient deficiency. My plants have been in the same culture for a couple years and doing well. This kinda crept up on me.

[rbarata]

One thing that caught my attention is the presence of what seems to be anthocyanins in one of the dying leaves. It may be a symptom of too much light or they turn red as they die.

[Dollythehun]

Phalgrower, how much light are they getting?

[Phal grower]

One T8 two tube shop light a foot above leaf tips.

[rbarata]

I don't grow under lights so I don't know what T8 tubesa foot above leaf tips means... Sorry.
I'm sure someone will help you soon.

[Dollythehun]

Ok, Phal grower, here's what I would do. I'd back the lights off a bit and I'd add a cal mag supplement once a month in place of ferilizer. I'd also flush with clear water once a month or so. I did have this problem. The cal mag solved it but, my leaves were also streaky. Your leaves look dark green as they should and that was why I didn't pick up on light first. Still others know more so, it can't hurt to try both.