Phragmiprdium Professor Braem Leaves Turning Brown

[Chani]

Hi all,

I'm pretty new to growing phrags. At this point in time, I'm growing three of them, but only one of them, Professor Braem, has this issue. And it's had this issue pretty much from the get-go. I'm attaching pics (at least I think I am) of the leaves for reference. It almost looks like the leaf cells are dying. I truly don't know what this is. I tried reducing fertilizer, reducing light, and cutting off the affected areas, all to no avail. I also checked the roots and they look fine to me.

Any thoughts? Thank you so much in advance, everyone. You all on Orchidboard are always so helpful

[estación seca]

I suspect spider mite damage. Take a tissue and press upward as you run it along the underside of the leaves. If you see reddish or brown streaks you probably have spider mites.

Or, if you see minute cobwebbing on the undersides of the leaves. I suspect I see that but I'm not sure.

If you have spider mites on one plant, they are on all of them, even if damage isn't seen. Spider mites can be controlled by spraying the entire surfaces of all your plants once a week with a good spray of plain water.

[Chani]

Yikes, I hope it's not spider mites. I don't see any reddish or brown streaks...

[estación seca]

I would proceed as though it is spider mite damage. I would spray the entire plant with water, upper and lower surfaces, every time I watered.

[Chani]

Will do, thank you so much for the advice.

[claypot]

I disagree about spider mite. I get this on my Phragmipediums and there is no sign of mites on them or anywhere else in my collection. It does not harm the plant or flowers, just looks bad. I have always put it down to cultural techniques and maybe too dry atmosphere. You can cut off the damaged leaves if it makes you feel better.

[Fairorchids]

You mention that you are relatively new to Phrags, but only one plant is showing the browning tips.

All Phrags are sensitive to water quality, some more than others. This could be a sign of water quality issues (with the other two plants less sensitive and not showing signs yet).

[estación seca]

It's not just the tips. There were discrete brown sunken patches of damaged tissue well back from the tips, and brown areas running down the leaf crease. That's why I don't think it's a water quality issue.

I have Phrag. QF Maria and Ruby Slippers. I grow them in semihydroponics and have been watering them with tap water for several months with no leaf dieback. My water quality report says the total dissolved solids are 600-800 parts per million. It may be the hybrids I have are more mineral tolerant than those of the original poster.

[Chani]

All interesting stuff. I water with NYC tap water which I think is supposed to be pretty good. Humidity can be a factor perhaps since it's not very consistent. I intend to shower the leaves consistently just in case of spider mites.

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

All Phrags are sensitive to water quality, some more than others. This could be a sign of water quality issues (with the other two plants less sensitive and not showing signs yet).

This is smart. I noticed this as well. Certain phrags get leaf tip burn and others do not. It is just best to use RO water with phrags. I have not found the same sensitivity with paphs, catts, dends etc.