Jewel orchid problem showing on leaf

[mleigh6]

Please advise me what's going on. Could it be too heavy and wet soil? However it's been in the same soil for two years. I give it aged tap water. It's been in bloom. The problem is just starting to develop on an opposite leaf. Help! And thank you so very much for the assistance.

Leigh

[katrina]

If it's been in the same pot/medium for 2 yrs it's likely a salt build up problem. Tap water...aged or not...can sometimes have high dissolved solids and jewels do not do well if there is a build up in the soil. The "aging" of tap water does nothing to remove any salts that might be in there. If your tap water is low in TDS then it could still be just a build up in the mix. Either way...I would repot.

As a side note...your plant looks kind of leggy and that is usually an indication that it needs more light.

[mleigh6]

Thank you. Salt damage seems very plausible. Repotting it is. And I appreciate the legginess call.

By the way, can you or anyone advise on fertilizer: is standard orchid fertilizer the way to go with jewels? I can do a thread on this on a more appropriate section of the forum if need be.

Thanks again.
Leigh

[katrina]

When I had my discolor I fertilized it lighter than my other orchids and I've always read to go easy w/them. I used MSU fertilizer w/good results but I believe any balanced fert given lightly at weekly intervals would be fine.

Repotting and proper light are priority first. Acclimate it slowly to more light and think of the fert as a vitamin...a little goes a long way.