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Orchid leaves suddenly starting to go brown
linda horton
Posts: 10
I wonder if someone could help me with this problem,I would be very grateful if they could.
My phaelenopsis which was given as a gift in November 2013 has been wonderful with many flowers and seemingly very happy on my sw facing window sill but now I have noticed that the leaves have begun to turn brown from the tips towards the centre and seem to be a little lifeless compared to my other plant.I can see no parasites or any obvious(at least to me) cause although it is my first experience with orchids.The flowers are still going strong with lots of new buds,can anyone suggest a remedy or cause?
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Do you water it correctly and when necessary? Do you feed it regularly? Is the atmosphere round it too dry? I have to say I keep mine in a light position, but out of direct sun.
I love them, though, because they flower for so long.
It's getting too much sun Linda. It needs to be in a light position but not in direct sunlight. Also give an occasional misty spray of water and don't overwater it either. Dunk it in a bowl of water for half an hour then let it drain and don't water again for a few weeks and only the occasional misting in between as mentioned earlier.
they like rain water and only water when really dry.They need to be in sunny but shady spot plus they need feeding when in flower.Also they need a rest period before they flower again .
Have you got the leaves wet? The leaves do die though, I have one dying at the moment but there is a new one above it. Just wait for it to die down and it will either fall off or cut it off. Is it all the leaves or just 1/2?
It is right, they don't like direct sunlight too much, I have 2 of mine on a windowsill but they only get sun in the morning until about 10.30 but then is just light all day. My other 2 are not on a windowsill as the room they are in gets way too much sun for them to be on the windowsill.
As my name says I love Orchids, they are so pretty and my sister has just bought me a Dendrobium variety for my birthday, my other 4 are Phaelenopsis.
Be careful not to get water in the 'middle ' of the leaves, . They don't like getting wet, just wipe the leaves over now and again with a damp cloth.
I have a moth orchid on my window sill that is suffering the same fate Linda. Forester2 - correct, they only like indirect sunlight. i'm going to put mine in the bathroom next to a window with rippled glass . Have grown a Vanda there in a large glass pot for the last 5 years - produced big purple flowers , it's only just ran out of steam this year. Most orchids ,I have found, require a bright , warm (50-60F) position, and need watering about once a week , except for the Miltonias that require full sun and more frequent watering. The Dendrobiums grow horizontally along old tree bark in the wild but are often presented growing vertically. - easy to propagate, just stop watering and wait the the little kikas forming on the stems then pull them off gently , stick in orchid compost, water once, and leave on the window sill for 3 months.
many thanks for all your answers,the plant is in a sw facing window so I suppose it may be that it is in the wrong place.A leaf had already fallen off some time ago but I think that was just natural die off.As I will be away for a week now I think I will just leaveit in a more shady spot.I have given it a drink and drain along with the other one so hopefully they will be okay for a week.Many thanks for your replies every one they are most appreciated,Linda.
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