Phalaenopsis leaf/stem turing brown. Please help! - Orchid Board

brenda26 · #1 04-03-2010, 09:24 AM

I got this orchid the in early December and its been fine since then. I've watered it once a week with tap water and fertilized it once a week with the proper fertilizer. I stopped fertilizing it about a month ago but still continued to water it once a week. A few days ago a noticed there were ants at the bottom of the pot and when I lifted the pot they were all inside the plant

I rinsed and soaked the orchid in water and repotted it in some bark. Before the ants, one of the leaves was turning yellow from the tip and proceeded to the base. Now the tip of the stem is turning brown. What's happening? Is it dying?

please help me. Can I still save it if it is dying?

trdyl · #2 04-03-2010, 09:32 AM

Welcome to OB!

If the leaf that turned yellow is at the base of the plant. This is normal. As for the tip of the stem, are you refering to a flower spike that has finished blooming?

RosieC · #3 04-03-2010, 09:33 AM

Hi Brenda and welcome to Orchid Board

Can you post some pictures of your orchid. There are some tips on how to do that here.
Tips for posting photos on Orchidboard

The leaf and stem may be fine. Old leaves do die back and the flower stem will brown and die off atfer it's finished flowering (it will grow a new one to flower again). On the other hand you may have a problem and it's difficult to tell without pictures, a picture will always help us know exactly what you mean and give better advise.

I'm not sure about the ants. They don't in themself hurt orchids, but they could be a sign of something else which does. Some of the bugs which hurt orchids leave behind a sticky residue which ants like to feed on. Hopefully someone with more knowledge of that will chime in with advise on what to look for.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #4 04-03-2010, 01:23 PM

Ants will generally not harm your orchids. They do have an annoying habit of crawling into some of the flowers and removing pieces of the flower (not the plant). This action is generally harmless, but depending on the flower parts they remove, it can prevent the flower from breeding. They usually do this with small flowered orchids.

Some orchids have a symbiotic relationship with ants.

One such group of orchids are Coryanthes spp.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #5 04-03-2010, 01:26 PM

As for your Phalaenopsis problem, it's best to post pictures and provide information on what kind of potting media the plant was originally potted in (I suspect it was moss).

Information to also include are:

1. Temperature (day, night, seasonal)
2. Humidity
3. Air circulation (what is the source of it)
4. Light intensity

Izzie · #6 04-03-2010, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trdyl

Welcome to OB!

If the leaf that turned yellow is at the base of the plant. This is normal. As for the tip of the stem, are you refering to a flower spike that has finished blooming?

Ted's right. A lot of phals will shed their oldest leaf once a year or so when they get a lot of new growth.

Don't cut it off- the plant is taking nutrients from the leaf, wait until it is completely yellow/dead.

Welcome, and good luck!

Izzie · #7 04-03-2010, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

4. Light intensity

Let us know what direction the window (if you have it in a window) is facing.

brenda26 · #8 04-03-2010, 10:53 PM

The leaf started to turn yellow at the tip of the leaf but its more of a browny yellow, and its not from the sun. I do not put it in direct sunlight. Yes the tip of the flower spike has started to turn a browny yellowish color as well. [quote=trdyl;302122]Welcome to OB!

brenda26 · #9 04-03-2010, 11:04 PM

the temp is slightly cooler during the day and warmer in the evenings. not too sure of the humidity, I think its ok. The orchid has lasted for 4 months so far with minimal changes. Not sure of the air circulation. I just keep in the my room with the windows slightly cracked but the orchid is not near the window when its open. It does not get direct sunlight

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #10 04-03-2010, 11:05 PM

I honestly suspect it's rot. But without a picture I have a hard time diagnosing this problem properly.

Have you checked how the roots are doing?

Are they silvery white (basically a shiny white) with green tips or reddish brown tips?

If this doesn't fit the description of a large portion of the roots on your plant, I truly suspect it's rot.

Like I said, I believe that this plant was potted in sphagnum moss, am I correct?

Was this plant misted at all?

Did water get into the crown at all?