Leaves turning yellow & brown

[agnese84]

Hi, maybe somebody can help me to figure out what is wrong with my orchid and what can i do to help.
Over the last few weeks one of the leaves started to turn yellow and then brown. It has not dried out just turned brown. And looks like little brown spot is appearing on the other leaf. At the same time it has 2 healthy spikes with quite a few buds on one of them.
I am not sure what to do - cut the leaf off or leave it? and what to do to stop it spreading on the other leaf?
Any help or ideas much appreciated.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by agnese84

Hi, maybe somebody can help me to figure out what is wrong with my orchid and what can i do to help.
Over the last few weeks one of the leaves started to turn yellow and then brown. It has not dried out just turned brown. And looks like little brown spot is appearing on the other leaf. At the same time it has 2 healthy spikes with quite a few buds on one of them.
I am not sure what to do - cut the leaf off or leave it? and what to do to stop it spreading on the other leaf?
Any help or ideas much appreciated.

A big recommendation is to remove the white decoration pot - because that can stop beneficial air-flow through the actual pot.

Also, unpot the orchid to see if any roots are mushy (rotting etc), which can stop water from getting up through the roots and into the leaves.

Also make sure your actual orchid pot has lots of (and big enough) holes in the bottom of the pot ------ because good drainage and good-air flow from top to bottom of the pot is very beneficial to the orchid.

And - if the the roots are very dry (after inspecting them), then it will mean more watering will be needed. And know that dry bark is good at repelling water - which means the dry bark needs to be exposed to water for a long enough time to get water to soak into it. Otherwise the orchid may/will die due to dehydration.

To give this orchid good growing conditions - ensure or do the following:

1. Good natural air-flow (gentle breeze) around the orchid pot most of the time - avoid still-air environments.

2. Maintain a comfortable growing temperature for the orchid.

3. Use of a pot and media that allows good air-flow around the roots (inside the pot), which means good amount of holes at the bottom of the pot - and ensure none of those holes get blocked by the surface the pot rests on.

4. Avoid getting the media waterlogged (inside the pot). And do not allow the orchid pot to sit in water. This means - use something like a drainage grate or anything else to prevent the orchid pot from ever sitting in a layer or puddle of water.

5. Maintain adequate lighting level and light duration during the day time.

6. Avoid using decorative pots (which can reduce air-flow through the orchid pot). This just means avoid having the orchid pot sitting inside another pot.

----- Also, a description of the current growing conditions (temperature, lighting level, where the orchid is grown, how much water is applied, and how it is applied etc) will quickly allow members to see whether or not there are issues with the schedule/plan/technique. Otherwise - if you notice that any one of those points above haven't been taken into consideration, then just work towards looking at each point, and addressing them all (just as something to go by to make your orchid grow nicely).

[aliceinwl]

It kind of looks like the plant may be getting too much light? Phalaenopsis are deep shade plants so direct sun should be avoided. But if you’ve had the plant awhile and this is a new development, I’d suspect root issues. If there’s a big environmental change (low light to high light etc.) or the roots are bad, a lot of Phalaenopsis will start dropping older leaves.

[Dollythehun]

Agree with aliceinwl. It looks like sunburn's after effects. It might help you to read the sticky post in the Phal forum. "The Phal abuse stops here."

[Orchidking]

[REDACTED]

So the most likely reason for the ill looking leaves is a lack of light for this poor individual. Simple as that. Maybe low temps. It is now end of January in the Uk so the end of a 4 month dark winter so unless you have had artificial lighting or the brightest spot in your house that behaviour is to be expected. It might be alright once spring kicks in but orchids are quite fragile and that is some pretty severe damage.

Now on to my niggles that people can take or leave


To give this orchid good growing conditions - ensure or do the following:

1. Good natural air-flow (gentle breeze) around the orchid pot most of the time - avoid still-air environments.

Cannot agree with this at all. Still air is not an issue - if it turns out to be an issue it will be due to rotting medium and people will blame lack of airflow - it's not - it's rotting media.

2. Maintain a comfortable growing temperature for the orchid.

Cannot agree with this as it is misleading, yes avoid extreme spikes but otherwise orchids need a drop in temperature every night and a gradual rise to a good daytime temp, this daily fluctuation in temps is beneficial to orchids

3. Use of a pot and media that allows good air-flow around the roots (inside the pot), which means good amount of holes at the bottom of the pot - and ensure none of those holes get blocked by the surface the pot rests on.

Holes in the pot makes pots dry out twice as fast. This can be beneficial or not.I have had plants dry out too fast with holes and I water often so it completely depends and should not be standard advice.


4. Avoid getting the media waterlogged (inside the pot). And do not allow the orchid pot to sit in water. This means - use something like a drainage grate or anything else to prevent the orchid pot from ever sitting in a layer or puddle of water.

good advice

5. Maintain adequate lighting level and light duration during the day time.

good advice

6. Avoid using decorative pots (which can reduce air-flow through the orchid pot). This just means avoid having the orchid pot sitting inside another pot.

a decorative pot can be beneficial if the media is drying out too fast which can happen also so again it depends and decorative pots are decorative - in my case even serve a beneficial purpose so again it depends.

[REDACTED]

Edit: I just want to clarify that a gentle breeze as long as it does not detrimentally dry out the orchids roots does provide increased growth by enabling the leaves to absorb more air for photosynthesis - but not having air flow should not be an issue either.

The mantra on this forum is to use spagnum moss which degrades within months and then blow on it to stop the rotting becoming an issue (which works) but it is a constant game of cat and mouse of keeping the rot in check with enough airflow.

My approach is to avoid media that rots completely these days. [REDACTED]

Moderator Note: This post has been edited to remove verbiage that does not conform to board rules and guidelines.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Orchidking

So the most likely reason for the ill looking leaves is a lack of light for this poor individual.

Lack of light typically results in dark coloured leaves, rather than resulting in ALL light coloured ones.

Also ... my recommendations provide a strong starting point for beginners. Anyone can diverge and apply what works whenever they want later. But I pretty much guarantee that following those given recommendations will help tremendously. Not just for beginners.

Originally Posted by Orchidking

Cannot agree with this at all. Still air is not an issue - if it turns out to be an issue it will be due to rotting medium and people will blame lack of airflow - it's not - it's rotting media.

Still air can certainly create issues or lead to issues. Moving air cuts down on chances of undesirable conditions like fungal growth and helps with aerating water, media, roots when the moving air goes through the pot and around leaves and stem.

2. Maintain a comfortable growing temperature for the orchid.

Cannot agree with this as it is misleading, yes avoid extreme spikes but otherwise orchids need a drop in temperature every night and a gradual rise to a good daytime temp, this daily fluctuation in temps is beneficial to orchids

You're over-reading it. Comfortable temperatures for the orchid refers to safe/recommended temperature range. Eg. not freezing and not broiling.

[rbarata]

I agree with the too much light diagnosis.
Don't do nothing (for now) and move it to a darker location avoiding direct sun.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Orchidking

sometimes popping in here is quite embarrassing really. I don't want to make enemies

Right. On your bike then.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Orchidking

Now on to my niggles that people can take or leave.

The main thing here is about helping address the leaf issues.

I would unpot and check the roots - make sure they're ok - then repot into a pot that has good drainage (with no outer decorative pot, and use an airy media that can retain some moisture when watered but won't get water-logged). And then put the orchid in a spot with medium light levels, not direct sun - an area that has suitable temperature range for the orchid, and good air-flow (natural breeze or small electric fan) around the plant and around/through the pot.

This doesn't mean that growers must adhere to this particular set of methods. It's a good solid starting point.

[Ray]

There appear to be multiple issues, but excessive light is certainly one of them.