Prag Penn's Creek - leaves turning brown and leathery

[klkelly]

Just posted this in the beginner section but maybe this is the better place. I'll post over there that I've reposted here:

My mom's orchid needs help. We bought it at an orchid society sale and we really want to save it.
It says "prag penn's creek grande 4N4 wallisii"

We have been following the instructions and its done great. My mom went away for a month and I brought it to my house. It did very well the last time I had it also. This time it started to get a black tip on one of the leaves.

My mom got it back last week and since then its going downhill. She described it to me clearly: it gets brown tips, then the edges go brown and then it goes all leathery.

Can you guys help. I can't find this out with any certainty using google. My mom said she used new scizzors to cut off the leaves.

I kept it with my other two orchids but it was with them before. I have three NoIDs from the grocery store of course but keep these separate from the orchid society orchids (I have two different types not the same as my moms).

Update - the orchid is kept with water all of the time (the pot has a small container on the outside which has water in it all the time - about 1" of water)

Thank you for any advice.

[tuvoc]

A photo would help, but from what you said, it is being kept way too wet. They like a lot of moisture, but also good air circulation around the roots. Mine sit in a shallow saucer that holds water for a day or so. I let the water dry up completely before I water again. I'd take it out of the standing water, and let it dry out some.

Kim

[silken]

As tuvoc mentioned, it sounds like too much water. OrchidWiz says not to allow the plant to dry our, but it must have well draining media.

I don't know what part of Canada you are from, or what kind of water you use. but I was using tap water for my 1 phrag and always getting leaf tip die back. I switched to rain water and saw an almost immediate improvement. It also bloomed for me soon after. Our tap water is pH. 8.5 or 9 which is high for orchids, especially some of the more sensitive ones.