Help!

[pjs]

I have a Cymbidium which has been doing very well. Until the last week or so I have several leaves that are turning black on the ends. I repotted it about 2months ago, it is in great light away from direct sun. He is on my screened in porch where it has been since I brought him home. The temperatures have been in the high 70's during the day and in the high 60' s at night. can anyone tell me what is happening?

I have had him since March of this year. I really love this plant it is very big and I want to do everything right to keep it happy. Please help.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Black leaf tips are usually caused by minerals in the water. This is not usually a sign of a problem, but you should make it a habit to flush the pot with lots of water every so often to wash out the accumulation of salts, especially if you have this in a situation where you are always adding water, and not letting it drain away to somewhere else.

I would give this plant a lot of light. Full morning sun is very good for Cyms, and as much partial sun there after as possible.

[Ellen]

If your plant was recently put out in the porch after being in the house, the black areas on the leaves may be due to increased light. Does the direct sun hit the leaves at some time during the day? The black tips on the leaves could also be due higher air flow outdoors, drying the medium faster. Cynthia's suggestion of flushing the pot with a lot of water is a good one. She is also correct that Cyms need lots of light. I grow mine in full sun all day. It could also be that the leaves that are turning black are just very old and ready to die, although old leaves dying a natural death usually turn yellow/brown rather than black. Black sounds more like sunburn, dehydration, or too much fertilizer. In any case, it's probably not a serious problem.

[kmarch]

The vast majority of leaf tip burn is caused by too much fertilizer. If you've been fertilizing, stop for a few waterings, flushing the pot (not soaking) thouroughly for a couple of waterings then resuming fertilizing at a lower rate.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

My experience has always been high mineral content of water, never fertilizer problems. Why? Because I almost never fertilized!!

[kmarch]

Interesting Cynthia. Do you use well water or municipal water?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

In the Los Angeles, CA area (Glendale), where I am now an escapee from, we had Colorado River water, about 400 to 500 ppm. Mostly black tips on Cymbidiums which I never paid much attention to since that was the only effect. Coulden't grow Disas, and other very sensitive plants. I have 500ppm now on a well, but moved to RO water very quickly after the move, but again, the Cymbidiums got well water or potassium softened well water for the first 2 or 3 years (out of 4.5). Now everything gets RO water unless I want to give the plants an extra dose of minerals.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

In the Los Angeles, CA area (Glendale), which I am now an escapee from, we had Colorado River water at about 400 to 500 ppm. Mostly just black tips on Cymbidiums, which I ignored, as this was the only symptom. Couldn't grow Disas or any other water quality sensitive plants. I am on a well now with 500 ppm, and moved to RO water very early for the GH, but my Cymbidiums for the first 2-3 years (out of 4.5) continued to get well water or potassium softened well water.

[PhalPal]

pjs - where are you and your plants living?? Just how shady is your 'screened in porch'? I have several cyms growing outside all year and during summer I have them under a eucalyptus tree out of direct sun, which is very intense right now. I have brown tips and I know it is not fertilizer (altho Anton's suggestion is the first thing I always think of) I have relatively hard water also but my main problem is very low humidity.

In addition, I flush, flush, flush with every watering and other then the brown tips they do great. I have noticed that if I purchase a cym at a show (my main pusher) and it has been raised in a greenhouse, I will have icky tips within a month. Some that I have had for a few years are actually adjusting and my new growths are staying pretty. I am continually impressed at how adaptable orchids are and yours may be adjusting to a new environment.