Question
QUESTION: I recently purchased a paph ruby leopard orchid... while in bloom, the plant seemed fine, but once the flower died and I cut it off, the leaves of the plant drooped and now show dark brown spots (almost like burns).  I checked the roots... trimmed off two small soft ones, but the rest were firm and repotted using fine bark into a small pot.

I water about once a week (every 7-10 days).  The orchid gets about 2 hours of indirect morning sunlight, then indirect bright light for the remainder of the day.

Any suggestions on what I can do to help my orchid recover that you have would be greatly appreciated.

ANSWER: Margaret, it sounds as if the light, even if indirect, is too bright for a paph.  You have done well to check the roots and repot it in fine bark mix.  You didn't mention the growing temperature.  Your hybrid prefers a temperature of 65-75 degrees and I wonder if the temperature exceeds this when it gets the idirect bright light later in the day. You might check the temperature at that time.  You will likely lose the drooping leaves but the plant can produce new leaves to replace them with the more favorable growing conditions.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for such a quick response... my apartment does get quite hot during the summer, but currently, conditions should be ideal for my paph.

The window that my paph is in is north facing, so I'm not sure if the indirect light is still too bright?  I've moved it about three feet away from the window.

Would you recommend that I go ahead and cut off (as opposed to ripping them of the main stem) the drooping leaves (that would leave my paph leafless), or just wait til they die off naturally?


Answer
Margaret, I would let them die off naturally.  There may still be some photosynthesis occuring in these leaves and that could benefit the plant.  North facing windows can be a problem.  In the winter, the windows can get quite cold (hence I suspect your reason for the three foot separation) and, in the summer, the sun shifts to the north providing more light and heat.  The ideal location would be an east facing window where it can always receive some morning sun.  If you keep your plant back from the north facing window, I suggest supplemental lighting such as a clip on light fixture with a plant light or a shop light with florescent bulbs.