QuestionI split my brassavola yellow bird about 1 year ago into 3 plants. They are all growing new leaves and are a healthy green. We had 1 flower grow about a week ago from 1 of the plants. However it looks like there are several other new flower shoots on all 3 plants that started and now the tips are brown. I stared using Grow weakly on a weekly basis about 2 months ago. I have 30 Orchids and they all seem to be responding very well to the Grow. Any idea why my new flower shoots stopped growing? OR... Is it possible the new shoots would have a brown tip?
AnswerUsually, browning leaf tips is a sign of salt build up in the potting mix. One cause can be the use of coconut fibre in the potting mix as it tends to hold in salt over time.
If you are referring to brown tips on new flower spikes, that could be new buds emerging. Sometimes new buds will dry up either because the plant is unable to support the flowering because it is too weak. Sometimes the new buds will dry up do to insufficient humidity. You will need to be patient and see whether the new buds will look more normal as they mature
I have found that Brassavola species and hybrids like lots of water while they are growing and need a very open mix to permit the mix to dry out within a few days. Some types also like a lot of light to flower. In this latter instance, the leaves should be a yellow green in color.