Phal. Guadalupe Pineda

[Rhonda Svoboda]

Help!! This orchid has been growing well until the last few weeks. I've no idea what happened. It looks like rot but the roots are ok.

[estación seca]

What are the humidity and temperatures like? Any chance a critter nibbled on it?

[Rhonda Svoboda]

Its in the house so Ithe only thing that could be eating it are ants.- regular black ants. They do hang out amoung my plants but I can't see them eating the leaves. Its dry in the house, but its on a heat mat so the plant is warm. I did start a new job and I am guilty of not watering enough in the past weeks. I have noticed that when I water my Phal.'s are bone dry

[estación seca]

Congratulations on the new job!

I would suspect lack of water, given those circumstances. I would cut off the end of the blackening leaves once they turn dry and papery.

[Rhonda Svoboda]

Yea!! I can fix that. I was worried that I would loose the orchid.
Thanks again for all of your knowledge-

[estación seca]

I might have guessed wrong. If the black spots begin spreading much more, cut off the leaves well below the damaged areas. Sanitize your blade between cuts with rubbing alcohol 70%.

[Rhonda Svoboda]

Ok- Are you thinking of rot? Or a bacterial infection?

[estación seca]

Yes, it might be that, too. But in your home, with relatively lower humidity, that is unlikely. I wouldn't cut anything off yet - unless it's been pretty cold in your house?

[Rhonda Svoboda]

No-normal home temp's, 68-72. I'll just keep an eye on it. If it gets worse I'll take more action. Such as repotting to check all the roots and maybe applying a bacterial treatment.

[SADE2020]

Why no apply a bit of fungicide? just in case