I have no Idea whats wrong - Orchid Board

nickel525 · #1 06-20-2008, 06:14 PM

I am a beginner...second time around - the first one i lost because I completely forgot to water it for a month or so....don't ask.
Since then I've purchased another Phal orchid...white petals w/ magenta lip, and an orchid book. I bought it when it was in bloom discovered that it was planted in a potting mixture so once the flowers fell off (naturally) I cut back the spike to the last (newest) node, thinking that since it was only march/april it would grow and bloom again. I had it positioned about 10' away from a south facing window...and i live in north FL right now...so it's usually still pretty bright. My best friend in south fla was having much better luck with her phal orchid outside...so I figured I would move mine there too, after i repotted it in spahg moss. Now one of the big leaves has started to turn yellow...and there's even an area within the yellow part that is transparent...is this some kind of leaf fungus. the other leaves seem ok.
Also the spike when i initially cut it turned mushy and brown so i recut it with sterile scissors and now the spike has started to ooze "sap". I don't know what's going on. I've since joining the orchidboard and reading some tips sprinkled cinnamon on the leaf and the spike. I hope this helps.

How long should I wait to see if this is helping?
Should I cut out the yellow part of the leaf?
Is it fungus or a sunburn?
I hope the pictures help...the speckled brown stuff is the cinnamon.

Chococatte · #2 06-20-2008, 06:52 PM

I don't believe it's fungus, morely likely too much sunlight with regards to the yellowing of leaf. You still have two otherwise healthy leaves, so I were you I would cut the damage leaf off using a sterile razor blade. The ooze coming from the cut strike is sap that the plant is producing. Sprinkle cinnamon on it or cut it back to base to prevent infection of bacteria or virus. Phal like low light 1000-1,800 foot candles or shade not bright light or full sun.

with growing.

nickel525 · #3 06-20-2008, 08:16 PM

thanx so much for your response. I'm not a very patient person so I was beginning to think this orchid had died on me too.

licinius9 · #4 06-20-2008, 10:30 PM

i agree w/ chococatte..i think it's sunburn..i would cut off that leaf w/ a sterile blade and cut the spike back to the base of the plant and sprinkle w/ cinnamon..and if it was me, i would check the roots and get it out of that spag..i never had luck w/ phals in spag..i tend to overwater..=[ so i have all my phals potted in bark..but if it works for you, that's cool..keep it that way..you should be fine once the damage is taken care of..happy growing..!!

quiltergal · #5 06-21-2008, 01:08 AM

I agree, it's sunburn. As long as the burned area isn't mushy but rather dry and papery you can leave the leaf on. Part of it is still functional and the plant will still use it. It's just going to look ugly for a while. If it's mushy and looks like it's developing black rot then do cut it off.

Ray · #6 06-21-2008, 03:15 PM

I don't agree at all.

If it was sunburn, it would likely be more widespread, not just along one side of the leaf, and it would be dry and parchment-like, rather than what looks to be soft.

My guess is a bacterial infection resulting from letting water sit in the crown of the plant.

The fact that there are no smaller leaves emanating from the crown is also a tipoff that the culture needs some significant improvement.

Gin · #7 06-21-2008, 05:05 PM

Sorry, I agree with Ray , looks to me like the start of crown rot .

Gin

priz_m · #8 06-21-2008, 05:47 PM

I'm torn

I know does resemble crown rot symptoms.

either way, I would cut the leaf and the spike back, and make sure no water sits on the crown, and also make sure the shpag is not packed too tight, if so, well repotting is also in order.

good luck! keep us posted.

justatypn · #9 06-21-2008, 06:27 PM

Indeed it is a bacterial infection. Sunburn would alter the other leaves. As for the sphagnum moss, phals are not overly friendly when there feet stay wet so be careful when watering them.

To prevent such infections, ensure that there is adequate air circulation around the orchid plant, no over-watering and adequate light. It appears to me to be pseudomonas which is responsible for bacterial brown rot. Symptoms are a soft lesion that turns brown and then black.

The treatment for the bacterial infection is with Physan disinfectant which can be purchased at a garden store.

nickel525 · #10 06-21-2008, 07:43 PM

I placed the plant on a covered porch, so it only catches direct sunlight at a certain hour...could that be the culprit behind only one leaf have the damage?

Since my last post I have moved the plant indoors....but still near the window of that wall/porch. have trimed the leaf to remove the yellowing, and have sprinkled cinnamon onto that cut.

As for the watering of the sphag moss, I tend to forget to water sometimes...so I figured it would help keep it moist- since I can tell a lot easier when the moss is getting too dry.
But now I'm not sure if I should repot.
Right now I have some packing peanuts on the bottom of plastic pot - b/c it's a taller "normal" pot. And when I water (about every 4 - 6 days) I let water run through the plant before returning it to it's "sitting" spot.

Is this wrong?