Phal has dark red turning black under leaf - Orchid Board

quietmorning · #1 06-10-2009, 11:07 PM

Hey, everyone,

I've looked in my orchid books - but they show such extreme cases that I'm not sure of what this is. This started this morning, I noticed a very dark reddish outer lining to the underneath of the leaf. . .ran to the orchid books, didn't find anything - decided to keep an eye on it. It's progressed very quickly through out the day, and another leaf is doing the same thing. This leaf is rolling into itself. The other is not.

Could you please help me to determine what the issue is and what I can do about it? It did have too much sun a few days ago. . .don't know if this is a delayed reaction or not. . . it's not on the top of leaf.

Thanks!

10:00 pm

I finally found some information on the web - it seems my phal succumbed to black rot.

There just wasn't anything left to cut off of it. All the leaves had turned, the stem (?) (can't remember what it's called, sorry.) had turned, and most of the roots were dead. The flowers were still lovely, though. **herm** They are now in a vase. I am totally disappointed. Sigh. . .beginner's anthem. . .'nother one bites the dust. . .phoey. Geeze louise that stuff spreads FAST! I think I'm in shock.

So. . . lessons learned. . .I have to educate myself more to try to figure out how to grow an orchid in this old house. There are issues that seem a little mountainous right now. Mold, ventilation, light, heat, cold. . .grief, the list could go on. But I'm determined. . . I love orchids, and this house needs some cheering up.

So onward. . .

Zoi2 · #2 06-11-2009, 12:11 AM

Sorry to hear about the black rot on your phal.
Good Luck with the next one, you'll get your issues ironed out and have blooming plants all over your house!!
Joann

quietmorning · #3 06-11-2009, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoi2

Sorry to hear about the black rot on your phal.
Good Luck with the next one, you'll get your issues ironed out and have blooming plants all over your house!!
Joann

Thank you, Joann - **sigh** I keep remembering something I read either here or somewhere else where the man had grown orchids for decades - he said, you're going to kill a lot of them, just remember that. . .and it's ok. . .just get another one.

Heh, and I finally found a good light East window to put it in front of too!! But now I know the window is usable until the bathroom is finished - just have to get the air circulation and heating/cooling figured out.

I'll get there. . .and I'm definitely going to try again.

Ray · #4 06-11-2009, 09:43 AM

Hi, Beth.

It is unlikely the plant succumbed to black rot as the sole problem. Black rot is a fungal disease, and it thrives in saturated environments, so is more likely a secondary problem, if it is applicable in this case at all. An otherwise healthy plant does not usually come down with black rot spontaneously.

More likely, the root system suffocated because it was in a too dense/too wet medium, and that is what led to the plant's stress and demise, with a combo of bacterial/fungal rots taking advantage of it.

quietmorning · #5 06-11-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

Hi, Beth.

It is unlikely the plant succumbed to black rot as the sole problem. Black rot is a fungal disease, and it thrives in saturated environments, so is more likely a secondary problem, if it is applicable in this case at all. An otherwise healthy plant does not usually come down with black rot spontaneously.

More likely, the root system suffocated because it was in a too dense/too wet medium, and that is what led to the plant's stress and demise, with a combo of bacterial/fungal rots taking advantage of it.

Hi, Ray, I think you're right - I think there were a lot of conditions that weren't good for the orchid. I had to keep moving it because of the bathroom refurbish, so finding good ventilation and light were a problem, not to mention it being moved so much. Also, I put a plastic lid underneath it to prevent it from sitting in the rock/water - when I lifted up the lid to clean the humidity tray, it was way molded underneath. Also, the lid didn't allow proper drainage, like I thought it was - water was sitting on the top of it. (The pot was a terracotta orchid pot.) I purchased a wooden skewer last week because I wasn't sure about it's watering 'schedule'. I was surprised to see that it wasn't drying out nearly as fast as I thought it was. so you are very correct in other factors.

Heh, learning curve can be a harsh one sometimes, but I learned A LOT (and am still learning) with this one.

Thanks!

Becky15349 · #6 06-11-2009, 11:59 AM

I don't think this is rot - my phals do this when they are in high light conditions...are the spots mushy? If they are firm, I think its just the pigments coming through on the leaf from high sun...

quietmorning · #7 06-11-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Becky15349

I don't think this is rot - my phals do this when they are in high light conditions...are the spots mushy? If they are firm, I think its just the pigments coming through on the leaf from high sun...

That's a good possibility. It's been quite a challenge to find a window that didn't have too much sun coming in it. . .and for as DARK as this house it, that's amazing.

Do you have any pictures you could post here of your phals when they get too much sun? The books only show the burnt black after effects.

Thanks!

quietmorning · #8 06-12-2009, 10:18 AM

Becky, I've been thinking about the sun possibility. . .when an phal gets too much light, does the color change specifically under the leaves?

Becca · #9 06-12-2009, 10:33 AM

Beth, I have a few phals that have a redish purple-ish tint under the leaves, on some leaves it is darker then others, I really think part of the coloring is just it's natureal pigment. If it was rot, I would think you would be able to see it on other side of leaf (the top side) where the rot is on the underneath side. Did that make sense because I think I just confused my self...lol. I could be wrong as well, but that is just my thought. Sorry for your loss....I still kill orchids too and I'm even working on a couple right now! LOL.

RosieC · #10 06-12-2009, 03:12 PM

Some orchids have a naturally redder pigment than others (often redder ones also have red/purple flowers).

Also higher light levels can turn leaves red or give them a red tint.

I also read here on OB recently that not enough of a certain cemical could cause a red tint under the leaves, but that the amount needed was so tiny that was not normally a problem (sorry can't remember which cemical it was).