Phalaenopsis leaf/stem turing brown. Please help!

[brenda26]

ALSO there is another leaf that I noticed was starting to become a little thinner and more flimsier then the other two leaves, and the crease of the leaf was black in some parts. Now the spot where it was thin is now starting to get harder and its turning black. It looks like its getting worse rather then better. I don't know what could be wrong with it.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

In order for anybody to help you, please do your best to answer a good portion of the questions that have been asked of you from everyone who has responded to your thread.

It's difficult to tell what the problem is based off your descriptions because any number of problems show these same symptoms.

I nor anyone else can accurately pinpoint the problem if some of these questions aren't answered.

Please do your best to answer whatever you can answer or it will be very difficult to continue helping you. This is the God honest truth.

[brenda26]

It was planted in moss but when I repotted it, after the last blossoms fells, I potted it in bark. Some of the moss was so tightly packed close to the root that I left that part alone. BUT... when I found those ants I pinched the remaining moss out around the roots, so that the only thing left was the plant/roots

[brenda26]

Im trying to answer as many questions as I can, the best I can. I just got back on here after working all day, please give me time to respond and to figure out how this forum works. thank you

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The ants are not the cause of this problem.

Believe it or not, some species of ants are farmers of fungi.

They're more likely after the fungi that have been growing in the media and on the infected roots.

How are the roots?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by brenda26

Im trying to answer as many questions as I can, the best I can. I just got back on here after working all day, please give me time to respond and to figure out how this forum works. thank you

Fair enough.

[brenda26]

the orchid is not in a window and sometimes I move it, so its closer to sunlight. It never gets direct sunlight. Also, I'm not quite sure how to post a picture on here. I have a mac and no usb for my digital camera, so I tried taking a picture with my computer. I could post those pictures but I'm still not sure how to resize them. Any help?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Do you have something along the lines of Adobe Photoshop? It doesn't have to be Adobe Photoshop, but something that helps you play around with photos downloaded from your digital camera.

Did your digital camera come with some software?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Okay, if you're just having a bazillion problems with uploading photos here, it's okay...

I've narrowed the problem down to rot.

It's the most common problem regarding Phalaenopsis, and many people have this problem, that includes me (I just lost a Phal modesta to rot, but I'm attempting to clone it).

Old compacted moss is usually the culprit in potted culture of Phals.

This has to do with a number of reasons.

1. Sphagnum moss has excellent moisture retention.

2. Dead sphagnum moss is very acidic (pH 3 or 4). Live sphag is just about the same in pH, btw.

3. Old moss can harbor pests such as fungi because of the amount of moisture it holds.

4. The compaction of the moss prevents proper gas exchange to the roots.

What can you do?

Well, that really depends on how bad the rot is. But from what I gather, it's pretty bad.

My opinion is...

Unless you're well versed in home tissue culture techniques (cloning) and you have clonable tissue still alive on the plant, it's most likely dead.

The yellowing of the leaves is the beginning sign of the leaves wanting to fall off. This is usually because the meristematic tissue inside the crown (meristematic tissue is a cluster of tissue where new growth occurs) is beginning to rot and die.

I also have a hunch that many of the roots on this plant are dead or are so badly damaged that it will not be of any help in the recovery of the plant should it lose all of its leaves.

I'd chuck this one up to experience.

Unless...

You can post a pic that shows the Phal to be salvageable.

[brenda26]

I hope this works and the picture files aren't too big.