Phal leaf marked, spotty and maybe rotting??

[annehylee]

Hi guys,

I do have one phal that has been this way since it was given to me as a gift. It started out with a small brown spot on the leaf and now it has taken over the entire leaf. I have had this phal for almost 2 years and only the one leaf is like this. Can you help to identify what the cause of this is? It can't be burnt because it is never in direct sun...

Thank you

[quiltergal]

Anne the picture is too small to tell. Can you resize it a bit larger?

[annehylee]

The funny thing is, it is only like this on the one leaf. The spots or only along the sides when I first received it and then it pretty much took over the whole leaf. All of the other leaves are perfect and unmarked.

[Izzie]

Oh my...
With this one I'm really not sure. I'd isolate it from your other chids if you haven't already.
Here's a great pdf by Sue Bottom that's an excellent reference for pests, diseases, chemical treatments, and treatment: http://www.staugorchidsociety.org/PD...ySueBottom.pdf

Have you seen this plant bloom? Did the flowers look normal?
Have you treated with a fungicide or bactericide?

Honestly, it's not the prettiest thing, but I've had success with just cutting off affected areas/whole leaves off of my phals when I get questionable infections that don't go away with any treatment, and only once have had the infection come back on other parts of the plant. If it's a virus, this obviously won't work.

[annehylee]

Thanks for the website reference Izzie! It is the oddest thing isn't it? I searched all over this forum to see I'd anyone had a case like mine and nothing... I have seen in flower and it's big and nothing is wrong with it. The spike comes up nice and strong as well. I've had this one with the others for over a year. Never isolated it. And the other orchids are fine and even the other leaves in that particular plant is completely unaffected. The new leaves that have come up from that plant is perfectly fine. It really is an oddity. I'll go browse thru the website that you've recommended and see what I can find in there.

Thanks!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Have you thought about testing it for a viral infection?

There are viral test kits available. Do an online search. You'll fond them.

[annehylee]

Call me naive but it never even occured to me that orchids can have viral infection! Thanks!

[Izzie]

I mentioned a virus. That's nothing to laugh at. Critter Creek does a cheap test for you.
There is no cure for viruses, if infected, the plant must be burned/destroyed.
Be sure not to splash water between plants, clean tools before and after using on different plants, and sanitize your growing area.

I've found Orchids are much more susceptible to viruses than your "regular" houseplants, hence why orchid growers have to really be on top of sanitation, and cross-contamination.
That includes bowls/buckets that you might soak your plants in (a friend of mine learned the hard way.)

[annehylee]

I haven't paid much attention to cross contamination and stuff. Wow I'll really have to be careful. I really have to try the test out... I hope I don't have to destroy the plant

[Shirley]

Anne, You might be interested to check out a thread titled "Mesophyll Cell Collapse" which I posted some time ago. To me, this looks like a similar problem. I did test my plants at the time and they were clear of virus. It seems that the new growth is gradually improving (fewer marks than before) but they do increase as the leaves age. I've cut some off and used hydrogen peroxide on others. Still fingers crossed but I think that things are getting better and, since these are some of my favorite phals, I'm not about to dump them! Good luck.