HELP!!! I think my orchid's sick! - Orchid Board

Dillymint · #1 07-06-2010, 05:28 AM

Hi everyone
I think my orchid is sick. I've had it about 7 years, in the same location for 4, and it's always been really healthy. Over the last couple of weeks I've noticed that the stems are going yellow and quite squishy, and there is an amber coloured liquid coming from the 'joints' on the stem (sorry, don't know the technical term!).
There is new stem growth and new roots. The leaves look OK, but aren't quite as fleshy as they were. I've checked for bugs and things and can't see anything odd at all.
Not sure what type of orchid I have, but it's white with a pink centre and is commonly available at garden centres for a few pounds.
This orchid is very special to me and I'd be heartbroken to loose it.
Any help or advice greatfully received - many thanks in advance.

Junebug · #2 07-06-2010, 07:21 AM

A photo would be helpful. First we need to determine what type of orchid you have.

RosieC · #3 07-06-2010, 09:12 AM

If it's one commonly available in the UK it's probably a Phal, but as Junebug has said, we could probably be certain with a picture.

Is it the stem (flower stem) or the plant it's self (at the center of the leaves) which is going soft.

If it's the plant it's self then it sounds like it is rotting. Possibly if water got in the crown and sat there overnight it could have caused it to start to rot.

Crown rot can be treated with Hydrogen Peroxide (available in a 3% solution from a store like Boots, you have to ask at the pharmacy counter). This can be poured in to the crown (if a 3% solution then use it neat) it will fizz a lot and when it stops can be poured out. What this does is disolve the dead rotted tissure and stop the rot spreading...

...however if it is already throughout the crown then it may be too late to save it. Also if the crown is too rotted it may not grow again even if the lower leaves are saved, in which case the best hope is that it starts a Basil keiki.

Dillymint · #4 07-06-2010, 09:56 AM

Thanks for replies.
Orchid doesn't have any flowers at the moment, but when it does, they look like photo attached.
There doesn't seem to by any nastyness at all at the leaf / stem base, and apart from the leaves not feeling quite as succulent as they did, they seem fine. All the yellow squishyness is from the stem tip to about a third of the way down.
Hope this helps!

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #5 07-06-2010, 10:21 AM

Don't take this the wrong way...

A lot of people who are just starting into the orchid hobby oftentimes use incorrect terminology to describe orchid anatomy.

While I don't expect you to right off the bat use correct terminology, I still don't understand your description.

Therefore, your description of the problem with your plant is still very vague. I don't even know what part of the plant you're referring to. A picture of the plant with the malady is a better bet. Although, I have my suspicions...

RosieC · #6 07-06-2010, 10:25 AM

Ok, definately a Phalaenopsis Orchid (Phal for short).

If the mushiness is on the flower spike/stem then I wouldn't worry. Just cut the flower spike/stem off near the base, as close to the leaves as you can without damaging the main body of the plant or the leaves.

The plant will grow a new flower spike/stem given time. We often leave the old ones until they dry up, but it's perfectly alright to remove it before then.

If the plant is OK arround the where the leaves join it, and in the crown (where new leaves grow from) and in the leaves themselves then there is not too much to worry about, just remove the rotting spike before the rot spreads to the rest of the plant.

As for the leaves not being as fleshy as before... well it could be a number of reasons. You said you have had the plant for 7 years, have you ever repotted in that time? Maybe the roots are struggling because the medium is too old, we usually advise repotting about every two years if it's in bark. Most of the ones sold in the UK are sold in bark but it's often almost ready for repotting when they sell them.

RosieC · #7 07-06-2010, 10:27 AM

Like Philip I'm still a little unsure which part of the plant you are referring to.

Initially I was thinking it was the plant it's self, now I'm thinking the flower spike but I could have still got that wrong.

I agree that a picture of the actual problem would be good to make sure we are not talking at cross purposes.

Dillymint · #8 07-06-2010, 12:48 PM

Thanks for you help and patience with this!
Photos attached - one of the whole plant, and one of the yellow stem (that's bent in half since this morning). The liquid is oozing from the stem just below the yellow bit at the 'joint' where you can see the new shoot has come from.
There is one main stem on this orchid, with five stems branching off that, 2 of which have gone yellow, and a third which I think is just starting to go at the tip.
There are a further 2 stems off the main one that have dried up - but as this has happened regularly since I've had it, I'm assuming that's normal. I tend to leave these stems until they fall off on their own.
The main stem and leaves all seem fine, other than having lost some fleshyness as I mentioned earlier. In fact, having looked at the plant carefully, the whole thing seems to have lost fleshyness - all the stems and leaves seem to be a little wrinkled and not quite as firm to the touch as they were.
FYI, there are 2 things that might be the cause or at least be part of the problem (not that I know much!!) 1) this orchid has always been planted in soil for as long as I've had it (7 yrs), but as it seemed to be doing OK in the soil, I've left well alone. 2) it's on a window sill that gets afternoon sun, and as it's suddenly warmed up in the UK over the last couple of weeks, the window has been left open all day and night. Could it be the sun and/or the draft??
Many, many thanks.

RosieC · #9 07-06-2010, 01:00 PM

OK, cut off that mushy part straight away to avoid it spreading. You can use a dab of cinnamon on the cut end to avoid any infection in the cut.

RosieC · #10 07-06-2010, 01:03 PM

Has the Phal had the main spike every since you got it. If so that is a VERY long time for one spike.

I would actually advise cutting it off, even if there are some parts of it that look like they are growing. The reason being is that I wonder if the plant is worn out from having a spike continuously. Removing it will have the plant a rest and it will (when it's ready) out out a new spike.

Sometimes people cut a spike in a certain place to force it to produce a side spike. I can't see evidence in the picture that you have done that, but if you have been doing that then I would advise against it. This can force flowers on a plant that does not have the strength for them and ultimately leads to the plant being weakened.