Phalaenopsis leaves, yellow, black at base

[Pollycat76]

I have had my Phalaenopsis for a year and a half. It has not bloomed since the original bloom faded. It grew two large strong green leaves earlier this year, but then suddenly three weeks ago, two leaves near the base turned yellow and at the same time there seemed to be a dreaded soft black spot where they joined the base. The leaves fell off very quickly and the remaining part of the leaves dried up. Now the same thing thing is happening to the very lowest leaf. There are some green roots showing in the pot, plus brown ones. There are strong greeny/grey air roots above the bark surface. The bark feels quite dry at the top of the pot.
Is there anything I can do to save this plant ?

[Jennyfleur]

Hi Pollycat, any chance you can post a picture? It's not unusual to lose the bottom most leaves as a phal grows, but the worrying part seems to be the blackness at the base. It could be that when you have watered, some has got into the bit where the leaf joins the stem, if you like, and has caused it to rot. However, a picture would help a great deal in finding out what has happened.


Also, just noticed it was your first post so a big 'Hi', 'Hello' and 'Welcome' to OB

[Pollycat76]

Hi Jenny
Thanks for your reply. Sorry I am not camera/computer literate enough to send a photo ! The original flower stalk, of which about the top third turned brown after flowering, the rest remaining green is below the three leaves which have deteriorated. The blackened part at the base of the leaf where it joins the main stem is definitely soft. Some of the air roots are beginning to grow down into the bark compost. I have done my best to keep water away from the top of the plant and it feels quite dry. The top three remaining leaves are a deep green and about 6inches long, so the plant is a bit top heavy.

[camille1585]

The stem turning brown after flowering is not a worry (perfectly normal), but the black mushy rot where the leaves fell off is bad news. The fact that it's not the lowest leaf that fell off first, and that you lost 3 leaves in quick succession also seems to indicate that something is going on.
One thing you can try is pouring some undiluted 3% hydrogen peroxide over the infected parts (I use an eye dropper to do it) and for good measure pour some at the base of the remaining leaves as well. H202 is a strong oxidizer that can be very effective against bacterial and fungal infections.

Unfortunately if the infection has already spread to the inside of the main 'stem' of the phal then it's likely a goner.