New Phal.

[lazaah]

Hello everyone,

My partner brought me my 4th Phal. yesterday. Lovely 4 inch wide purple blooms. However I question its health, the leaves have a white "tint/powder" to them, its definitely not a fluff, but when looking through a lens looks almost like mold I guess. If I scratch a leaf it will leave a white scratch mark. The leaves are quite hard and flat, and showing what I think is humidity stress (twisting a bit), as it came in a plastic wrap thing. I have given the leaves a wipe down with alcohol and dilute vinegar.

There is no other symptoms, the spike buds generally look healthy, same with the crown. Is my hunch of a mold problem likely? If so is a regular treatment with dilute vinegar appropriate? I prefer to use organic methods. What other symptoms should I keep an eye out for?

Cheers,

[Shiffdaddy]

The first response is probably gonna read, "You have any pictures." hahaha So i will save them the response. Do you have any pictures? It sounds strange and i personally havent witnessed this white "mold". I am sure someone with more experience will chime in soon.

Ben

[lazaah]

mmm photos wouldn't really show the detail of what I'm looking at considering I'm looking through a 40x Lens....How about the leave just looks a bit dusty, yet the dust doesn't wipe off..?

[JaneEyre]

Perhaps it could be hard water deposits? Sometimes new orchids I buy have pale white residue in a pattern as if droplets of water sat on the leaves. Not sure if that is what you are seeing. Maybe someone else with more experience has an answer for you.

[lazaah]

ahh that very much could be it! And because it was in some sort of humidity tube, it was probably just doused in water, the only other thing I can liken it to would be mildew, if that was the case how would I tell if its getting worse?

[RosieC]

Try wiping the leaves gently with lemon juice. That should remove hard water deposits and make the leaves more shiny.

You can then more easily keep an eye on it coming back.