Dark spots on Phal

[Melody]

This is my mother's orchid. She wanted me to ask you guys about a problem she is having.

This plant recently developed dark mushy spots on it's newest leaf. At the time, the plant looked as though it was hardly potted. The plant was on it's side with maybe 2 long roots in the media and a bunch of aerial roots growing everywhere. I advised her to at least repot it, which she did and she cut off the leaf with the mushy spots hoping that it would stop it from spreading. It was also sprayed with orthonex as well. This was about a week ago.

Today, it is showing more dark mushy spots just starting to develop on another leaf. Any ideas? Is this plant savable?

[Leafmite]

Sunburn? Here are some helpful sites that have information not only help to diagnose but also how to treat a problem:
Orchid Pests, Orchid Diseases
http://www.houstonorchidsociety.org/...PestsandDiseas

[WhiteRabbit]

Could there have been water on the foliage while temps were cool?

[Bud]

a cooler shade would be nice...it looks like sunburn as Leafmite said....is it experiencing direct noonday sun?

[Melody]

It has been outside with some other orchids for the past month getting cooler night temps (60's). And I think it did rain a few times while they were out there. But, none of the other orchids have developed this. They are all in the shade, under a large tree/the eve of the house.

I tried to diagnose the problem when I first saw it on the previous new leaf that has been cut off by looking in some of my orchid books (similar info as Leafmite's links...but thanks for the links ) and my guess was that it was some type of rot... but I found diagnosing really difficult. A lot of the descriptions and such look really similar to me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I didn't think sunburn areas could be squishy/liquidy? Have I been wrong in this assumption?

Attached are two more photos from yesterday: A close up and the underside of the leaf... in case that helps at all.
When I looked at it today, the dark areas seem to be getting wider but there isn't a yellow edge or anything.

[WhiteRabbit]

Hmm... I don't know if 60s would be cool enough to cause problems when foliage is damp. Tho if it was cooler than that ... Some orchids are more cool tolerant than others, so it's possible that one plant could be affected while others are ok.
I don't think sunburn would be soft or squishy.

Phals are difficult for me to grow, so I only have a couple, and grow them indoors only, so I certainly defer to those with more experience and success with them - but I agree with you that I don't think it's sunburn. Hopefully someone will be able to help. Good luck!

[Melody]

IT'S GETTING EXPONENTIALLY WORSE!

Photo taken this morning below.
The entire leaf tip is turning yellow, the dark areas have gotten darker, bigger, squishier and are sinking in more.

Should this leaf be cut off before it gets any worse? Is this plant just a goner? what to do? *freaks out*

[Paul Mc]

I'd you he not already, isolate it from any and all plants. To me, I'd be worried that it might spread. Most Phal growers don't let them get rained on unless they are mounted and have grown to a natural position to avoid getting water between the leaves and in the crown. I don't believe that is what has happened here though as in my experience the rot would start from somewhere between the crown and base, I the center of the plant.

[Leafmite]

I am not a phal person either so though this works for my other orchids, I can't say if it will work for your phal. I like to blast everything with isopropyl alcohol and removing the leaf and alcoholing any remaining leaves to prevent new infection is the path I would choose. Hope an expert with phals can help you.

[silken]

I'm not an expert either but I agree with Leafmite to cut that leaf off past any black spots to where there is healthy tissue. Then use some alchohol or some antifungal on the plant. You could also dab cinnamon on the cut edge of the leaf to seal it off and disinfect.

My thought was too cool and damp for it which caused some sort of fungal or bacterial problem in the leaf. Mine get down to 60 in the greenhouse but are not very damp when that happens and for sure the leaves are not damp.