What could it be with my phals? - Orchid Board

Maya Fechtberg · #1 11-03-2008, 02:08 AM

Hi to Everyone!
First of all I am very sorry if I post it in a wrong place, I am desparate and I hope this thread would get more attention in here.
I am new to here, please forgive me for not introducing myself properly.
I have a problem and I don't know what it could be.
I have got an order from Elsner orchids. Two phals I got are sick, I suppose...
the first picture - phal bellina
second one - phal haur jin diamond

Could you please help me to find out what it is and how to treat those??
please...

BikerDoc5968 · #2 11-03-2008, 10:26 AM

Welcome to our community.... I'm sure one of the moderators will move this to a better spot like plant illnesses. Anyway, the 1st pic looks like a bacterial black spot or possibly a fungal infection. For me, personally, I'd use my exacto knife and cut it out. I'd use a paper towel with some bleach on it and swab the area of the leaf and then cut a circular hole. I'm sure others may have other suggestions. As for the 2nd pic????? not sure that it is anything ....maybe watch it and see what developes.

sucuz · #3 11-03-2008, 01:42 PM

Picture #2 seems to be scar markings. The little pinprick scars could be from some kind of insect that punctures the leaf to suck out sap. They look like they may be older damage. Check the plant over carefully for signs of insects or plant pests that can be treated. If you find no signs of plant pests, it could be that the pests have been eradicated and this is only after-the-fact damage and no further action is required.

priz_m · #4 11-03-2008, 02:20 PM

Hello Maya, welcome to the OB!

I don't believe there is anything wrong with phal #2, as for #1, is there soft mushy tissue around the spot? is it growing? if you answer yes to any of these questions, go ahead and cut it out, if not, i would let it be, it could probably be some kind of sunburn.

Hope this helps.

BikerDoc5968 · #5 11-03-2008, 02:35 PM

Good point about the sunburn...also if the spot is wet or foul smelling cut it out NOW!

Quote:

Originally Posted by priz_m

Hello Maya, welcome to the OB!

I don't believe there is anything wrong with phal #2, as for #1, is there soft mushy tissue around the spot? is it growing? if you answer yes to any of these questions, go ahead and cut it out, if not, i would let it be, it could probably be some kind of sunburn.

Hope this helps.

Maya Fechtberg · #6 11-03-2008, 03:12 PM

BikerDoc5968
sucuz
priz_m

thank you for your support.

pic 1 - well it doesn't grow, it is not mashy, either it smells, but it became darker...and if before it had brownish color then now it is something like dark grey... so I suppose I should cut it out, shouldn't I?

pic 2 - I would think that it is a pinprick scar... I am a beginner and I do not understand those things well, but the thing is that when I got that plant, I didn't like the bark it was in, it had somekind of whitish thing on it... there were no insects as I checked carefully, but I still decided to change the bark. As I was cleaning the plant, I have noticed some white spots on a plant "neck" (place between leaves and roots), I could not wash them off... so I thought may be there were eggs of some insects... if it is so then the leaf appearance with pinprick scar seem to be logical...

I have a treatment for insect killing, but I have no idea where should I place plant after treatment... I live in a flat, so I keep many phals in the kitchen...

any opinions? what and how should I do?

priz_m · #7 11-12-2008, 08:35 PM

Hi Maya, my apologies for not replying, yes if it changes color it is better to cut around it, how are your leaves doing?

Maya Fechtberg · #8 11-14-2008, 03:36 AM

well, I have cut around, I've treated both of the plants with insect killing liquid. They look same now, not better either worse... I am a beginner in growing culture, so I am quite stressed out with all of these things, have no idea what to do next...

BikerDoc5968 · #9 11-14-2008, 10:02 AM

Maya, I feel your frustration. I was, and at times no different than you about all of this..... to the point that it was consuming me when I couldn't figure out what was going on....what my failure about growing these plants was.... I'e gotten better over the past year. You have to get to the point, intellectually that you've done the best you can do and, after all, this is just a plant and you will live past all of this....and so will the plant!