Virus

[Mahon]

Linda,

This looks to be a fungal issue (could be bacterial, but I doubt it). No visible signs of virus here. It's a rot of some sort.

I am unsure why, but I notice that cut leaves of my Section Mastigopetalum species (which includes Paph. gardineri, Paph. praestans, Paph. rothschildianum, etc.) will be infested with fungus just days later (leaves discarded in the garden). After about a week, I notice that they look like old, shriveled, black banana peels...

Make sure you keep that leaf FAR away from your plants, just to be safe. I would assume that it is a leaf of either a previously bloomed growth, or a mature growth that hasn't bloomed after 2 seasons? ...and perhaps a lower leaf?

-Pat

[Mahon]

...oops, I just read the bottom portion of your original post. It is the lower leaf of an older growth...

-Pat

[Toddybear]

My Phrag Andea Fire went through a similar episode. I lost 3 of the lower leaves to this red-rot. I removed them soon after the rot set in. The rest of the plant is now the best kind, with no signs of the rot in the last few months. Those older leaves seemed a bit weak from the start while the new ones looked much stronger. Now all those older leaves are gone and the plant looks fine. I don't have Physan but that should help. I'd cut off the affected parts back to clean tissue.

[Lindafvb]

Thanks to everyone who replied. Your assistance and reassurance goes along way with this newbie. Sorry I did not write in today sooner. We have had some bad weather here in NJ and just finished a bucket bragade to empty the cellar of water. Hopefully the worst is over.
I did spray the plant with physan 20 and removed the leaf. I find the spots that are cellular collapse turned black but the rest of the plant looks fine. I will keep it isolated and hope for the best. I figure if it is not going to go well, I will know very soon. I will update this thread later in the week and let everyone know.

[Lindafvb]

I wanted to update this thread and let everyone know that all is well. The plant has had no further problems and the new fan continues to grow a new leaf. So either I caught the problem fast enough or as others have suggested, this was a normal leaf dieback. Whatever happened I am happy to report the story had a happy ending.
Thanks to everyone for their input and reassurance.

[Ross]

Glad to hear it.

[justatypn]

It's always nice to hear a great update such as yours....

[Lagoon]

This is one of the many reasons peeps log on here, to help and to get feedback and a response like yours. It's good to hear all is well

Happy Growing!

[wallyworld]

I have an P. esquirolei that had the same thing. I had placed it in isolation and when the new growth came out, they did not have it on it and to this day, it hasn't showed up on any of the new growth. I would still seperate it fron any other paphs just in case and keep an eye on it.