Phalaenopsis - leaf spots and stem colour changes

[pkiron]

Hi,
I've had my phalaenopsis a couple of years, and it hasn't flowered since the original flower stem, but hadn't worried as had moved house and new location largely north facing, and plant is still growing new leaves.

It recently started sending up a flower stem, but then I noticed a blackish spot on the underside of one of the leaves, the tip of the new flower stem has now gone slightly purple, and a second spot has developed on the leaf.

Can anyone help with the stem colour - is this normal?

What might be causing the leaf spots, and what do I need to do about this?

Thank you

[Lagoon]

Hi & Welcome to the forum Pkiron

I first thing i've notice about you're phal was the leaf colour - it looks tired out. When was the last time it was repotted?

The spike is actually a root, but still a good thing for sure.
The dark spots look like it could be some mild fungus. I would apply some moisten sulpher to these areas and keep a good circulation going.

How is the deeper layer of the root system doing?

A photo of spikes ....

[pkiron]

Hi - thanks for the reply

The plant has never been repotted - I've had it about 2 years.
I've pulled it out of the pot and it has a couple of long green roots and its also growing another root. I've attached a couple of pics. The other roots seem to be dried out.

[Lagoon]

You're welcome -- Hi again

Yep it needs a repotting, looks like you've got some nice long healthy roots left. Take out / cut off any brown mushy roots. And by the looks of it, it'll be a good number of them. Don't worry about this, with nice clean media you're phal should be able to rebound nicely.
You can rinse out & scrub down and use the same pot if you think the roots will fit. Allow some extra room for the new roots to emerge.

When I repot I normally leave my media dry out for a couple of days to allow the cuts, nics & dings heal up. Then water as usual and use fertiliser a week later.

Good luck with the repot, you're phal should be fine

[pkiron]

Thanks again for your help.

Repotting done!

Haven't found some sulpher for the leaves yet, that'll be a job for next week.

Kate

[CTB]

Welcome to the Orchid Board. You've come to the right place with over 14,000 members, its always someone to the rescue. Enjoy!

[RosieC]

Just a quick note... what size pot did you repot in. The original pot is probably now WAY to big, you really need it in the smallest pot you can fit the roots in to, if that means it's top heavy user a decorative outer pot to support it.