Help! New leaf growth dying? - Orchid Board

sunset360 · #1 07-15-2012, 07:13 PM

I purchased my Phal orchid several months ago - my first go at owning an orchid. So far, it has appeared very healthy. However, while we were on vacation a few weeks ago, there was a massive heat wave...and I mean massive. When we got back, the house was in the 90s and was likely at that temperature for about a week. My Phal dropped its last flower a few weeks before that, but was growing a second spike from a node on the main spike that had new buds forming. The new buds were clearly goners, so I cut the spike down completely and got the temp/humidity under control. Besides that one week, my Phal is always in 50-60% humidity, around 73 degrees, and in a room with curtained south and west facing windows. I have a moisture meter and have been diligent not to water until the potting material is nearly dry all the way through, although I did mist the leaves almost daily. So - here are my questions...

I've noticed the new leaf is looking rough now - I'm wondering if this was caused by the heat while we were gone or something else? And, is the leaf lost or is there something I can do to save it?

Also, I noticed some black spots around the base of the phal when inspecting it after vacation. Is this the beginning stages of rot? If so, any suggestions on how to combat? So far, I have only stopped misting the plant.

Thanks!!

Leafmite · #2 07-16-2012, 12:59 AM

I have never seen this before. Hopefully someone else can help.

silken · #3 07-16-2012, 12:58 PM

There are several possible reasons for the leaf in the centre to look like it's dying or dead. In the heat wave/drought it may have aborted trying to grow it as it couldn't sustain it. Once you started misting daily could you have gotten water in the crown where the new leaf is? It could have killed the new leaf with water sitting there. Crown rot can develop if you leave water pooled in it. However I rescued a bunch of drowned out Phals recently and on several, the centre leaf died like that only to quickly be replaced by a new one. so there is hope.

Regarding the black spot. It looks minimal and it sounds like your plant is not subject to over water. The top roots look a tad dry actually. But if you are worried, you could spray a bit of Physan on the base. Or if you don't have Physan, wipe it with some rubbing alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide, or brown Listerine or put some garden sulfur on it. Those are all antibacterials that could help prevent further problems.

sunset360 · #4 07-16-2012, 04:43 PM

Thank-you!! I looked at some other boards last night and ended up hydrogen peroxiding the crown and then dusting with cinnamon - from what I could gather, that seems to be a kind of cure-all with phals. I noticed a tiny amount of fizz, so I'll repeat in 3 days unless I'm warned otherwise! I also found a little 5 in. desktop fan ($7.99 at Menards!) to help with air circulation - our little guest room is beginning to look a bit like a greenhouse, so I figured that was a good gadget to add!

As for the top being dry - absolutely! I took the pictures yesterday, and the phal is due for a good soaking today or tomorrow. I usually keep some spanish moss around the top of the phal to help with humidity and moisture around the top roots between waterings (and because living spanish moss is FASCINATING), but took it off when I began to suspect crown rot.

Again, thank-you for the replies...it gives newbies like myself the confidence to keep growing!

silken · #5 07-16-2012, 06:59 PM

It sounds like it is in good hands and you have the watering figured out. I think it will be fine! More Phals die form over watering then under watering and it sounds like this one won't have that problem.