Ahh! Paph leaf spot is scaring me

[JKeys]

I posted about this spot on one of my paph's leaf about a week ago. It flowered with this leaf and it doesn't seem to be growing anymore. I noticed the spot and put some hydrogen peroxide on it and also some physan.

It seems to be spreading downwards, when I pull the leaf a little to look it looks kind of brown down there.

What should I do? I would really like to save this plant.

Thanks!

[kindrag23]

Post a picture of new developments

---------- Post added at 10:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:59 AM ----------

That might be of help to see what is going on.

[NYCorchidman]

No questions needed. Cut that leaf out like RIGHT NOW!

Whatever it is, if it is spreading and going toward the growing center, then you really want to just cut the affected leaf off.

This kind of rot is done by microorganism working inside the leaf tissue. No matter how much hydrogen peroxide (which can damage the leaf) or physan poured on, will do nothing to stop it as both these agents only kill off whatever is on the surface of the leaf.

Again, if it is just one leaf, the best way to deal with it is just cut it out. Usually that takes care of things right away.
Then you want to keep an close eye on the plant to see if the similar symptom develops again. then you want to spray.
I have bad experience with spraying chemical. Almost everytime plants die or nearly die.
So when I see suspicious spotting or rot, I just remove the affected plant part(s) and that usually is the end of it.
When they come back, I just toss the plant unless it is valuable.

The good news is with proper care, you won't see much of sick plants. Diseases and pests do occur however, and the best thing is to deal with them as early as possible.

I hope your plant survives.

[JKeys]

Thanks. I will do my best to cut the affected leaf.

---------- Post added at 12:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:58 AM ----------

NYC - I tried to remove the leaf, however, the darkness goes down to the core. It is not like the spot here:



It is more like yellowish leaf and striped of dark. I cut as much as i could but i can't cut anymore without hurting the other leaves any more than I already have. Any tips? This is the leaf that the flower spike came out of. Does that make a difference?

[NYCorchidman]

I know it is located on very touch spot. If you leave it, the area may spread further down in the center and possibly kill the plant.

I think I saw your older posting of this same plant with a much smaller spot. It is definitely getting bigger.

I would do all it takes to get the whole leaf off then.

You could find a very small but sharp surgical blade to get the job done the best, but yeah, with paphs leaves so closely packed in together, the surgery may hurt other leaves a little bit, but it is worth saving the plant, right?

I have done the leaf cutting on oncidium hybrid. It was toward the center where base of a few leaves met. Well, I hurt more than one leaf, but saved the whole plant.

Wish all the best!

[JKeys]

Thanks. Will try to do that.

EDIT: I have performed civil-war surgery on my orchid. Not an experience I would like to have again.

I got most of that leaf out, keeping my fingers crossed - and praying - that this will do the trick

[NYCorchidman]

Good job!
I know I hate to do that. When I removed rotten part of my intergenetic, I had to cut into pb! I really felt bad, but the plant survived and even flowered in the same year!

By the way, do you grow many paphs and this is the only one getting sick?
The reason I ask is so you can evaluate your growing environment.
Usually, correct lighting deter many of the pathogens away. UV kills many little things sitting on the surface, also correct light keeps plants stronger and healthier than they would otherwise be.

I hope all will be good with your paph.

---------- Post added at 10:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:06 AM ----------

You said this fan has already flowered, right?
In worst case scenario, say the rot comes back at the center, I would just cut the whole fan off.
You have newer fan on, and while cutting off old fans will affect the whole plant but nearly nowhere what rot will do, which is death of the plant!

The plant will continue to grow new fans anyway!
and at times, cutting off fans or dividing may even stimulate more growth. I have seen this happen in a few of my paphs.

[JKeys]

That's what I was thinking. If it looks to be spreading, I'll cut it. The problem is, the new fan has no roots - I guess I'll have to bag it and wait if it comes to that.

[NYCorchidman]

hmmm no roots yet on the new fan.... let's just hope all goes well and rot will not occur again.