Phal Southern Blight maybe Help!!!

[snowflake311]

I posted this in the Phal Section but I think here would be better.

I took off the worst leaf after taking the photo. I just don't know what is going on with it. This plant does not looks well. I think there is hope, but what should I do to fix the problem? I repotted it. The plant was in Clay Now it is in Plastic. I don't know what more to do?

You can see on the left is the worst. and above it you can see the Yellow starting close to the main part of the plant.










---------- Post added at 06:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:23 PM ----------

I got this plant end of April this year. in September The blooms fell off. and by October 6th I had a 2 inch spike. I was reading that a Orchid that spikes so soon after losing blooms are sick. What to do.

[WhiteRabbit]

How are the roots? If there are few good roots, the plant may not be able to support many leaves .

[snowflake311]

I put photos of the roots. This plant had a weak root system when I got it the roots system is still not that strong as you can see.

---------- Post added at 07:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:22 PM ----------

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

How are the roots? If there are few good roots, the plant may not be able to support many leaves .

So maybe since the plant is growing a spike now the plant can not feed the leaves well?

[gngrhill]

Looks like a lot of the roots have black tips which means they are not growing anymore. You could sacrifice the bloom stalk and hope the plant will grow on, or just take good care of it and hope it comes along in time

[snowflake311]

Well I took off the sad looking leaves and the plant looks fine under it all see.


I had one very rotten root and a few with bad ends. I also had new growth. I think the problem might be a combo. too cold last week was really cold. Also watering with cold water. Too much sun this plant never seemed to get use to the bright window. These were older leaves but not that old .maybe just weak to the stress. I might have been watering too much at times. it was hard to tell with it being in a clay pot.

I moved the plant to a warmer less sunny area. I sprayed it with fungicide. Repotted in plastic with vents and watering less. I think this plant will be ok.



I want this plant to grow some more leaves and roots!

[katrina]

I used to have trouble w/those deep clay pots...until I started filling the bottom half to 2/3 w/styrofoam p'nuts or lava rock. IME, that depth filled w/medium tends to stay wet too long/doesn't dry out evenly and usually ends up causing root loss. From the looks of the pics my guess is definitely root loss due to the wetness and the plant responded to the root loss by dropping leaves.

I have a Phal pulcherrima that had such an incredibly monstrous root system that I ended up chopping off many of them at the last repot because I couldn't find a pot large enough to accommodate the entire roots system and because of the root trim I lost a number of the bottom leaves over the next year or so. I figured it might happen but I didn't want to pot it up to a 10" pot. If root loss happens (by trim or rot) the plant compensates by dropping leaves.

I don't know what kind of pot you put it in this time but if it's the same kind you had it in...then unpot and fill the bottom portion w/something that will just take up space but allow water to run right though. Like I said, I prefer styrofoam p'nuts or lava rock...both are chunky, non-porous, and allow for good airflow.

FWIW - I prefer to let the leaves stay until they come off w/a gentle tug because even though they are ugly they are still providing energy and sustenance to the plant.

[snowflake311]

It has been repotted into a smaller clear Plastic pot with lots of extra side slits. I think this will be better for it. I think it will be fine. It lost one good size root that was rotten but the rest were ok with a few brown tips I cut off. I think it will recover just fine.

Yes I think it was a combination of things that caused the plant to drop leafs and one of it was the roots.
Thanks so much.