Help! Phal with purple discoloration and wilted leaves

[Aidamd]

Hey everyone! So, my new phalaenopsis, which I've owned for less than a month, was this huge beautiful blooming piece of heaven!

Then it started declining since 2 weeks ago first by blasting buds and then by yellowing of the leaves and wilting one by one.

I blamed it on the stress of moving to a new environment, plus the media had broken down so I repotted it, twice!! Now it is in a new media with leca and bark.

The root system is still pretty well, i did spot some root rot and cut them during the repotting process, but they were less than 20% of the roots so it is still in pretty good shape.

There is only one good leaf left on the plant, which I'm sure is going to start yellowing soon. The top leaf came off easily even though it looked very healthy.

So today when I cut the yellow leaves I spotted this major purple discoloration on the axis of orchid just under the leaves. Any idea what this is and how it can be cured? Is there any hope for my orchid?

I think it's fusarium.

[Ray]

I think it's fusarium.

I think you've been watching too many YouTube videos spreading less-than-reliable information.

Fusarium is a fungus that blocks the internal vascular structure of the plant, and does not typically show an external discoloration.

Sorry to be a little brutal here, but I'd guess the roots were compromised by the original, failing potting medium, and then you aggravated the situation be repotting it - twice no less - and it now is in what appears to be a root-suffocating mix.

Personally, I'd pitch it and get a replacement.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Aidamd

Then it started declining since 2 weeks ago first by blasting buds and then by yellowing of the leaves and wilting one by one.

I blamed it on the stress of moving to a new environment, plus the media had broken down so I repotted it, twice!! Now it is in a new media with leca and bark.

Yeah, stressed plants do that.

The bad potting media, repotting it twice, that can make the flowers and the buds blast out.

I would've done either the bark or the LECA unless there was a reason why you tried both.

Originally Posted by Aidamd

The root system is still pretty well, i did spot some root rot and cut them during the repotting process, but they were less than 20% of the roots so it is still in pretty good shape.

That is pretty good news.

Even if all the leaves fall off, as long as the roots are fine, your plant is still alive. I wouldn't be so quick to get rid of it yet. If all the roots dies, and there are no leaves, then it is truly dead.

Originally Posted by Aidamd

There is only one good leaf left on the plant, which I'm sure is going to start yellowing soon. The top leaf came off easily even though it looked very healthy.

Sometimes one good leaf is all it takes.

I'm not sure if what I'm seeing in the 1st photo is what I think they are or not, but your plant looks like it has mealie bugs hiding in the crown of the plant. That could be part of the reason why the leaf fell off.

Originally Posted by Aidamd

So today when I cut the yellow leaves I spotted this major purple discoloration on the axis of orchid just under the leaves. Any idea what this is and how it can be cured? Is there any hope for my orchid?

There is no cure for the purple patch because it is normal plant pigmentation. It is called anthocyanin.

Originally Posted by Aidamd

I think it's fusarium.

No, it isn't. It is anthocyanin pigmentation.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

I didn't see the plant before you started chopping, but I strongly suspect you cut up a perfectly healthy plant.

The roots I see look normal, and you might have cut off good roots. The purple coloration on the leaf exterior is normal. I don't know why the leaves were yellowing, but I suspect you were letting it stay dry too long between waterings.