Phal NOID - Top Broke Off
 

OK, here is my 2nd problem child for anyone who can tell me what went wrong. ("Went" - past tense. It is dead.)

I bought this Phal NOID on 7/19/13, at a chain grocery store. It was the day we buried my beautiful dad and I wanted a white orchid so I could place a big white flower in his casket before they laid him in the ground. I am sad it died :(, but actually . . . not heartbroken because at least I sent him on with that gorgeous white flower.

Anyway, it had been potted in a very small flexible type pot (pic 1). That new leaf you see in pic 1 started to split as soon as it came out and others started to split. In October, I repotted in a larger pot - about 2 X the size (pic 2). It just seemed to decline and finally, about a week ago, I pulled it out of the pot and the whole top broke off. It was wet. (pics 3 and 4) I don't think I overwatered. What on earth went wrong??

Thanks, all!

Basically it drowned. It appears to be potted in wet sphagnum moss and it never dried out. Hence the root rot which traveled up the stem and rotted it. Sorry.

I agree with James. It looks like sever root rot.

I third those remarks.

And also would add... you are making sure not to get water in the crown that sits there, right? I see a bromeliad in the background, which is why I ask. Very different watering techniques for phals and bromeliads. If you know that, I apologize. Just thought it was worth remarking on. :)

I am dealing with both an aerides and a sedirea that have this problem and they are planted in lava rock and kept on the dry side. Water must have gotten into one of the lower leaves and started the process. In both cases, I caught it before it rotted the center but whether they will survive, I don't know. I have been spraying the roots of my angraecums and neo falcata and I guess some of the water has been landing on these two as well. With the cooler house temps...oops.

Yep, I do know the difference: water into the crown on broms; NEVER do that with Phals. I think water may have gotten into the Phal crown by accident. Oooops!:blushing:

---------- Post added at 09:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:20 PM ----------

Leafmite, I think I probably did the same thing by accident. I really do NOT think I over watered because I'm pretty careful with that. Sigh. Gotta be more careful with that hose! :blushing:

Just think...you now have a spot for a new orchid. That is how I always see it.... :)

Leafmite . . . EXACTLY!

Hi Black vine

I keep my Phals only slightly moister than Cattleyas when indoors, meaning letting them go until slightly damp/nearly dry before watering again. I agree with the other assessments: too much water. For future Phals, consider more porous pots, like terracotta, or Plastic net pots.

I suspect that watering with a hose may not be giving you enough control over where the water is going. You can get very precise control if you use a 1-gallon pump sprayer for watering. Cost is only $10 to $20, less than many plants. The sprayer wand can be used to direct water into the medium only, avoiding the crown and leaves.

:)

What is the material tied around the stake and the stem of the Phal? If it is the cord you are using on some of your Phals the cord could have gotten wet, created a bacteria on the stem and the results would be the same as crown rot except it started low. I see viable roots so don't think you have a root problem.

Crown rot and stem rot are the same thing except stem rot starts low and goes up the stem and crown rot travels down.

Brooke