Sudden brown/soggy edges on Phal Leaves
 

Help! I've had this phal for three years and all has been good! Yesterday, I left it soaking for a few hours in my kitchen, returned and drained the water. I typically soak and have no issues.

This morning I noticed the edge/tip of one leaf was squishy and brown rotting, and the tip of the leaf below it appears brown as well! I have no idea what happened and I'm deeply worried.

I am planning to cut off the squishy upper part of the leaf and put cinnamon on the cut, and do the same to the leaf below it. But should I be doing something else?

Also any idea what could have happened? I'm worried this is something that could spread to my other plants, and I returned it to its place on the shelf that is very close to other orchids yesterday and it was there overnight. Thank you OB!

Could it have gotten too cold?

I’m in Southern California where it’s quite warm, so I doubt it! It’s almost 80 degrees today!

Hey BrassCat!

So I'm sure you've done this already, but take a look at the roots and medium it's in. There could be something else that explains what's happening to your Phal.

Doesn't look to me like a root problem, the leaves are nice and firm. More likely either mechanical damage or the introduction of a pathogen from unclean water.

Question... do you soak it in water that has also had some other plant in it? If so, that's a good way to spread pathogens. I'd trim off that bad edge with a single-edge single use razor blade, (makes a clean cut, throw it away when you're done) and sprinkle the cut with cinnamon. Trim into clean tissue a bit, but don't overdo it, the plant needs leaf surface to photosynthesize. Keep the plant as separate as you can from other plants, and just keep an eye on it. if there is no further change in a few weeks, you're probably safe. Observation is one of the most valuable "tools" in your "tool set". The "time dimension" will tell you a lot. You can always increase the "treatment" if it keeps spreading, but if you cut too much you can't put it back.

(Still could be cold, too... it has been very warm during the day, but nights have dipped into the mid-50's F a few nights ago, if it was against a cold window that could do it too. I'm coastal, relatively temperate... inland or even a little more elevation, it could have gotten colder. This time of year the climate is extremely variable. Warm days and chilly nights, those Cymbidiums are gong to start spiking!)

Maybe the leaves came into contact with something if you keep to it on a shelf or window. It does look like the damage is only from one side.