Help me save my Phal -Please
 

About three weeks ago I was on a mission to save three phals that weren't doing so well.

I trimmed bad roots, and repotted them with a rooting hormone. Can't remember the brand, but it was ok for orchids according to the label.

Then, a couple of days later, one of the leaves on this particular one started to yellow and it had spots all over it.

A couple of days after that, I cut the leaf off. When I thought the worse was over, I noticed a V shaped spot on another leaf, and another spot on a third leaf....

The other two are thriving, and shooting up several new roots already.

Has anyone seen this before? Do you know what my problem is? Do you think it is fungal, bacterial or viral?

Yesterday, I dipped it in neem oil to see if it would help. I have also separated it from my other orchids.

It has plenty of light and it is not overwatered. The humidity levels are about 40%.

view photos here: .Mac Web Gallery

any clues?

Most bacterial infections are going to cause lesions. I don't think it is fungal. It looks like a viral infection to me. It looks like a type of yellow mosaic virus. The patterns of the two leaves go hand and hand, the mosaic of the first leaf and then the monocot pattern (the streak of yellow) of the second leaf. It is possible that aphids are what did it because they are a big problem but even treating for the aphids wont change the fact that your plant will still be sick. Now you just have to start looking for a way to stop the virus. Also get as many opinions on what it is. If it is a virus, to slow it down try to keep the temperature as low as you can without killing the 'chid (75 degrees) until you can figure out how you can treat it. This will slow it down a good bit. Also exposing it to bright light at longer daytime cycles will also slow the virus down. Unfortunately I can't find anything that lets me know how to treat it. It is possible that if you up the daylight, keep it on a good feeding schedule so that it gets enough nutrition and it stays on a good watering regime that it can fight it off on it's own. But keep us updated.

I really appreciate your help... thanks.

Here is a link for Physan 20 from Rays store. If the lighting and watering don't help or if you want to be on the safe side you could always try this.

Product Listing - Physan 20 - Quart Bottle

I sorry your 'chid is sick. :_( it makes me sad.

But again keep us updated on it.

Since writing this thread, I have treated it with neem oil, and that seems to have helped. The spots are still present, but have dried up a bit. And they are no longer spreading. So hopefully that is good.
I'll buy some of that physan, just in case.

It is quite possible that the problem was caused by aphids and treating with the neem oil has helped to get rid of them and helped to stop the problem. Hopefully after identifying what is causing it and giving it the best chance to get better that it will pull through. It sounds as if the situation is getting better. I'm glad I could help some (although it feels like I did nothing. Biology was the only thing I was ever good at >.<), because this is the only thing so far on the board that I have been able to help with. :-) I do hope that everything does work out for it. Good luck and keep me updated.