Will my Phal recover from Crown Rot?
 

see pics further down!

Last week, I had a leaf rapidly yellow starting from the base. This was the second bottommost leaf (the bottom most leaf is yellowing normally and taking its typical several-week time frame to fully yellow).

This second bottom leaf yellowed so fast I realized something must be wrong so I cut it off. Peaking down cut portion I notice that there is some white dried stuff wedged between the leaves. I treat it with some cinnamon and later on some Listerine.

So now, a week later, the bottommost leaf is still yellowing normally which I am not worried about. The next leaf (which WAS the third bottommost leaf but now is the second bottommost leaf) has a small spot of minor rot on it that has not seemed to spread in the past week. I still check on the little circles of white fungus that is wedged in the base between the leaf and the remaining portion of the leaf I cut last week. I continue to stick a Q tip down there to dab with Listerine every couple of days. The fungus is still there but it is dry and white.

SInce the rot is not spreading and the remaining leaves are still OK after a week, does this look like a situation that can stay under control? Any advice on how to deal with this? Roots are still growing healthily on this phal.

Thanks!

Only time will tell if the orchid will do well or not. Phals are suseptable to fungus and bacterial diseases. I use Physan 20 regularly on mine but a general fungicide from your local nursery would probably help. The easiest thing is to get a fungicide that is pre-mixed in a spray bottle. Ask your nursery people for suggestions and read the label before using.

Was it the lower leaves that were affected, or the upper leaves?

If the lower, then it's not actually crown rot, but that's a technicallity, it's still rot. However I think if the upper leaves are OK and it's not spreading then it has a good chance.

If it's the upper leaves that rotted then it will likely not be able to grow from the crown again (although it's been known) and more likely you will get a basel keiki which will take over as a new crown.

The lowest leaf has been slowly turning yellow. But the second lowest is the one that rapidly rotted from the crown. This rot spread to a spot on the third lowest but not spreading since. The top two leaves are unaffected.

Here are some pics!
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_3732.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_3731.jpg

The leaf that rotted out has been removed but left some rot on the next leaf.

I would treat that area with Hydrogen Peroxide. 3% or 6% solution is what you can usually buy and that can be used neat.

It will fiz and will hopefully stop the rot spreading futher.

After that just care for the plant as normal and hopefully it will recover in time.

rot spread to next leaf now. i think it is a goner. :(

tried the hydrogen peroxide this morning but not hopeful anymore.

You might want to mix cinnamon with some old fashioned glue froma. Glue stick (think kiddy arts and crafts). Make it into a paste and apply it to the area.

Also, try placing a fan nearby to keep the air moving and keep that area of the plant dry (it can't hurt).

I had one plant that had a chunk ripped out (I tried to get the old bloom stalk out and it ripped out a huge chunk! Eep). I slapped on a cinnamon poltice and let it all dry. Now that part is buried in the medium and the plant is growing huge roots and is super happy. Best of luck! And please keep us updated :)!

Ryan

Ryan,
Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately I did not get a chance to see if this would work as I think I got some spider mites on the Phal and at this point I decided to cut my losses and throw the plant out. I did not want to risk infecting other plants.

I appreciate the advice on this thread but it seems crown rot is a difficult thing to recover from!

Hi, I'm sorry to hear that! Best of luck with your other plants :)!

Cheers,

Ryan