CROWN ROT ON PHAL?
 

Hi, new member & first post. Thanks for having me & for keeping up the volunteer educational wok for us novices!

I have become the kind of neighborhood drop-off for the orchids people receive as gifts. Once the blooms are gone, neighbors bring them here. Good for me, because I have had about 10 years to enjoy their discards when they bloom again.

I am posting because after all this time, I finally have a sick orchid. I had to leave for 10 days to go to my father's funeral. Left the orchids as I always do and they were all dark green & appeared happy when I got on the plane. I was looking forward to the blooms on the Phal pictured, but when I returned all (not one or two, but ALL) of the leaves had turned yellow (and red!?). Most of the blooms are turning red and shriveling as well. The plant was repotted last year in a sphag/bark mix & was truly happy.

After web searching the web, I think it's a goner & has crown rot, but wanted second (and third) opinions. Just kills me that it was so close to blooming and now may be dead. Also kills me to have to toss out my first orchid in about 10 years.

I am not an expert, but I have taken care of all of the orchids well, they bloom well (not constantly, but annually anyways) and have very lush, healthy leaves & roots are repotted every 2 years or so.

Thoughts?

Contagious to neighboring plants?

Thanks in advance!

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Hard to say from the photo if it may be crown rot ..
My experience with crown rot, the center-most leaf first will start to backen from the base, leaf will come out very easily ...

Let's see what others may think ...

I don't think it's crown rot. It would be black and mushy looking. It looks more like sunburn to me. As long as the roots are good it may send out a basal keiki. It may even start growing a new leaf from the crown. Have you checked the roots?

I agree. This looks like sunburn.

Too much light, and possibly magnesium deficiency (might explain the red).

Place it in the light that your other Phals seem happy with.

Epsom salts from the grocery store (plain, no scents, etc. added) or pharmacy are a good source of magnesium. Use 1 tsp/gallon, water with that a couple times a month, at least.

I would try to keep water off of the leaves & out of the crown as much as possible.

Thanks all for the replies...

The funny thing is, this orchid is in a tray with 5 others, and on a countertop with an additional 8. South facing with solar shades (semi see through) on the window. None of the other orchids are affected (yet). All watered the same way & time.

Will get Epsom salts tomorrow & see if it helps. Thanks!!