Black at leaf base/phal

[piaffe97]

Hello all! I'm having an issue that I've never come across before and not sure whats going on. I have a phal (which up until this point has been very healthy and thriving/bloomed beautifully for over 3 months). When the flowers became wilted and the stem started to turn brown I felt it was time to cut the stem down. The very next day the leaves wilted and looked pretty sad. And on day 2 after cutting, I go to lift the leaves to get a better look and they fall right off into my hands. At the base of the leaves it is black....looks almost like it was burned. Also black where the small stub of the stem remains, and black around the base of the plant where the roots start. Roots look now like they might be struggling a bit, but overall still green and at least living. No black found on them. Any ideas? Thanks in advance for any advice! Leigha

[Zoi2]

This sounds like crown rot due to water left in the crown of the plant. I have never been able to save a plant with it but a couple of OB members have and they will probably chime in soon.
Joann

[RosieC]

Is it at the base of the leaves or in the top of the crown (where the new leaves come from).

If it's at the base it's not crown rot, but it does sould like rot of some sort. Is it soft or is it hard?

For rot, the best thing is 3% hydrogen peroxide on the affected area. Keep using it until the fizzing stops.

If it's hard then it might not be rot. I lost a Phal to a hard black something... never did find out what it was or how to treat it, but might be worth trying the peroxide anyway.

[RosieC]

I don't think this is likely to be related to the cutting of the stem, unless somehow a bacteria got in to the cut.

I've been told in the past that flower stems only send water one way (up the stem) and so there should not be a problem with anything getting in the cut end. However I know some people use cinnomon on the cut end to try and stop anything like that.

[piaffe97]

Yes the black is at the base of the leaves, and is firm to the touch. I did use cinnamon on the stem when I cut it. Hydrogen peroxide is a good idea and I will use that in the future if necessary. Unfortunately, since I posted this last night my poor plant has died. I've never seen one go this fast before. The roots are now completely gray, withered and soft. I cant imagine what might have caused this

[RosieC]

So sorry to hear that

I'm afraid I have no ideas what might have caused it. Obviously different to mine as mine took 6 months to go with slow creeping black.

Don't give up though... remember you have to replace every dead one with two replacements... why do you think people here have so many orchids

[orchidsamore]

Black at the base of the leaves is Pythion fungus more commonly called black rot or root rot.

hydrogen peroxide is a bacterial and will not work on fungus.

Commercially we destroy the plants when the rot has gotten into the roots. When the rot is on the flat portion of the leaves it can easily be cut off.

If you want to try and save it, remove it from the pot. Cut off all the soft black roots (it well may be all the roots) and re-pot it in sphagnum (pythion can not grow in fresh sphagnum) If roots start to grow again you will save the plant.

[jrodpad]

Originally Posted by RosieC

remember you have to replace every dead one with two replacements... why do you think people here have so many orchids

I've never heard that one before, but I like it! I'm going to have to let my wife in on this little gem of orchid-growing wisdom.

- J