My newest Phal, is it a bacterial inf??? Help!

[bemarine]

I bought this one at HEB. I love it and its really huge. I know everyone recommends repotting immediately, but it looked so happy. Since I first got it, the other spike has the bulbs growing. However, the other day I noticed this yucky stuff at the edge of the leaf and cut it with sterile scissors. Now a day later the entire leaf has turned yellow all the way down. I am afraid, is it going down the stem to the roots. Is it bacteria? Old leaves usually feel soft before they die. This one is still fleshy??? I am repotting tomorrow.

Please help friends. Desperate.

[articuno75]

That looks like crown rot.

[patticake]

I agree with Jenny. I wold cut the affected part back, and sprinkle cinnamon on the cut. Does it get much natural light?

[digitalgate]

take every thing out of the pot if you can. Separate the baby from the mother, cut and plant the mother into another pot to prevent infection.

[bemarine]

If it has crown rot will it die? What about the new blooms its trying to have? It does get plenty of light.

[jerrymeola]

Two things

Not everyone on the forum recommends re-potting immediately. I do not see the need unless the plant has problems. If the plant looked like it needed to be re-potted you should not have bought it. If a plant shows problems they are weeks developing and only get worst.

Crown rot usually is seen on the top leaf not the one three down. Crown rot is also usually black not yellow. The bad leaf on your plant may be as simple as a physically damaged leaf. The end of the leaf is broken and not cut clean. It is a very large plant and certainly does not need this leaf so it may be just discarding a useless leaf. The leaf above it, is very light as is common on a newly developing leaf. If it turns a nice green in the next couple of weeks then you do not have crown rot.

It will be hard to separate the two plants in the pot. I do not believe it is a mother and basil keiki but rather two plants put together when young to make a larger plant for sale. The roots are probably heavily intertwined and separation may break more rots then it is worth.

There are no hard and fast rules. Read everyone's advice and make your own decision.

[Brooke]

A bacterial infection can also start on a lower leaf when water gets trapped in the junction where the leaf joins the plant. When you water, it can splash all over the leaves and if there is not enough air flow to dry out, bacteria can start at that point. The length of the floppy yellow leaf tells me there is a problem, somewhere.

If this is two plants in one pot, the roots will be easier to untangle than if this is a basal keiki. Adult plants have large roots totally not attached to each other even if they are entertwined. A nice long soak to make the roots very pliable and some patience and it can be done. A basal keiki grows from the mother plant and will have to be cut off, and hopefully you will have lots of good roots to support the keiki.

I think most people repot regardless of what the media looks like upon receipt of a plant is to avoid a possible infestation from a commercial situation.

Brooke

[brookn]

I suggest a repot also, just to check the condition, and after it is depotted a good soak in peroxide. That should help clean up any bacterial issues, then after sprinkle the affected area with cinnamon. If you are careful, your blooms should be fine. You can follow up in a few days by pouring some more peroxide on the affected area.

[Tarad]

I had a couple of phals with crown rot and it didnt look like that but I think each case is different. I would re pot too jsut to get the old media away if nothing else. Tara

[bemarine]

Will it die with crown rot?

[11Orchid126]

This plant will be very hard to water with two crowns, but it is imperative that you don't get water in either of them.