discoloured leaves

[Woods]

Merry Christmas everyone.
I've had the orchid in the photos for 4 years now so I'm very attached to it. This year it has been in bloom since February - the spike split into sections which then bloomed at different times.

As the photo shows it is in bloom and the flowers look lovely. The problem is the leaves. It only has two - they are firm but are changing colour. It started around the edges but now there are blotches in the centre of the leaf now - a brownish/red colour. The photo of the leaf shows the underside of it. I've got a photo of the top side of the leaf too but having trouble getting it on the computer. The colour is much worse on the underside of the leaf. I'm in Glasgow and the weather has been terrible so not much light and it has been cold (even with central heating on).

The leaves feel healthy to the touch and aren't droopy, wrinkly or soft but it just looks strange and seems to be getting worse. Should I be worried?

Anne

[Woods]

Hi everyone - here are the other photos. One shows the top side of the leaf. It looks worse under the camera flash light that it does just looking at it. Anyone got any ideas about what I should do (if anything)?
Thanks
Anne

[Daethen]

How are the roots?

[11Orchid126]

It almost looks like sunburn.

[psyc1210]

I wouldn't say sunburn..maybe more like sun tan. But you said that there hasn't been much sun, and it's cold even with the heat on. Maybe it's because of the coldness near the window it's in front of. Not sure what to tell you to do other than keep an eye on it. If the roots are good, and the leaf is firm, I'd be inclined to say it's most likely fine.

[orchids4me]

Defiantly check the roots. Is it placed close to a window? Is it cold at night where it is? Wondering if its cold damage.
Good luck
Emmaye

[orchids4me]

Sorry just saw where you are ..... What is your weather on your side of the world right now ? Its winter here so possibly if hot there could be sun burn that sometimes takes time to show up.
Emmaye

[Woods]

Thanks everyone. It has been really cold here so probably is cold damage. That's what I thought it might be but wasn't sure. I've moved it further away from the draughty window but still able to get light.

Here are some photos of the roots. They are firm to touch but quite dark on top. I was planning to repot and check the roots once it has finished flowering.

Anne

[11Orchid126]

Remember that cold and dry is better than cold and wet.

[Woods]

Using advice from the geeks I've had a successful 4 years soaking the plant when needed - every 4-6 weeks. In this unusually cold weather should I try just running water through it maybe more regularly? Anne

[Woods]

Hi everyone,

It's getting worse and seems to be spreading up the leaf. Any advice on what to do? Should I cut off the end of the leaf that is discoloured or remove the leaf completely.

Overall the orchid looks good, roots looking OK, flowers OK and leaves firm (except for one being discoloured and with a black mark).

As said previously, I've had it for 4 years. It changed it's flowering this year and since Jan/Feb 2010 it has been in bloom - the spike split and each section of it bloomed at different times. I'm sure the plant is exhausted. There are healthy looking silvery roots that I can see inside the pot and the newest root is silvery and healthy looking.

Please help!
Anne

[Daethen]

If you feel that it has exhausted itself, you may want to cut the spike off low to the plant and put it in water to enjoy. When did you last repot?

[dounoharm]

it def looks stressed out...i would say its bloomed itself into a coma....you need good roots and new leaf growth to save it....i would cut the flower stem off, and repot....phal are too generous for thier own good sometimes....gl

[E-Jag]

Perhaps I misunderstood - are you watering it every month or month and a half by soaking it? If so, your plant is looking for a sword to fall on. It needs watered more often according to your growing conditions and medium (bark?), but probably once or twice per week. My apologies if I misunderstood and you are doing this. If roots are green or light colored AND FIRM, then watering probably isn't the issue. Keep it in temps ranging from about 60F up and light good enough to read by comfortably.

[koshki]

Have you looked at the roots inside the pot? Phals don't usually mind being repotted even while in bloom. If you've had that in bark for four years, the medium might be breaking down. I'd dump it out of the pot and check how the interior roots are doing.

Good luck!

PS...it's a lovely phal. I don't blame you for trying to keep it!

[Woods]

I have repotted it at least twice - gradually into larger pots. I was planning to repot again after it had finished flowering to check roots etc. but it has been in bloom for such a long time that I haven't managed it yet. I'll check the interior roots first then depending on what I find I think I'll cut the spike and put it in water, then repot, check and trim the roots.

I am watering once a month by soaking then rinsing through (on advice from this site years ago) and this works for my phals in bark (I now have three phals on the go - one of them rescued from overwatered sphag). I keep a dish of water near them to increase humidity. This system has worked for me for 4 years now.

Any advice on the leaf - should I do anything to treat it or should I remove it?

Anne

[koshki]

Woods, your watering schedule should be dictated by your plant and conditions. I have a Dpts in bark and water it every three weeks or so, by soaking it as you do. If the leaves are not flaccid or wrinkled, but are turgid and smooth, it's getting enough water.

I wonder about removing the spike. Is it really any added stress for the plant to keep one, once it's grown (which I would expect is more stressful)?

If this is cold damage, and if you lose your only two leaves, the plant may decide to throw a keiki, in which case it might want that spike around.

Just my two petals' worth.

[Woods]

Thanks. I'll order more bark, check roots and repot. I'll keep you all posted.

Anne

[Phalcycle]

Watering 4-6 weeks may be too little for the orchid.
I never go longer than 3 weeks without water, and I use Sphagnum moss.
Bark dries out rather quicky, the roots on your orchid seem dry and the plant seems stressed. Although cold and wet is bad, it still needs moisture, maybe move the plant to a warmer location.

[Filb]

It's strange. It looked how mine did after I left it outside too long during the heat of summer.
Are you fertilizing it?
Because it's on the tips I would be inclined to agree with the others and suggest cold damage. Though I think it doesn't really look necrotic. The red pigment is confusing.

You haven't changed its exposure at all have you?

[Woods]

I have moved it slightly further away from window but same location. This was due to suspected cold damage and gaining a new orchid - had to fit all near window so readjusted position but only slightly. Anne

[psyc1210]

How cold is it actually getting where it's sitting?

[Woods]

Hi everyone. Here's an update - I cut the spike and put it in a vase, I took off the damaged leaf as it suddenly went all bumpy and very wrong looking then I repotted. Roots were tightly packed together and medium in centre had really broken down. I had to soak for ages to loosen off the roots. Some roots were white (not silver) with pink bits and I cut those - a couple white roots were extremely thick almost thickness of 3 other roots!
Anyway, one leaf left so fingers crossed. I might have damaged some roots repotting as heard a few snaps but hopefully enough healthy roots left.