orchid debugged, repotted and ok...until now

[mellymom]

Hi!! this is only my second post...after my phal branched off and bloomed again on the same spike, it got infested w/ mealybugs....mostly on the blooms. So, I sacrificed the blooms and cut the stem 2" from bottom of the plant....also, I had never repotted since I got the phal and thought I should check the rest of the plant for bugs....also, it was in very tightly packed moss. I removed a few mealybugs from the leaves w/ cotton swabs dipped in alcohol. when repotting, I trimmed off any rotten roots, but there were still many good roots (I thought) I repotted in Schultz's orchid mix (fir and pine bark, arcillite, and horticultural charcoal) ....It seemed to be doing great for the past 2-3 months. now, the bottom leaves are floppy and the surface of them is rough and thinner, like its drying out...there is also discoloration where the stem was touching one of the leaves. the top leaf is still firm and upright, but does have a little of the roughness on its surface. are the bottom leaves just dying off, or is something more the matter here? also, two roots were above the medium, (i tried to push them under, but figured it was ok) and they are withering away (dry and dead)....thanks for any help

[tom499]

I had this!

It was on a lower leaf on my phal so i cut it off. Plant is now in spike after a month or two recovering.

Do wait for other replies before you take action

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Sure looks like sunburn to me. Looks like the side of the plant along where all the leaves connect looks burnt too. I'd just leave it all alone unless you see some change that looks like a rot is spreading. If it only looks dry, just leave it be. It will out grow the unsightliness eventually. BUT, watch out for the sun. You must have this in way too bright a spot.

[kmarch]

I agree with those who suspect sunburn. Phals shoud be kept out of direct sunlight.

Originally Posted by mellymom

...the bottom leaves are floppy and the surface of them is rough and thinner, like its drying out...also, two roots were above the medium...and they are withering away (dry and dead)

How much humidity is there where the plant grows? And how often (and how) do you water?

Wilted roots are typically caused by one of 3 things:
1) sucking insects - which drain the plant's sap
2) too little watering
3) too much watering - which has caused the roots to rot

I recommend first looking for bugs. If no bugs, unpot and look at the roots. If they are rotted, remove and repot; if they are dry and withered, repot and water more or use a more moisture retentive mix. The mix you describe using is a "dry" mix and may require more frequent watering especially if your humidity is low.

[mellymom]

Thanks guys...its good to know that this will get better. I will check for bugs and water more often (I have probably been underwatering since I repotted, I must have been used to the moss it came in)

[pikevi]

It sure looks like a 'burn' of some sort. If not a sunburn , it could come from a heater or heated air from a vent ( furnaces have started working here in Toronto) or even some solution the plant did not like.

Good luck.

[articuno75]

My two orchids are in the same mix that you have. You have to water more frequently. I learned the hard way when my third plant got dehydrated, then diseased and died. I water about every 4-7 days. My house is dry, so I also give them a misting in the mornings. Still check the medium for moisture levels. I personally don't like the mix because of this factor, so I'm trying something new and bought the Aussie Gold Mix. Haven't got it yet, but everyone raves about it.

[mellymom]

Thanks to all....Articuno75--do you mist the whole plant (leaves and all) with water? won't that lead to rot? I am interested in doing that, but I thought the leaves don't like to be wet. (I could very well be wrong)

[WIB]

One's instinct is always to look for a single cause (Occam's razor?), but I wonder whether you have two things going on: sunburn on the leaf and a persisting mealybug infestation. I have found that once a plant is infested, alcohol swabs, etc., may be totaly ineffective in killing the mealybugs. That's when I've turned to high-concentration acephate, with good results. Others will have other means to suggest. -- Bill