Yikes!! Phal leaves all fell off today!

[flutepic15]

Hello all. I'm new to the forum, although I have been checking the site out for a few months, and getting some tips. I have several Phals, one of which needs some help. I bought it several months ago from Lowe's (I know, not the best orchid source). It had two large spikes which were flowering with lovely purple blossoms. At that time, it also had 8 or 9(no joke) 12 inch leaves, all a nice firm texture and medium green color. As is usual with Lowe's orchids, it was soaking wet when I bought it, so I repotted immediately in an orchid mulch that I also bought at Lowe's. It gets fertilized water about once per month. I water every 7-14 days depending on how dry the mulch gets. It sits above my fireplace within 5 feet of the sliding glass door of my living room. The light that comes in through that door is from the Northwest. It gets most of its light in the late afternoon. However, our patio (just outside the door) is protected by an overhanging balcony from our upstairs neighbors, so the light is not as bright as it could otherwise be. The point is, I don't think any of the orchids are getting direct sunlight. That being said, this otherwise healthy Phal has just finished dropping its blooms and I cut its spikes back to just above the first node that had had a blossom. Neither spike seems as though it will continue to grow (they are brownish and dry, and I guess need to be clipped all the way back.) However, today I inspected this Phal and noticed that one of its leaves was dangling precariously off of the plant. I touched it and it fell off. Upon further inspection, the remaining leaves (there were 4-5) all came off in my hand! Very scary!! The crown does not appear black, it is a yellowish color and soft. I unpotted and inspected the roots-some on the outside appeared dehydrated while those under the crown had become rotted. The plant still has many viable, firm, green roots. Will it grow new leaves?? I know it is not normal for a Phal to drop all its leaves like that in one day, should I administer orchid first aid, or let it do its thing? Also, I should mention I saw one or two tiny white creepy crawly bugs in the crown area (I observed them without magnification.) Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of the bugs. What do the orchid gurus think?

[articuno75]

Sounds like you have mealy bugs. Maybe a touch of fungal infection too. Treat for the buggies and the infection. You can either do Brookn's Recipe or go for the big guns and use Bayer 3 in 1.

[sandra]

Originally Posted by flutepic15

The crown does not appear black, it is a yellowish color and soft.

Hi and welcome flutepic. Where are you? You'll need to go into your user settings and update so others here can give you advice that will pertain more specifically to your overall growing conditions, including where in the universe you are now.

A yellowish and soft crown is not what you should expect here and suspiciously, sounds as if the crown is rotted or may be bacterial or, both. I had this last year and am not ruling out other possibilities but, it sounds very much like what happened with my Phal. Have a look: crown rot treatment?

[flutepic15]

Jenny,

I am just northwest of Philadelphia, PA.

[articuno75]

I have to agree with Sandra and say that Crown rot is starting. I would administer orchid first-aid and give it a good peroxide bath then treat with either the recipe or Bayer.

[brookn]

If I read correctly, this is a now leafless Phal.

Try this thread, then if you have more questions, let us know.

can phal survive with just roots?

[norris]

Hi there, and welcome

[norris]

I'll have to agree with the other members about your Phal. having Crown rot. Good luck with that. I might suggest you get another plant to keep the sick one company

[berkeleysgr8]

Brookn, what's the hurt in trying to revive this mass of roots? They look healthy, I'd say try it and see what happens! That said, I just threw out the root system of what had previously been a GORGEOUS Naples Nights Phal with two flower spikes! I have another one, so I'm hopeful I'll keep that one alive! I say try the experiment and let us know how it goes!

[BunnytheOrchid]

Sounds a lot like the thread brookn posted as a link; can a phal survive without leaves. I have had a phal start to rot and drop all its leaves, even before the leaves had fully yellowed. Its terribly discouraging , and I'm not sure it can be revived. If it can, it will take a lot of tender loving care. If the phal is indeed completely leafless now, it is possible to still use photosynthesis on any other green part (like roots), just not as efficiently or effectively. So it does have hope (I think), but the light conditions will need to be really good for it get energy, along with other culture needs.
As for mealy bugs, I have no expertise on this critter If its mealy bugs, others more informed will be able to help you with that. Good luck!

[articuno75]

Flutepic15, is there any pics that you could provide of the plant that way we can see it? Also if you can please update your profile location so when members give advice it can be more helpful.