Sick Phal - Dark Spots in Leaves

[The Chosen One]

I have a Phal that I noticed today had some weird stuff going on with the leaves. The Phal is mainly inside, it really only goes outside for watering. Temp in the house stays pretyy constant. Only stress for them lately could be due to underwatering. I recently had a baby and tend to get a little absent minded about keeping up with my Orchids lately.

Basically two leaves have dark spots in them. Once much worse than the other. Not sure of the issue so I'm looking for some help. I noticed some white spotting under the really really bad leaf, but it doesn't look like scale from the pics I have seen. Its doesn't appear raised up enough. I have some picture below. All input is greatly welcomed.

[CharliesAngel51]

I think you forgot to post the pics.

[The Chosen One]

Okay got them up now...had a problem getting them posted.

[mayres]

No pictures to view, but dark/black spots should be watched VERY closely. They can sit dormant for a long time and then when conditions are right disease organisms can multiply exponentially and the spot can grow and overtake your plant VERY quickly. If the spots begin to grow significantly it may be advisable to cut out the section of the leaf. If it is at the base of the leaf sometimes the entire leaf must be removed before it migrates to the crown area of the plant.
You got the pics up during my post!
That looks like something dangerous - microbiologically - to your plant. I would cut the leaves off a half inch or so from the affected area towards the crown - immediately. Otherwise I fear it will get the entire plant.......dust the cut areas with cinnamon.

[The Chosen One]

Yeah I was fearing the x-acto knife and the cinnamon would be coming out tonight. Thanks for the post.

[janet_a]

cut them off soonest! dump a bunch of H2O2 all over the plant, then cinnamon. reapply the H202 weekly for a while. this could be very bad. oh, and ISOLATE THE PLANT.

[PhalPal]

Totally agree - surgery required!!!!!

[orchidlover55]

How long have you had your Phal?

[The Chosen One]

Surgery has been performed and dusted with cinnamon. I did this on the day of my initial post and now the plant seems in good spirits, its missing some serious leaves but no other spots have creeped up on it. Unfortuantely, I think I saw a spot popping up on another of my Phals today when I watered. It was one that was closest to the infected plant. Moved it to quarantine and cut of the suspicious part out. I'm in better safe than sorry mode.

Oh yes, soon as I saw those spots that plant it went way on the other side of the house from my remaining Phals.

Never considered H2O2. May have to go that route.

That particular plant I've had between 2-3 years. It was a rescue orchid, so its come quite a ways. Its a fighter!

I have 8 phals, some that I've had for 4 years, and never had a sickness issue. My usual routine is to water them inside on their humidity tray from rain water I gather in a rain barrels in my yard. Recently I moved and its much easier now just to take them outside set them on my deck and water them using the same routine. Would there be any connection in the change of routine to the funk it seems to have now?

[mayres]

Any chance the "rain water" has sat around quite awhile and started some microbiological growth? I'm trying to imagine how your leaves were attacked like that? Do you wet them down with your rain water when you water? Just a thought.....

[The Chosen One]

The water sits in closed rain barrels. Water filters in through a filter system so no debris or anything gets into the water. However they are like 40-50 gallon barrels so there is alot of water that does sit even though its constantly cycling in and out for use.

When I water the plants I just water the medium. So its not like I'm soaking the leaves. However, there is some splash occasionly but nothing I'd call significant. I do occasionaly mist the airborne roots with a sprayer filled with rain water, but once again I'm not soaking the leaves.

[PhalPal]

I was at the Santa Barbara Show this weekend and Andy from Andy's Orchids gave me this pertinent and timely tip.....he told me to NEVER, EVER mist with anything but pure water. For me he recommended bottled water for misting roots and mounts - no minerals, no bacteria. I didn't get into why he was so adamant about this, when talking to Andy the conversation moves very quickly! Even with his vast greenhouse he follows this rule so he must have learned a painful lesson some time ago. (for those of you who have never had the pleasure of meeting Andy, he grows only species and I am figuring they must be more sensitive)

I would imagine a rain barrel with a lid on it would be a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

[Brooke]

Connie I wish you could have questioned him more about the "pure" water. I wonder if he means to only use RO water instead of local water with all the chemicals, TDS and whatever else that escapes through the pipes.

I know he must use RO since his g/h operation is so big he couldn't possible use rain water - it doesn't rain in CA enough to keep a supply of it

Brooke