Arrgghh! My fav paph is really sick! Leaves browning and limp...

[NeoOrchid]

Hi fellow Geeksters:

Hope all is good with everyone! I have been watching my beloved paph (Sukhakulii) get sicker and sicker. I've tried the soap-oil-water treatment and also purchased Bayer Natria at the local big box store to what appears no avail

I took a few pics I took this morning; I apologize they are out of focus but they definitely show the issue.- Well, looks like I'm getting a 404 server error and can only upload one pic...anyway, leaves are turning yellow and brown, one leaf has a large oval tan colored spot on it and the reverse side has the same tan color except it appears more lace-like (rather than oval).

Another leaf has significant brown and yellow discoloration and the whole plant is simply limp. This plant recently produced a lovely bloom which has dropped off after lasting weeks; has three growths and is feed weeakly with Schultz orchid food. It has been potted in sphagnum, repotted a couple months ago.

This all began when I purchased an orchid online that arrived in poor condition. I don't know what to do at this point, I'm going to use the cinnamon-soap-water spray listed here...

I'll try to repost with more images but hopefully I've given you some idea of what my paph is suffering from...

Cheers and Blessings
Neo

[Shannara]

Have you checked the roots to see if there are any issues going on down there? If you have a fungal or bacterial issue soapy water and Bayer pesticide products aren't going to help. Take a trip to your local garden center and look for something that treats fungal and bacterial issues that is safe to use on orchids. I use Physan 20 and it has saved several of my orchids.

I can't tell from your picture what is wrong though. This kind of stuff can be hard to identify.

HTH

Shann~

[dounoharm]

whatever the issue, physan 20 is safe.....if it is bacterial or fungal it might be strong enuf to cure the issue....i would check the roots, and i dont like sphagnum, i use a finer bark mixture with charcoal and perlite....check drainage, let it go to the dryer side for a bit....not to let it dry out, just not so wet.....gl and try to get better pics for us....

[mayres]

I also would vote for depotting and checking the roots. Lets make certain that what is below the surface is in good shape! If it isn't good we need to address that first thing......Check to see that all roots are firm and have good substance - not soft/mushy and/or wasting away with only "strings" left.......

[tangers40]

i had a similar "brown spot" issue on my paph delenatii (smaller back growth only, not the newest, currently growing), and i gave it a good shot of physan 20 and it seems to have stopped the spread. i figure it was a fungal or bacterial issue as others have mentioned. get something that treats these issues. give it a couple treatments if one doesn't seem to work.

[orchids4me]

I agree check its roots. Repot in a bark mix perlite and charcoal use physan 20. Sphag stays to wet and if its packed tight the roots are wet to long and paphs hate wet feet so to speak moist but not wet wet.... So possible root rot and bacterial infection.
Good luck
Emmaye