Sick Phal orchid, please help

[tab]

This is my first orchid, which I received as a present about a year ago and has been very healthy. It lives in my kitchen on top of a cabinet near but not directly under my skylight. It was putting up lots of aerial roots so I repotted about 5 months ago. It put out a new leaf during flowering, finished flowering about a month ago, and just started to put out a new leaf within the past two weeks.

I left for 2 days, and chose not to water before I left, so last watering was over a week ago and the media is dry. This is what I came home to (see photos): the 3 mid-level leaves are turning yellow and looks like it starts on one margin and spreads to the other side. The leaf laying on the counter came off very easily and was mushy at the base with a dark colored area. The top 3 leaves and bottom 2 leaves aren't showing any symptoms.

What is wrong and what should I do?

[ARodney]

The only ???? that come to mind is how hot was the house? How dry was the media? Are they any roots or growths where the leaves were?

[tab]

Was 70s when I left and got home to 90s. Air conditioner has been off most of the summer. Media is MiracleGro orchid potting mix and was quite dry on top. From what I understand this media holds water a little too well so I have been trying to make sure I don't water too much. Didn't encounter this problem back during the weeks of heat in July, but maybe it is from too much heat and too little moisture? There's darkening where the leaf was attached, but not sure how else to describe. Added 2 more photos that are closer up.

[orchidlover55]

Did you soak your mixture for at least 24 hours before you repotted your orchid in it? It sorta looks like to me too much fertilizer did you fertilize it ? If none of that applies I don't think that is too little water because usually the leaves swivel up from too little water. It could have been something in the mixture

[Leafmite]

My phals don't mind being dry for a day or two if I am busy and the temps aren't too high but if they were dry a week, it is possible that this is a reaction. You do mention mushiness, which makes me think of things that happen when a plant is kept too wet or gets water in the crown or on leaves. Is it possible the problem started before you left? Hopefully someone who has seen this before can help. I know how stressful it is not to find the answers. Good luck, leafmite

[tab]

Hoping it is just a water thing, but really at a loss and appreciate any effort to diagnose.

For repotting/fertilizer: I followed the directions on the bag, which did not say to soak, only wet and drain once done potting. The mix has fertilizer in it and bag says it feeds plants for 3 months, but 5 months have passed.

Yes, there was mushiness and a small amount of white something along with the black/dark areas where the leaf had been attached. The yellowed leaf under the one that came off is also separating from the plant where it is yellow. Difficult to see in picture, but leaves are shriveled in areas that are yellow.

[orchidlover55]

Tab I am sorry this is happening , I get so worried if it looks like something is wrong with any of my orchids and I have 182 of them Lol .
Most of the bags of mixture doesn't have soak your mixture on the instructions but you need to because it is so hard to keep your orchid watered if you don't . I order my mixture from repot me online. I have never purchased any mixture with fertilizer added I don't trust them to put the right amount , orchids are so picky about that . You can burn them up with too much. Another thing it could be is too much salt in the mixture but when you water it again dip the pot all the way down in the water , flush it out real good unless there is too many chemicals in the mixture .

[tab]

Thank you. I will try flushing and hope it snaps out of it. If anyone else has input, please share!

[orchids4me]

Check the roots, pull it out of its pot and really check the roots. That's where most problems lie in leaf issues most of the time. Post some pics for us to if you can of the roots.
Good luck tab

[1joyceh]

doggles?? OMG Emmaye...I love them...
sorry, has nothing to do with the post...but had to say that.....

[orchids4me]

Originally Posted by 1joyceh

doggles?? OMG Emmaye...I love them...
sorry, has nothing to do with the post...but had to say that.....

Hi joyce yes doggles lol. www.I'm not sure if its Docktor or doktor off hand but docktor foster smith. I get a pet supply catalog from them mail order. They have a web site also. Hers has flames on the sides.
Hijack end. Sorry Tab
Emmaye

[Brooke]

Tab you have a small bacterial infection where the leaf attaches to the stem. Pour peroxide over the stem of the plant to make sure the infection doesn't spread into the stem. Don't remove the leaves until they normally fall off because the green side is still feeding the plant.

Don't worry about not soaking the Miracle Grow, the peat content will keep the bark in the mix moist enough.

Brooke

[tab]

Peroxide applied. Thank you Brooke!
Now hoping I come home to a live orchid at the end of the long weekend

I wanted to avoid uprooting the whole plant because all of the roots I have peeked at are fat and green.

[koshki]

Tab, in my experience, phals do not mind being unpotted, repotted, decanted, dumped out, knocked over, spike or no spike, whatever. I've done it all.

However, I have been surprised once taking the plant out of the pot to find some nice big fat roots and others that are completely rotted. The rotted ones will make your plant unhappy if you don't take care of them.

I would recommend taking it out and giving it a very thorough inspection.

Oh, and welcome to Orchid Geeks!!!!

[orchidlover55]

Tab I am so sorry I didnt welcome you I only have my iPhone with me and this little screen compared to my laptop is so hard to notice everything , especially since my last birthday I turned another year younger I hope your orchid does good I think the peroxide was a real good idea hopefully that will fix it
nice to have you with us

[tab]

Two of the infected leaves have fallen off and the third is not far behind. The bottom two leaves are now looking like they will be turning yellow soon. I got curious and decided to investigate the roots. They don't look all that great. There's various black, mushy, and dried up areas among the green and white..now what? Do I also pour peroxide on them and then repot in new mix?

[Mira-Claude]

Where the plants loses it's leaves, touch the crown, is it firm or mushy? What is the color? And is there a smell?

[tab]

Some of it is mushy. Can't really say I have noticed an odor.

[Mira-Claude]

It might be crown rot...
I never had a chance with these before. I'll wait before giving any advice and making it worse. Someone will more experience will probably pipe in tomorrow.
Good luck...

[orchidlover55]

It doesn't look like crown rot to me . If it were my phal I would wash it real good , spray with a mixture of peroxide and water , get all the rotted part of the leaves off and cut the bad roots off , sprinkle cinnamon all over, an extra sprinkle where the rot has been, wash my mixture in a strainer before putting it back in the pot .When I have a sick orchid and this is just me, i usually put it in a pot that it barely fits in because it seems like orchids love being crowded.
If you do this and if it doesn't need it , try not to get the cinnamon in the crown , and you can always wash the cinnamon off when your orchid is well .

[Brooke]

Your roots look fine but you do have a bacteria issue on the stem. The bacteria is where the mushy yellow-ish leaf attaches to the stem. Try to remove the leaf and pour peroxide in that area.

If you do not stop the bacteria, it will continue up the stem until the crown is infected.

If this was my plant, I would keep it in a bowl/pot/whatever without media and treat the infected area several more times. Moisten the roots daily as you would a mount and repot it when you quit losing the leaves.

Anytime phal a leaf yellows at the base instead of starting at the tip, it has a problem.

Brooke

[tab]

I went through and chopped off roots that had black mushy sections, repotted in new media, and have been treating with peroxide. So far, I have not lost any more leaves, but a new area has developed on the base of a leaf. It seems to be drying out and becoming transparent rather than rotting and turning yellow. Will keep treating with peroxide and hope for the best.

[tab]

Sad to report that I officially lost the battle to save my orchid today. Was just treating with more peroxide and the last leaf, which was still completely green, just came off in my hand. In addition, all of the roots appear to be dead. Thanks for all of your advice/efforts to help my orchid.

[Emma Grey]

Aww, i'm sorry you lost your orchid. I lost my first one too. Actually, I bet most of the members on here have killed plants from time to time.

My advice is to get another one and try again!