Mounted Phal help - possibly leaf rot

[roseclaw]

Hello,

I am a newbie! I've had a whole bunch of orchids for a spell - 2 years, but this is the first time I've had one in such distress!

I recently came into a neglected orchid collection advertized on craigslist. I bought about $300 worth of orchids for $33! However, some were not in the best shape, such as this mounted Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana.

The leaves are turning yellow and brown as well as losing their turgidity.

I would love any advice you may have as to help this baby out!

Thank you!

I'm still too new to be able to post my pic, so it's in my profile - it's the only pic there as of now.

[Ron]

Hi welcome to the Geeks forum.

some were not in the best shape, such as this mounted Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana.
The leaves are turning yellow and brown as well as losing their turgidity.

.
Most of Phal species are warm to tropical growers, what conditions is your one growing under.
This will give us an idea of assistance to help you with.
As for the photos, the 5 post rule is a bit weird, most new members are advised to say something in 5 post then can post photos.
I hope I have been of some help

[roseclaw]

Hi! Thank you!

As of two weeks ago, it's been hanging in a patio greenhouse (the kind sold at Ocean State Job Lot, Home Depot, and Lowes) that's situated in a southeastern window (inside). It's hanging next to my Phalaenopsis 'Lovely Kid', which has two spikes(!) coming, so it seems to be happy there. It's misted twice a day, and it's always super humid in my apartment. Temps range from 60F at night to 68F during the day - in the winter at least. However, the plants are able to soak up the meager heat from the Dec sun during the day.

[PaulB]

The pic you have doesn't show much, since it's small. Have you checked the roots?? Hang in there with it. It could just be suffering from neglect. Definitely show some better pics when you can. You've already got 3.

[Daethen]

Just say hi in this post a couple of times and you are at 5.

[roseclaw]

Paul, hello!

The roots are nice and healthy. There's even a new one forming.

[roseclaw]

Hello, Jonada!

[roseclaw]

I've reached my five! So here is the pic. (I hope it works!)

[psyc1210]

How is your air movement around the plants?
I personally would increase air movement...also, you are misting them twice daily? I take all of my mounts to the sink and run water on them each day or every other day at the least. If I were to mist, I don't think it would wet them down as much as they would require.

[roseclaw]

Hello!

There is a fan going all the time in the room, usually on the lowest setting. I also have a Promenaea in my collection, and that needs constant air movement.

I love the sink idea, but I'm a little wary, because I have harsh city water with lots of chlorine. Any ideas to get around that? Thank you!

[catasetum-ian]

i would remove the moss, trim all unhealthy roots away, as long as u got around three good roots you are quite safe. but i dun like the black part of the root that are "melting away". it spells fungus!!! i usually give a generous cut of the affected portion of the leave, treat the cut edge with antifungal, after removing the moss and dead roots, spray the plant with antifungal, mount if on a fern root hanging upside down WITHOUT moss U but you can pack some moss on top of the fern root as long as it is not touching the roots directly). then mist once u notice the roots turn silvery.
works for me (my growing area is hot and humid throughout the year) every time. saved quite a number of phal gigantea and a violecea with this method but somehow i killed one nice healthy schilleriana

[psyc1210]

I have city water as well, and they use chlorine. I do not remember the level from the last report that I read from the city, but it doesn't seem to bother my plants.

[Emma Grey]

Here's another idea. I had a plant that looked just like that, and it ended up being from false mites. Have you looked closely at it? If you can see itsy bitsy tiny red dots, it's false mites.

[orchids4me]

If you have it direct sun especially aftrnoon sun it will burn it, morning dappled sun light best . If you want to get around the tap water (you don't have a water softner system do you ?? That's bad for orchids) but you can use distilled bottle water also to water with if the water is a issue. You can always get a ppm report I think its called from your local water company also to check ph levels of it also.
But if its sun burn that can cause secondary infections as well.
I'm sure other members will be along and might have experience something like this. In the forum under care /cultivation there are culture sheets from the AOS. Look up the one on that link for Phalaenopsis give it a read and check your growing conditions to it.
Good luck!!

[roseclaw]

Ian,

Thank you! I'll definitely trim back the dead roots and remove the moss.

[roseclaw]

JoBeth,

Thanks, I'll bathe my mounts tonight!

[roseclaw]

Emma,

I checked, but I couldn't find any mites. Thanks for the tip!

[roseclaw]

orchids4me,

I need to check with my LL about the waster softener, but I'm pretty sure there isn't any. (My hair acts differently when I wash it in hard v soft water.) In CT in the middle of Dec there's no such thing as direct sunlight. I cannot wait until the soltice for the sun to return. I'll move my phal farther away from the window just in case, though.

Thanks!

[Johnny B]

I was an avid rain/snow waterer, for the last month I have used city water and not noticed a lick of a difference. I think im going to use rain/snow 1/mo incase there is too much salt and chlorine as sort of a rinse aid. Good luck with your plants.

[minhnhattung]

I think the problem is their roots. Let check humidity

[Brooke]

Rebecca please don't remove the sphag. Ian lives in Malaysia where it is always hot and humid - good advice for his area but not in this hemisphere. Your inside environment, particularly in the winter with the heat running, sphag will help keep the moisture around the roots. As JoBeth said, your mount will need a thorough soaking/drench every day.

The worst looking leaf is probably just old and will fall off. The next leaf up and the one to the right of it look like there has been physical damage which then turned into a fungal issue. The biggest leaf I would cut off the damage into the good tissue and seal the edge with cinnamon. The leaf on the other side I would use a felt tip pin, mark around the damage and see if the fungal issue migrates into the good section. If it does spread I would do the same thing I did to the leaf on the left.

I wouldn't worry about your city water - if you can drink it, it is safe for the orchid. Softened water is bad for a plant, any plant, because of the use of salt in the process of softening it.

Brooke

[roseclaw]

Brooke,

Thanks! I'll give my mounts a good soaking and then remove the damage.

[Jenny Ryan]

Did you ever try using aquarium stuff to get rid of the chlorine in the water? Also I know that just filling a bucket with chlorinated water and then letting it stand for 24 hours the chlorine dissipates and it safe for fish. I would assume that it's also safe for plants.

[DianesOrchids]

Letting water stand doesn't totally remove all the chloramines.(just gunna throw that out there!)
Good luck with your orchid !