Help! Troubled phal?

[thatpnkchnkgrle]

I recently bought 6 orchids from Normans. I was a little worried after reading several negative reviews but I must say, the phals that arrived were lovely! They had great roots and beautiful blooms.

However, one of them has really odd looking leaves. Upon close inspection, I noticed black, dirt-like spots which comes off with a little rubbing. Can anyone advise what this is and if it's easy to treat? If not- back it goes!

Also - it's been hanging out with the rest of my orchids (shares a tray with about 5 others). Should I be worried about the others?

Thanks in advance!

[mayres]

Did this plant look like this when you received it? I've not personally seen a plant with this problem - but it doesn't look good. Looks like a disease problem - keep away from your healthy ones. I'd send these pics to Normans and see what they have to say about it. The reddish color is not what concerns me but the BLACK. Does it all really come off? If it does I would try cleaning all the leaves with soapy water and then see what you have - residue, pock marks, etc.? If received with this condition IMHO you deserve a replacement. Good luck.

[brookn]

Hi,
Have you been misting this plant? It looks like mold or bacteria, but I am leaning toward mold. I am not ruling out virus either. I think that you need to check the roots of this plant asap. I am betting they look shabby. If they look bad you are going to need a repot, and that comes with a whole new list of things to do. If this rubs off, take a strong solution of Dawn dish soap, and lukewarm water, and wash this plant down with it, then use a soft dry cloth to dry it. Take care not leave any standing water in the crown. Any parts that are browning or yellowing need to be cut out of the leaves going into the green part of the leaf to get it all, then dust the cut part with cinnamon. I have a recipe with cinnamon extract (my own mix, and I am experimenting with it) that I have been using on a Catt that I recently received that has a mold/bacterial problem (not the fault of the person I received it from). If you are interested, let me know and I will post it. I used it to wipe my whole plant down, and it did wonders, it also did wonders for my friends plant.

I agree with Mike about the grower, if you received it in this condition, I would contact them for sure.

[thatpnkchnkgrle]

I misted with a little worm tea yesterday but this is what it looked like when I got it. Surprisingly though, I repotted it last night and the roots look fine. But I will be sending them an email and asking for a replacement.

After the dirt rubs off, there are little purple-ish circles. Not sure what those are...

[mayres]

I see that this plant is planted in sphag. If they are all in sphag BE VERY CAREFUL how much you water. The number one problem with phals with newbie growers is usually overwatering - that rots the roots - and sphag is the most notorious of medias for causing this problem because it retains a lot of moisture. You need warm conditions and lots of good air movement - typical of what you would find in a greenhouse. Let us know how your communication with Normans goes - will be interesting.

[articuno75]

The black to me definitely looks like fungi/bacteria. (This is what brookn and me are battling on the Catts she was talking about.) I would for sure get ahold of who you bought it from and show them the pics. If you want to try and save it, do what brookn says and treat accordingly. If it's in total spagh moss as a medium, you have to be very careful like Mike says about watering. There's a thread on here somewhere about using the skewer method to check for water levels. Another thing to do would be to keep a constant air flow moving around the plant to evaporate any extra standing water. This will keep the fungi/bacteria from spreading, and help the crown and leaves dry faster.
Oh yeah, Brookn. The solution totally kicks butt!!! No black has spread and no more leaves fell. I still bought the Physan 20 and got it today and gave the plant a blast, so hopefully the fungi has been totally irradicated and plant should be germ free. I'm going to use both as a maintenance and treatment plan for the next month and see how things go. Will keep you updated on progress.

[thatpnkchnkgrle]

It's actually potted in a fir bark, peat moss, charcoal, and perlite mix that's topped with spagh moss.

I emailed Norman's earlier about a replacement so I'll update when I hear back. Thanks everyone!

[brookn]

Glad it's working for you. Mine is doing pretty good, and I decided to forego the Physan for now. I may have had a mad scientist moment, but the recipe works great. I am also having success with a slightly different version for mites on my Dends.

For anyone interested, my recipe for cleaning nasties on plants.

1.8 cc cinnamon extract (buy it in the spice aisle)
10 drops Dawn dish soap
1 1/2-2 cups lukewarm water
mix and wipe areas that have rot or to clean really dirty leaves
Disclaimer: This has only been used on thicker type leaves, I have not experimented on my thinner leaved orchids.
Cheers!

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Picture number 3 looks like virus to me. I would send this picture to Norman's and tell him that the opinion of a knowledgeable grower is that it is virus, and that the uncertainty is enough that you don't want this orchid in your collection. Ask for a refund, and offer to send it back at their expense.

[PhalPal]

Please keep us posted on how Norman's treats you. I order occasionally from them and recommend them as well. Although I have never had a problem with their plants, I really want to know if they give you a hard time with yours.

[brookn]

I am curious as to if they will make it right also. That plant just looks so very sad. I would be very upset to pay good money for a plant that arrived and looked that sick. Good luck.

[thatpnkchnkgrle]

They didn't reply to my email right away so I went ahead and called them today. I spoke with Norman who told me that the black spots was mildew resulting from the heat and something about honey (he had an accent and at times, was hard to understand).

The purplish color of the foilage, he said, was a result of the cross. He also said this was normal for pelorics and picotees (the name of this one is Montclair Valentine "Picotee', a cross of Phal.Taisuco Lienhung and Happy Valentine).

I have attached pictures of the phal after I wiped it down.

Norman seemed very helpful and nice. He made a great effort to explain things and had a really good attitude. The other sales person I talked to, however, was pretty rude. He talked down to me and was really irritated that I lost reception and had to call back. Maybe he was having a bad day- who knows? But I would think that since I bought 6 orchids from them, he could have been nicer... He kept saying if I was going to be that picky, to go buy them in person and ended the call with, "Look, if you're not happy then just send them back."

That's my experience with Normans. I can't say that I would never order from them again as their selection is just enormous and they did offer to let me send the plants back. They also offered to allow me to send this plant back if the plant bloomed and did not inherit the picotee (is this correct use of the term?).

Can anyone confirm what Norman said about the phal? He did say all the other ones he had of this particular phal all looked like the one I have and I really love the blooms. But I also don't need an unhealthy phal...

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

How about a picture of the leaf that you had in picture number three, top post, and try to get very good lighting.

[thatpnkchnkgrle]

Originally Posted by Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

How about a picture of the leaf that you had in picture number three, top post, and try to get very good lighting.

This is the worst leaf on the plant.