What's happening to my phal? Please help!

[phal_lover]

I got this plant from a local orchid nursery early Feb. It was perfectly healthy, I mean perfectly. Beautiful green leaves, no dead root whatsoever. It was potted in moss though. I was afraid I will over water it since I always had bad luck with orchids potted in moss. So I repotted it in fresh mix a days after I got it. It has a old spike that was recently cut down, so I thought repottting may stimulate it to spike too. Boy, was I wrong! 3 days ago, I noticed one of the leaves became yellow, I thought maybe too much sun. It didn't occur to me that it was sick since it was the most healthy plant among all my phals. Yesterday I noticed some fluid in the crown area and the stem is kinda black and almost like rotting from inside of the stem. I knew something is wrong. Maybe crown rot? I don't remember letting water sit in the crown though. Anyhow, I sprinkled some cinnamon powder around the crown and stem area. This morning when I check the plant, that yellow leave already fell off over night. The remaining leaves look like they are heading that direction.
I thought the possible cause of this:
1. It got infected when I repotted. It has perfect root, I didn't need to cut any thing so I didn't use cinnamon powder when I repotted.
2. I accidentally got some water in the crown
3. I left the window open at night thinking the lower night temp may help it to spike. The outside temp goes down to 50s. Could it be freeze damage? But all my phals are indoor. All the others seems fine.
4. I have small fan on timer blowing toward my phals for about 10 min every hour. This one is closest to the fan.

I have a few pics to post. This is my first post, don't know to post pic yet. Will add the later.

Can anyone give some suggestion as to how to save this one? Thanks!

[Diane]

We'll need to see a photo.... it's just hard to figure out without seeing the plant. But be sure, once we have a photo to look at everyone will be posting advice for you!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I agree. Please try to post some photos of the plant.

Cheers,
BD

[cherublace]

sorry to hear it. would like to see it since i too had several go the same way (sounds the same anyway) this winter. mine went very fast and it was very sad.

[cindiras]

Phal Lover, Do you have access to 3% hydrogen Peroxide? It might help stop the rot? What do others think?

[phal_lover]

Here are two pics of the sick plant. The stem looks like have bruises and rotting from the inside. The other pic is the leaf that fell off today. It's kinda watery where it broke off the stem. As you can see, I have used cinnamon powder. But maybe kinda late already. Oh, I sprayed some Listerine on it today too. You can see I am kinda desperate.

[phal_lover]

For comparison, here is a pic of the same plant when it was healthy. And the root still looks great. All the other phals I repotted around the same time are growing new root or leaves. But this healthiest one? Is this its extreme way of protesting "I was perfectly happy there, why did you repot me?"

[Brutal_Dreamer]

That is so awful; so sorry. It looks to me like water must have set in the crown of the plant (where the leaf attaches to the stem.) The best way to keep this from happening is to run a strong fan on you plants 24/7. Good air circulation will help them dry off faster and stop crown rot from happening. If the roots are still good on this plant, then you have done what you can do. I would remove the cinnamon from on top of the roots. Only allow it on the rotted area of the plant. Good luck.

Cheers,
BD

[Gin]

It looks like crown rot to me even if water is not directly in the top but trapped in the leaf junctures it can happen especially, if cold .
I would pour straight peroxcide over it as Cindaris suggested , if all leaves die set it aside and continue to water the roots not on the top it may grow a basil keiki from the base of the plant . Sorry about the trouble .. Gin

[Cjcorner]

I agree with the hydrogen peroxide...it's great for killing crown rot if the damage hasn't already gone too far. I buy the big bottles at the dollar store and just go crazy with it. lol It's great for roots too so if it goes down through, no problem.