Phal Crown Rotting?

[Panto]

Hi everyone, there are 2 phal planted in the same pot. It’s been with me for a month now and I have notice on one of the orchid…where the leaves had fallen off …there was this black stuff on it. Just recently as of yesterday I lost my very first orchid that I have ever brought…leaves were yellowing and fell off …then I woke up and found the last 2 remaining leaves have tip over, exposing this black stuff. I have a feeling it might be the same thing? I been dapping this area with Hydrogen Peroxide for 2 day now and its fizzes. I’m still new to this and not sure of what I should do. How do I go about saving this sick phal? Thank you for your help.

[orchidaddict789]

Hello! Well it looks like the actual crown of the phal--the top of the plant where new leaves emerge--is fine, which is good news. What you have is some kind of leaf rot, probably due to a fungus (or bacteria). You can try spraying with a fungicide. In the future, just make sure not to let water collect in between the leaves, and don't let the wet sphag come in contact with leaves and the base of the plant. Maximize air movement around the plant, and don't water in the evenings or at night. Also be careful not to overwater (I tend to do that with phals potted in sphag so that's why I prefer bark).

Another cause of leaf drop is a compromised root system, so since the pot is transparent, you can take a good look at the roots. From the photo, the roots look great, so I guess this is not the problem. Good luck!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Lily makes some good points. I would encourage you to move that orchid from sphag into a bark potting mix so as to not rot the roots. I have never had much luck with phals in sphag.

Cheers,
BD

[Shannara]

I would encourage you to move that orchid from sphag into a bark potting mix so as to not rot the roots.

Yeah, I recently saved a Phal and put it in bark and charcoal in an orchid clay pot. It seems pretty happy. Really nice blooms on yours. Good luck!

Shann~

[jkhom]

You should Soak the bark mix in water overnight before using. Like orchidaddict says, don't let the water collect between the leaves, especially the crown.

[Alana]

Also looks like you have some algae problems. Someone suggested to me that I use a bacterial soap, water mix. A couple drops of the soap in a gallon of water. My phals are starting to clear up.

[Panto]

Hi guys! Thank you so much for replying back with your advice. I have separated the 2 orchids and potted them in a bark mix. They both had a nice healthy root system when I took them out. I just hope they take well to their new medium. The orchid pictured above with the black stuff lost other leaf, there 1 leaf remaining and that black stuff is spreading quickly. =(


Lily: Thank you diagnosing my orchid. Is any brands of fungicide would you recommend to me? I search around the forum and see any of people use Physan, unfortunately that product is hard to find around my area.


Alana: Is there a specific of bacterial soap that you use for the algae problem?

[orchidaddict789]

Hello! Yeah, it's difficult to find physan anywhere except online or in some nurseries. Your best bet is to order it online. I also know that my local boxstore sells a type of eco-friendly fungicide made of natural oils (not neem oil) and a sulfur-based fungicide. Though physan is the "safest" for orchids, the others should be OK too.

[Alana]

Any antibacterial hand soap should be fine, I am using the softsoap kind atm and it seem to do the job, just takes a bit.
I wish I could find some physan. I have been using the kind mentioned above, the eco-friendly kind, and it's ok. It's a very gentle fungicide, and doesn't cause any damage to the plants. Interestingly enough, the main ingredient is copper soap. I have some liquid copper fungicide, but am not sure how much to dilute it, so it's currently just occupying a shelf.