Problem with Phal leaves. Is it bacteria?

[mamami]

Please help me to find out what is going on with my phals leaves.
Although these two phals have spikes, their central leaf (just one leaf) looks very rough and the coloration does not look right either. Sometimes it has honey drops on it. They are in my porch which has lots of air movement and not direct sun light. I am afraid of bacteria. Please help!

[Cjcorner]

I am not sure, my first reaction was snails. But i've not seen this before.... If it is snails, a penny in the pot will fix that. Hopefully someone that has seen this will chime in for you soon! It looks so healthy too...those roots are kickin'!

[mamami]

Thank you anyway... I will put a penny in the post just in case.

[orchidlady]

I have seen damage like this caused by chemicals or cold water. Could any chemical (insecticide, fertilizer, etc.) or cold water gotten on these plants?

Susan

[mamami]

Nope, no chimicals or cold water either.... Only one leave on the center of each plant is sick. It is a mistery...

[zildjian]

why a penny for snails?

[alvin2000]

why a penny for snails?

Penny can also reduce the snail population, and copper is toxic to most invertebrates.

[zildjian]

Okay I did google it and it makes sense. He he I should have known this being an ECE grad.

Copper has a valence electron of 1 on its outer shell and this electron can easily be dislodged out of its energy band when an external potential is applied. The slugs and snails then seems to possess that potential enough to dislodge that valence electron and is lethal to them. This is great! I saw snails on my recently bought Philippines phal specie (the variegated leaves type) and I hurried up getting my excess copper wires ringed it around the plant. I'll check if those snails are still there. Die...die...die.