Dying Leaves on phal orchid

[Ellycin]

I'm really concerned about these leaves. One of them started turning yellow and now are dark and dying. What's wrong with them besides the obvious and what can I do to save my phal? Thank you!

[kiwiorchids]

Did you purchase this one in the sphag? or did you pot it later on? It looks like both have a case of rot. Is it mushy?
If it is, cut them off with a sterile blade and dust the wound with sulphur powder or cinnamon. Reduce watering so the moss can dry ontop before watering again. I find Phals do best in NZ in just bark or an 80% / 90% mix of Bark / Sphagnum moss.

[Ellycin]

Yes it was already in the sphag. I was planning to repot it with a bark mix but I'm kind of afraid to touch it now. I've only been watering 1-2 weeks depending on how wet/near dry the inner sphag was.

[kiwiorchids]

Sounds as if you were doing a good job then

Perhaps there was some sphagnum moss contacting with the bottoms of the leaves? this would mean they would be wet for extended periods giving fungus the opportunity to take hold.
If i were you, i would throw away the sphag, and after chopping the leaves off (forget dusting, the soak will do that job for you), soak the plant overnight (withought getting water into the crown) in a liquid sulphur solution. Then remove and leave on a double layer of paper towel for an hour or two, or until the white coating on the roots re-appears. Repot into straight bark afterwards.

[sherene]

I have the same experience when I first purchase a Phal. Just cut the yellow leaves and reduce watering it will be fine. good luck to u.

[iceicebaby]

You may looe these phals.Give them a bath with antifungal (both systemic and contact). dry it and then re plant it.
I suspect fungal disease.
Don't water unless it is getting dry.
Best wishes,

Devapratim

[EMos]

If you don't want to repot it now, I would suggest you remove some of the sphag on top to expose some of the roots and allow air circulation around the orchid. The bottom leaves are more likely to fall off by themselves, but applying some sulfur powder or cinnamon as Jordan suggested would be beneficial to the plant and prevent the rot from spreading to other parts of the plant.

[Ellycin]

Thanks everyone. You guys are really helpful. I think I will report it. I'm too uncomfortable with the sphag.

[espranch]

If you DO decide to re-pot, remember to soak the fir bark over night in water, first. I use 60% bark, 20% perlite, & 20% charcoal. Choose a pot that will just fit the roots inside it...phals like a fairly snug pot. Make sure that your pot also has bottom holes & side slits. I use clear plastic pots, so I put a small layer of lava rock on the bottom, before I put the bark into the pot/plant. Make sure you cut off all dead roots with a sterile knife, and treat the leaves as Jordan suggested. Then hope for the best...Betty

[Ellycin]

This might be a stupid question but what is the benefit of soaking the bark for 24 hours or over night? Also, I took out the top of the sphag and noticed that one of the bottom of the leaves is wet and yes mushy. Because of this a part of the stem is also a little liquidy. The actual medium isn't soggy however and it's just that one part of the stem connected to the dying leave. I just don't want to kill this one.