What's new
TerraForums Venus Flytrap, Nepenthes, Drosera and more talk

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Mushy leaf

xvart

Doing it wrong until I do it right.
Staff member
Moderator
I actually got a couple weeks ago. It is just a simple Phal hybrid that I picked up off a sales rack. I have it by a window and my grow rack for my CPs so it gets plenty of filtered light and about 14 hours of light. I'm not sure what the humidity is in my room, but I think in November it was around 45%.

When I got home from work today I went to check on my plants and I noticed one of the Phal leaves was drooping seriously. I went to touch it and the outside half of the leave was very soggy and mushy (except around the tip). All the other leaves (4 large and a small or two) all appeared fine.

What could be the cause of this? Is it a disease or did I overwater it? I watered it about six days ago and that is the only time I have watered it since I got it. The potting mix was dry when I got it, but not bone dry.

Thanks for your help.

xvart.
 
Just an update: I felt the leaf again and it was filled with water. I poked a hole in it and watched a ton of waterish liquid drain out. I ended up cutting the leaf off about two thirds down and then wiped the cut surface with fungicide. I hope I did the right thing.

xvart.
 
I'm not orchid expert, but you probably did. The cause of that was probably some sort of rot. Ive had roots on orchids partially rot before and they exhibit the same suite of characteristics that leaf did. All bets are on it being overwatered. I water mine about once every 5 days, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less.

I think its hilarious you poked a hole int eh leaf though haha.


You said it was dry when you got it, but that leaf could be a result of previous bad care from months ago
 
I think its hilarious you poked a hole int eh leaf though haha.

Yeah, it reminded me of when I get blisters on my hand from yardwork and then poke a hole in those to let it drain out.

I took it out and looked at the roots and they look fine to me. I think it will come through since all the other leaves look really good. It is putting off new growth in the form of a new leaf, so it can't be doing too bad. Thanks for the response.

xvart.

edit: I wouldn't have cut the whole leaf off, but when I poked the hole it tore some of the leaf skin off so I didn't want to get some massive infection in the raw area.
 
I like to let Phals go bone dry before watering. Right now I'm hiding one in my closet for mother's day. I should probably water it.

I have flowers in my closet.
 
LOL what?
 
Phals do not need to go bone dry Clint. Thick root orchids can take being a little wetter than thin roont ones. Phals drop flowers really quick if you let them go bone dry. I try to water my phals alot in the house because they dry out so quickly.

Xvart it does sound like you had a case of blackrot ot something. Happenes sometimes. I have had it on a few leaves before. Not sure what causes it. I haven;t had to deal with it in a while though. You can water the plant with hydrogen peroxide to help disinfect it. It is not going to hurt the plant. Cutting the leaf off is good too. Just watch it and make sure it doesnl;t get to the crown. Pictures do help to if you can.
 
Xvart it does sound like you had a case of blackrot ot something. Happenes sometimes. I have had it on a few leaves before. Not sure what causes it. I haven;t had to deal with it in a while though. You can water the plant with hydrogen peroxide to help disinfect it. It is not going to hurt the plant. Cutting the leaf off is good too. Just watch it and make sure it doesnl;t get to the crown. Pictures do help to if you can.

Thanks, Josh. I was wondering if you were going to see this. lol. My camera is busted and I was going to borrow one, but by the time I got around to getting the camera I had already cut the leaf back halfway. Boy did it drain a lot of fluid, though.

I was thinking it was overwatering because when I got it was close to bone dry, so the first time (and only time at that point) I watered it i tried to get as much as the media wet as possible so I gave it a good soaking to get all the orchid moss a little damp. I should have also moved the pot around more to allow it to drain better. It seems to be doing fine still, nothing near the crown, but I'll just wait and see. Thanks for your help.

xvart.
 
  • #10
I know, I'm just lazy.
 
  • #11
Well I finally got my grubby hands on a camera, so here is a picture of the cut leaf. Better late than never, I suppose. Although it would have been great to get a picture of the leaf leaking fluid when I poked a hole in it.

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q265/xvart/phal-orchid-5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

xvart.
 
Back
Top