Yellow/Brown Spots On Leaves

[gmphoto]

Hello, I am new to this website and a novice orchid grower.

The phalaenopsis (Phal A) I have had for a year started to show signs of something wrong this summer. A few of the leaves have large speckled brown areas along with splitting down the center of the leaf. Also, there is an area that has a brown spot in the middle and yellowing around it.

I recently purchased another phalaenopsis (Phal B). Within a couple weeks it has developed large brown patches with yellowing around it.

Could this be some sort of disease? Please Help!

I have attatched several photos the fist three are from Phal A and the last two are from Phal B

[justatypn]

If a rot is fast, it's bacterial, fungal rots are slower.

Mushy is always bad and can spread. Cut the mush off and into the healthy tissue and dust in cinnamon which is a good contact anti-bacterial, anit-fungal.

Rot can move so fast and this can be started by sunburn even though sunburn makes a dark or white spot on the leaves. You can determine if its caused by sun.

I would repot the phal, they respond postitively with new growth and this is an advantage to see what the rotting system is up to.

Just another thought, the phal can be potted to low and the bottom leaves can yellow as well as water betting trapped on the bottom. I lift the bottom of the leaves up when watering to prevent this.

[justatypn]

Also if you would please visit the Welcome thread and post "Break the Ice" and formally introduce yourself so many of our members will be happy that you have joined our fun community. Aboard

[gmphoto]

Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it. The rot is quite possibly from sunburn. My dad stuck the first one in the sun for a few days when I brought it home from college over the summer. I repotted both just a couple weeks ago when I brought home the new one (it was sitting in a full pot of soaking wet sphagnum moss). The orchid bark is right up to the top of the pot but no leaves are touching.

[Buds!]

I agree, you need to repot if it is rot.

The other issue is air movement. Good ventilation and increased air movement around your phals will prevent future fungal/ bacterial infections.

BTW welcome to the OB!

[peggy2187]

I just purchased an orchid (received it yesterday) and it has a leaf that looks just like yours. Could you update me on the steps you took and the results?

[gmphoto]

Sure thing Peggy. With help from others I figured out that it was rot from a combination of sunburn and water left on the leaves. What I did was this: Sterilize a pair of sharp scissors/pruning shears by boiling them in water or wiping with alcohol. Snip off the rotted sections or the entire leaf. Dab the cut end of the orchid with cinnamon, an excellent and cost efficient anti-bacterial/fungicidal treatment. And voila! Your orchid is fixed! Just be careful not to get water on the leaves and the leaves up off the pot material. Make sure you don't leave it by a bright window, orchids like soft filtered light.

[peggy2187]

Thanks for the info