Supermarket rescue Phal with huge black spot
 

Hi there,

Just rescued this orchid from the supermarket at a discount. I felt so bad for it. It has a huge black spot and the roots look pretty shriveled. I think it just wasn’t watered? Flowers are falling off. Is the black spot anything to worry about? It’s potted in bark. Should I repot or can I leave it. Does it look like it can recover? Thank you so much for your help. I’ve enclosed some photos

I think it's very salvageable. Click on Forums in the left menu, select Beginners, and look for the sticky thread at the top, The Phal Abuse Ends Here.

First cut off the leaf with the spot well toward the crown. Dust powdered cinnamon on the cut surface only. I don't know whether that is mechanical damage, fungal damage, bacterial damage, or some infection entering a bruised spot.

You will probably unpot it, evaluate the roots, decide whether to cut off the flowers based on whether the roots are good or bad, and repot it. Then keep it warm and water appropriately. It should recover fine.

Unless you want your collection to consist only of recovering sick plants with no names, I suggest you not buy too many rescues, save your money and instead buy nice plants you really want. Of course, you can practice rescuing orchids this way, but I think it would be better to learn how not to let them get into bad condition in the first place.

Thank you estacion seca. I’ve cut off the leaf. And will check out the link. What does the cinnamon do?

I really wasn’t even looking for another orchid, because I just got the seedlings of the other varieties (the stanhopea and Epidendrum) but, I felt bad for her...

Cinnamon is a fungicide and bactericide. It can damage roots, which is why it's only put on cut leaf or stem surfaces. I have read there are plenty of Internet videos of people putting it on roots, but this is a bad idea.

Thank you. That’s interesting.

One more question. I repotted it and other than a few dried up roots, it looked ok. But while repotting, I doind those spots on the leaves. Could they be a bacterial infection. Is there anything I can do as a preventative? I read spraying with hydrogen peroxide? Thanks for your help.

The only time I would ever use hydrogen peroxide on a Phal would be if the center leaf in the crown began rotting. I would put a drop or two in the crown. Hydrogen peroxide only kills things it touches. It is ineffective against fungi and bacteria inside plant tissues. It would not be effective as a spray on an orchid. Save the hydrogen peroxide for bleaching hair, and making dogs vomit when they eat something they shouldn't. (1 ounce / 28ml per 10 pounds / 9kg, orally. DO IT OUTSIDE!!!)

When leaves are damaged by anything - scratches, bumps, insect bites - they may develop a zone of dying tissue around the wound. I think this is happening to your plant. I don't think it requires treatment.

Almost all serious plant infectious diseases are caused by poor culture leading to a weak plant. The microbes are everywhere in the environment, and there is no way to prevent exposure. Fungicides will almost never be needed if plants are kept at the proper temperature and humidity, and the roots have the right balance of moisture and air. Phal problems are mostly caused by overwatering, and they're often in poor shape at the supermarket.

Thank you for your explanation. I’ll try not to worry so much. :)