Sickly Orchids...

[Karyn Franz]

Good evening,

I am writing to inquire about some of my sickly orchids. I had one
that started to have small areas on it's leaves become really thin and
lose color (like they were dried out). Additionally, the edges of
the leaves started to go almost translucent/yellow/faint. Eventually,
the new stalks (I'm not sure of the correct term) just died and now it
looks like at the base there is some black something. This process
has taken about 2 months. Another one of my orchids (they are both
Phals) looks like it is starting to do the same. The first one that
got infected was about a year old and the more recently (suspected)
infected one I've had for about 3 years.

I have one other orchid (an epidendrum) that looks like parts of it's
leaves are getting that same dried spotted look. This one is fairly
new (2 months). All have been purchased just at a grocery store.

I would like to post pictures (which I have taken) to help better
identify what I am trying to describe.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. The two most recently sick
ones are my favorites. :( Thank you!

Karyn Franz

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[orchid doctor]

Dear Karyn:

I strongly encourage you to post pictures, as the description you give
is sufficiently vague (I need to know the specific parts you refer to
and to see the areas that show damage)that i cannot be sure of the
problem. If you click on the "Gallery" link on the upper right of the
page, you will be prompted to upload pictures.

Please review your pictures before sending to make sure they show the
detail necessary (I often get pictures taken with point and shoot
cameras that have focused on the wall behind the plant so that the
plant itself is just a blur). Damage such as you describe can be an
infestation of some sort (insects or disease), but it can also be the
result of cultural conditions (over watering or cold nights). Also
your reference to "stalks" needs clarification (which pictures will
do). The "stalk" that holds the flowers (called an inflorescence, or
spike, or flowering stem) often dies back after flowering is through,
as it is only a temporary organ. Phalaenopsis have no other "stalks"
besides these. If these inflorescences have died back before flowering
than a problem with growing conditions is likely.

In any case pictures will be a real help!

Sincerely,
Dennis

[orchid doctor]

I also encourage you to read the care sheet on Phalaenopsis just to
make sure you have not made changes in your cultural practices that
have stressed the plant. I assume that the one you have had longest
has grown and successfully re-bloomed for you.

Dennis