Orchid Leaves

by Donna
(NSW)

I have a Phalaenopsis orchid I keep indoors. I have watered it twice in the last 5 days however, this morning I found on one of the leaves a discoloured patch that has become very soft and has split and has started to ooze and is wrinkled. The rest of the leaf is fine as are the other leaves. The last water it had I gave it a good soaking because the weather had turned quite warm and I have been putting the orchid in the warmest place of the house on a windowsill. I have put it in the shade today. Can you please advise what I should do?

Thank you
Donna

Comments for Orchid Leaves

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Sep 23, 2011
Rating

Cable's Reply
by: Cable Thompson

Thanks for the question!

It sounds like your orchid has developed a bacterial infection on its leaf. I would cut out the infected area, plus a little bit of the surrounding leaf, to remove the infection. Sprinkle the area with cinnamon afterward, as cinnamon has antibacterial and antifungal properties.

If the leaf turns yellow and drops off after doing this, that isn't abnormal. But if the patch of infected tissue that you've described continues to spread, keep cutting it out aggressively and sprinkling with cinnamon. It's important to not let the infection reach the plant's main stem, as it can then spread to the rest of the plant quickly and you'll likely lose that battle.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Growing Orchids for Beginners.

Share This Page:

Like this page? Please pay it forward! Here's how…