Question
Dear Jim,

I just bought a White Phal two weeks ago without flower.  It seemed to me that the orchid was pretty healthy,with 6 long leaves that were firm and green and a baby leaf was coming out.  The orchid was bloomed twice previously.  Except there were very few black spots on the old leaves, I cannot see any other problems about the orchid when I bought it.

However, one day when I woke up, I found that there was a watery spot like a size of dime.  I did not pay attention to it and it spreads quickly.  The next day, half of the leaf turned watery and that looked like a dark green pus and half of the leaf was decomposed.  I immediately cut off the whole leaf and spread cinnamon power on the cut to avoid infection.  However, today, I noticed that the baby leaf turned soft and had some watery spots on it.  

I wonder if it was caused by over watering.  I used 10-30-20 fertilizer not long ago and I did water "thoroughly" last Sunday.  

By the way, I live in Taiwan.  The weather here is hot and humid.  

Thanks for your help

Answer
Hello Eileen,

From your description, it sounds like it may be a bacterial infection.  Unfortunately, once the infection has spread beyond a small area on a leaf and progressed into other leaves, there is little that can be done to save it.  Watering probably did not cause this.  

How the top baby leaf became infected I'm not sure but it might be that when you cut off the larger leaf, a tiny drop of infected sap fell on it.  

Lastly, when handling any problem leaves, it is best to thoroughly wash your hands before touching another leaf or orchid to prevent possibly spreading the disease.  

Sorry I could not be of more help or encouragement.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.