Question
Hi, My Phalaenopsis holds great sentimental meaning to me and it looks like I am about to lose it - It is a gorgeous pink and orange colour when it flowers. I have had multiple spikes on it every year since I got it (about 5 years ago). The flowers have decreased in size though (they were much bigger when I first got it). Out of the three leaves left (not flowering at the moment)on the plant (I chopped one off because it had funny looking bumps on it) two have a strange brown patch on them. The brown patches are very limp and are beginning to become transparent?? It looks almost like part of the leaf is rotting and going soggy??? but I ensure that the leaves are kept dry when I water. The brown patches have grown bigger since I first noticed them and I am scared that I am going to lose the plant - Can you help?  

Answer
Hello Sarah,

From your description of what has been happening to your phalaenopsis orchid, it sounds like it may have a bacterial infection.  Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done to stop it from killing your phal.  Sorry, but I just couldn't give you any false hope of saving it.  

The best thing would be to get rid of it and get another one.  But, before you do get another one, thoroughly clean and disinfect the area it was growing as you do not want to take a chance of infecting the new orchid.  Also, clean and disinfect any tools you had used for the same reason.  

Wish I could have been the bearer of better news.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.