Question
I had a gorgeous white phaelenopsis that flowered for about two months last August and looked really healthy. The flowers died off and the last two buds (the smallest at the top) never fully bloomed. They just dried up. Afterwards, the big green leaves started falling off the plant (!), and when they came off, it seemed as if the plant was "bleeding" a green, somewhat sticky liquid (chlorophyll)? It actually made a puddle on the floor! All of the leaves fell off in about a week's time!

Do you have any idea what could have caused this to happen?

I have new orchid, and of course, I hope to prevent the same thing from happening again!

Thanks,
Barb

Answer
Hi Barbara,

I'm not sure what happened to your phalaenopsis orchid but I have a suspicion.  Were you watering it from above, watering the leaves along with the pot and doing this in the late afternoon or early evening?  If so, what happened was due to a fungus and/or bacteria.  It is always best to water any orchid in the morning and to not get too much water on the leaves.  Water left overnight on the leaves is a prime breeding environment for fungus and bacteria to grow and eventually cause the leaves to fall off.  

One other possible cause for the leaves to fall off is overwatering.  Most orchids prefer drying slightly between waterings and if kept too wet, the roots will rot which then causes the leaves to fall off.  Before the leaves fall off, they will usually become rather limp and even wrinkled looking.  

As for the sticky liquid bleeding from the plant, I suspect it may be due to either a scale or mealybug infestation.  Most of the time you will not see them as they prefer being on the underside of the leaves and down inside the pot.  

While it is possible to get a flower stem to produce a second round of flowers, if the tip of the stem begins to turn brown it is best to remove the entire stem as far down as you safely can.  If all goes well, a new stem will appear in the fall and eventually a new flowering.  

Congratulations upon the new orchid.  I am assuming it is another phalaenopsis orchid.  If so, place it where it receives bright indirect sunlight, temperatures between 60 to 85 F, humidity above 50% and some light air movement.  Water only when the potting mix becomes barely moist, this might be from 3 to 10 days depending upon temperature and air movement.  Try watering in the morning and to not get water on the leaves, a few small drops is okay.  It would be a good idea to feed it some orchid fertilizer at least once a month or more often but at 1/2 the recommended amount mixed in water.  As for what type of fertilizer, I would recommend a balance type where the NPK numbers are the same or almost the same value.  

I hope this helps.  If you have other questions, feel free to ask.  Good luck and good growing.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.