Ok, Heather, this time I'm stumped. :-) The same phal that had a spot of rot on its leaf now looks like it has rot on the base of another leaf - I'm attaching pics below of both sides of the base of the plant. And a second phal, has suddenly gotten some weird spots on ITS leaves. I'm posting that pic too. I have NEVER had problems with phals before, but these were next to each other and I'm wondering if some water splashed from another plant that was having trouble (a third phal had a spot too on a leaf that I removed). All 3 were next to each other.

Anyway, I've soaked the plants in Clearys, and have covered the spots with triple antibiotic ointment. What else can I or should I do? Especially for the one near the base of the plant, do I excise that entire leaf? Man this is annoying.

As for conditions, they're all on my southern patio, in the shade, roof overhead so don't really get rain unless the wind blows, good air circulation, DC weawther, so low 70s at night, 80s to 90s during the day. Good humidity. And the roots are fine, I checked. Quite healthy in fact

First, this is the leaf that's getting spots, otherwise the plant has been fine.

http://www.wiredstrategies.com/flowers/phalleaf1.jpg

Then this is the second plant, note two pics, of each side of the base of the one leaf - I put the ointment on, so that's why it's gooey. This is the plant I already had to remove one leaf on, note the leaf gone and cinammon at the top

http://www.wiredstrategies.com/flowers/phalbase1.jpg

In this second pic, there's a hole above the root that worried me too, so I put ointment on it.

http://www.wiredstrategies.com/flowers/phalbase2.jpg

John, I don't really notice any major problem with rot there. The leaves might be getting some spots from roots pushing through them maybe? Leaves are getting old and tired maybe? I am no expert on phals sorry.

I'm also not a Phal expert but I also don't see anything wrong with your Phal and the older leaves look like they are just aging as they should.

Sorry, I wasn't specific engouh. In the top photo, it's a new leaf and it's getting some funky brown spots on it, started yellowing and now brown, and it's not the normal spots this phal has. In the bottom two pics, you can see a clump of small black spots that have started towards the base of the plant

John, I don't know, but having just burnt plants and had rot set in, it doesn't look like the brown mushy rot I am accustomed to either (Erwinia). I would keep a close eye one them, but they don't look too bad to me either.

I think it looks pretty normal to me too. What are those white stains? Kinda looks like hard water deposits.


I've also had slugs chew on phal leaves and produce holes and divits in the middle of the leaves like you have circled.

Slugs can be tough. Once they find a plant they like, they raid it every night until theyre done munching. During the day they hole up under pots and stuff, sometimes a few feet away from the plant theyre munching. If the plant is always indoors the odds are low that you have a slug, but if its been outdoors or in a greenhouse, then they can be around.

John,

Looks like slugs or mealybug damage. Check with a flashlight at 10pm. If there are slugs you will find them. Usually you will see a lot of flower damage around if it is slugs. It appears to be mealybug damage to me.