Can someone help identify what might be wrong with my phal & what to do
about it? It's had a little black spot on the edge of one leaf for
quite a while, & there's a nick in the leaf in that spot, which is a
little bigger & along the edge now, & the spot is very hard, & black.
I've suddenly discovered that the plant has developed a lot more black
spots, over new & old leaves both. Some are down at the base of the
leaves, & a few are right in the middle of an otherwise healthy looking
leaf. However, it's starting to lose colour & the leaves are getting
some icky paler green tending to yellow; this has happened since last
watering a few days ago.
The spots are 3 or 4 mm across, uneven, hard, raised & bumpy. Looks
like some sort of... ergot-y thing, I don't know.
It's currently in bloom & has been since sometime in the summer. The
flowers are ok, except for one or 2 little spots that you might get
from water (?) or abrasion, on an older flower. The roots look fat &
healthy too. This plant is, I think, generally on the dry side because
of its location & the very loose potting mix & small clay pot, but this
month has been very dark & gloomy -- I did try to spread out the
watering more than usual, & I usually dry the leaves before I put it
back, but maybe I left it a little damp? I may have a tendency to
overfertilize but I'm working on it... In any case it looks like
whatever, has got into the plant's system now.
I have looked up my orchid books. Says sunburn can cause sunken black
spots, & rot causes soggy spots. Fungus causes "spotty leaves."
Nothing about raised black warty things.
Then I did an archive search here & read some of the 219 results that
"black spots" returned. I'm still not sure exactly what it is or what
I should do with it. This is "Dad's" plant (i.e. he picked it out &
wanted me to buy it, but I get to look after it) & he will be very,
very disappointed if it croaks. I put cinnamon on it in a panic,
sprinkling it liberally around the crown & on all of the spots that it
will stick to, although some are on the undersides of the leaves. What
else can I do? Does anyone use the garlic tea one of my books
recommends (1 crushed clove in a litre of water)?
I really don't want to lose this plant. Any ideas would be most
appreciated.
Thanks!

Alison