---
title: "Hi everyone, when I was watering my orchid I saw something strange. I…"
description: "Hi everyone, when I was watering my orchid I saw something strange. I circled it in red and it’s really soft. I’m not sure if it’s normal. I wanted to know if…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ/VBTdH2RzR-CSbq3E5SOEpg"
community: "The Orchid Oasis"
author: "Victoria"
published: "2024-05-24T18:44:08.436399Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/cAzZymPpz-hD1I2ylUko6ZX-uRDMNaRHdjKDo-6DF-0/enppN3UlSL28vusp-1YCcA.webp?size=large"
---

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# Hi everyone, when I was watering my orchid I saw something strange. I…

_Posted by Victoria on 2024-05-24_

Hi everyone, when I was watering my orchid I saw something strange. I circled it in red and it’s really soft. I’m not sure if it’s normal. I wanted to know if anybody could help me.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/cAzZymPpz-hD1I2ylUko6ZX-uRDMNaRHdjKDo-6DF-0/enppN3UlSL28vusp-1YCcA.webp?size=large)

## 9 comments

### Sparky🤍plants commented on 2024-05-24

Looks like rot. I’m not sure how to help you though, sorry.

#### Victoria replied on 2024-05-24

It’s fine, thank you for the information 😊

### Jen commented on 2024-05-24

It’s not normal. That looks like a case of stem rot. Not having seen how the infection started or originated, I would guess that moisture and therefore bacteria were able to enter a wound on your stem, probably where your flower spike emerged, and developed into a bacterial infection. It’s good that you caught it now, before it got more advanced. It’s still pretty serious, but you do have a chance of saving your orchid. If you go to miss orchid girl’s YouTube channel, then search ‘stem rot’, you should find a few videos where she treats these infections and saves the orchids.

#### Victoria replied on 2024-05-24

Thank you so much for this information, I’m going to go look at YouTube channel right away.

### MeasomerPi commented on 2024-05-24

When you probe the area, does to seem to only affect the leaf or does it seem to penetrate into the stem of the plant?

Is the area wet or weep?

#### Victoria replied on 2024-05-24

It’s only that spot that was the rot, the rest of the plant looks healthy. When I touched the area that has the rot, it felt really soft and moist.

#### MeasomerPi replied on 2024-05-24

Sounds bacterial, like Jen first said. You might consider treating with hydrogen peroxide until you can research and source a bactericide.

#### Jen replied on 2024-05-24

Very good thought about the peroxide. It may slow the progress of the infection. I know it’s a scary thought to face the possibility of actually cutting the affected area away from the healthy tissue- but if the black mushy area keeps expanding and growing, taking over the entire stem- your plant will die. So watch it carefully for the next couple of days and don’t wait too long to take action if it’s spreading.

#### Victoria replied on 2024-05-27

When I searched how to remove stem rot on an orchid, it said to use hydrogen peroxide and cinnamon, but I don’t know if it would actually work. I also saw that some people would just cut out the rot or even just repot the orchid. I’m not sure which one would actually work.

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