White Fuzz on phal base

[Nicolasdperez]

I recently took in a couple dying phals from my grandparents and have been trying to revive them by putting them in a plastic bag. Two days ago, I noticed one of the orchids had white fuzz on it. To stop it, I sprayed 3% hydrogen peroxide on it and it disappeared at first. However, it appeared again the next day. Yesterday, I put a homemade fungicide on the white fuzz and it seemed to work. However, it appeared again today. I have no idea what this is. Or if its harmful. Or how I should go about removing it. Does the high humidity and low air flow in the bag facilitate the growth of this white fuzz?

[Shadeflower]

Hi Nic, I'm sure you will get a few viewpoints on this, as everyone has their own technique developed but here is mine.

firstly the mold is growing on a dead leaf sheath. The thing I would do is very carefully try to peel the leaf sheath away without damaging any root tips that are hiding behind it.

If the mold has nothing to grow on that helps. mold loves stagnant humid conditions that a closed bag provides. Recovering Orchids with no roots like this too but if you have something like a dead leaf then that will start going moldy.

I don't really like the bag method but if you do use it you need to use fresh moss and not keeping it completely soaking wet. There should be little droplets of condensation forming with the moss generally being dry.

The condansation shows that there is a very high humidity in the bag whether the moss looks dry or not but if the moss is wet then it will be too humid in there.

You need to use fresh moss or the old moss will spread mold spores.

If you use fresh moss, remove any dead material and keep the moss damp but not wet then it might have a chance.

[Nicolasdperez]

Just what I needed. Thank you Shadeflower

[Roberta]

I wonder if the fuzz is insect-related rather than mold. Doesn't look like mealy bugs (which loooovvve Phals) but maybe something else. What happens if you spray it with rubbing alcohol (70% ispropyl alcohol)? That works on mealy bugs, dissolving their fuzzy coating. I wonder if it might have a similar effect on whatever it is...

[Nicolasdperez]

I was thinking it may be insects too; however, the white substance seemed to dissolve when I sprayed it which seems strange for insects, especially considering the products I was using. I have never dealt with mealybugs though, so I may be wrong. Nonetheless, thank you for your suggestion; I will give it a try

[Phalaenoptics]

It looks like mold to me.

During a cold snap earlier this summer, I experienced mold issues for the first time, and it's the fuzzy white stuff you see here. Since I'm new to growing orchids, I'm still trying to strike the balance between humid and well-hydrated, but not too wet for when it gets cold!

[Nicolasdperez]

thank you