Very bad case of crown rot. Can anything be done?

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by lemonslice27

I’ve attached a photo of one of my orchids. Recently it developed a very bad case of crown rot. I just put a little 3% hydrogen peroxide on it but am not sure what else can be done or if it will certainly die eventually. Please let me know any of your thoughts!

Directly addressing the question, all is not lost if it is is possible to cut out *all* of the infected tissue and one or more leaves remain. I have had Phalaenopsis survive even when the remaining stem has no leaves, though it will be set back a year or two.

If you can't remove all of the infected tissues or are not sure you've got it all, remove as much infected tissue as you can then treat the cut with the systemic fungicide Thiomyl. If it is fungal and little remains this will usually stop the advance of the infection, but sadly, crown rot is often bacterial. If infected tissue remains, you can treat the entire orchid with Thiomyl, but I try to avoid doing this. Orchids have a symbiotic relationship with fungi that live in their tissues. Thiomyl doesn't seem to kill it (and the plant with it), but it won't do it any good

If you cut an orchid leaf or stem for any reason use a new or sterilized blade for every cut. I use disposable razor blades. Once you make a cut, I suggest depositing a coating of Thiomyl on the cut using a Q-tip. There is nothing that will cure a bacterial stem infection aside from removing it, but Thiomyl will stop most fungal infections.

A phalaenopsis will grow one or more new tops if the crown is removed so long as live meristem tissue remains. Usually this is the case as long as there is live stem remaining. I rather like it when the resulting phalaenopsis grows multiple new tops. I currently have a Phalaenopsis Celopatra with three tops and five flower spikes.


-Keith