Phragmipedium With brown spot in crown

[Dalachin]

Hi there,

So my Phragmipedium Fritz Schomburg has a brown spot where the new leaf is emerging from the crown. Should I be worried about crown rot? If so, what would you do?

[Louis_W]

I looks like the true center hasn't been damaged yet so you aren't in too much trouble. You'll just have to keep the water out of there and hope the brown doesn't spread inward (is that the start of a spike??)

Also since phrags a sympodial even if you lost that one gowth your new ones could replace it. I think you'll probably be ok.

[Roberta]

First, Phrags don't have "crowns" in the sense that a Phal or Vanda or other monopodial orchid does. Phrags are sympodial - new growth emerges along a stolon or rhizome. I don't know if that's a new leaf, or a flower. You'll just have to wait and see. Is that brown area dry? If it is, then probably not a problem. If it is moist you could lose the leaf (if it's fungal or bacterial) but even then, you would not likely lose the plant the way you would a monpodial plant. Also remember that Phrags need to stay damp. But also need repotting pretty much every year because the always-wet medium breaks down.

[Ray]

I agree with the responses about the condition of the patch and general growing, but have to be a little picky with Roberta on the "crown" description.

As far as I am concerned, the crown is the center of the growth - a apical meristem - where the new leaves originate, and where water can be trapped to provide a microbial nursery. Both monopodials and sympodials have that.

The fact that sympodials have a ready-and-waiting lateral meristem, while monopodials must create one from within, is not part of the discussion.

Similarly, many sympodials have "terminal spikes", yet we don't generally refer to them that way...

[Dalachin]

Thanks all! I'll just stop worrying about it and just keep an eye on it. Definitely will be extra careful to keep water out of there.

[estación seca]

Is the moss dry? It shouldn't be. Phrags leaves can get brown spots when underwatered.

[Dalachin]

The moss is just a top dressing over a bark and pumice mix. The pots are tall clear pots that sit in 1 inch of water, and I run water through the pots every other or every 3rd day, so the pots stay pretty wet.

I have 4 Phrags in this location, I think they are all Kovachii hybrids. Peruflora's Angel and Incan Treasure have great new root growth, the Fritz Schomburg and Eumelia Auras don't have any visible new roots in the pot, but seem to be putting out new growth. There's also a Leslie Garay and Predator which I am trying to treat like my Paphs.

I've never grown phrags before, I got 6 from Ecuagenera this July and I tried my best to copy the culture of successful growers who have posted online.