Heartsick over Paph rothschildianums

[BrassavolaStars]

Hello all,

I have these three Paph rothschildianums that I had in my greenhouse.

The really cold windy days have damaged them horribly. I guess water got between the leaves and rotted the crown. I checked my thermostat (my greenhouse is heated) and it got down to the low 40s in the greenhouse. Far too cold. I am devastated and don’t know what to do to save them. Do I cut off the bad leaves and wait for new growths.

There is a new green leaf coming on the really bad third one. You can see it all the way in the middle. This gives me hope, but I wasn’t sure if I should cut away the brown slimy leaves around it. Kind of smells bad too.

On the 2nd plant, the center rotted leaves appear to have a little bit of green at the base of the leaves (under the folds by the crown). I am tempted to cut from above that point to stop any spread, and to just remove the bad leaves on the third one.

I also have liquid copper, if that will be helpful.

[Roberta]

Rather than cutting, watchfull waiting. The damaged spots may just dry up. Save the surgery for if it is actually spreading, not "might spread). Remember that Paphs are actually sympodial - you will get new growths along a stolon or at the base. The "crown" may be the growth point for a particular fan, but not the only growth point of the plant. Low 40s F won't kill Paph rothschildianum... it's a fairly high elevation species. The cold-and-wet combination may be been a setback, but I think the chances of recovery are quite good.

[Dimples]

Listen to Roberta. Hide your pruners/sheers and sit on your hands. Don’t amputate unless you have to.

[BrassavolaStars]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Rather than cutting, watchfull waiting. The damaged spots may just dry up. Save the surgery for if it is actually spreading, not "might spread). Remember that Paphs are actually sympodial - you will get new growths along a stolon or at the base. The "crown" may be the growth point for a particular fan, but not the only growth point of the plant. Low 40s F won't kill Paph rothschildianum... it's a fairly high elevation species. The cold-and-wet combination may be been a setback, but I think the chances of recovery are quite good.

Thank you.

The spots do have a kind of bad scent. Reminds me of erwinia. I may still spray with copper because of that.

[Roberta]

Spraying with the copper fungicide likely a good idea. Smelly not good. Just don't be in a rush to cut if you can treat or wait it out. Do keep a careful eye on it.

[Canadienne]

I use a bit of topical treatment on the leaves that were effected on mine, they had Erwinia after it was exposed to too hot and too high humidity outside last fall. I use polysporin, has bacitracin and gramicidine in it. Stopped the infection cold. Spots died up, plant saved. Leaves unsightly but lots of clean new growths .Here in Canada you can buy it in pharmacies. In case your copper treatment doesn’t quite do the job and you don’t have to many plants.