Fungal Problems! - Orchid Board

Becca · #1 04-19-2007, 10:26 PM

Okay I am done buying plants off of ebay, from one particular member at least. I received some blooming sized plants and two of the plants don't look so good. I will include pics and maybe someone can tell me if I am over reacting or not. The plants look alot worse in person, and one of the plants had some leaves come off that were yellow with dark round circles on them. I took a picture of one of the leaves, it is on the side of the plant, but no longer attached. Also, the seller shipped the plants bare root. And on their website they describe a drying process the plants go through to take the moisture out of the roots and they also treat with a fungicide dip or something like that. How bad is this on the plants, to "dry" them? Is there something special to be done to them when they have been through a drying process? Any advice will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Frdemetr · #2 04-19-2007, 11:26 PM

Bare root is usual when shipping plants; Looking the pics, I don't know whether the main problem is a fungus or adaptation in the new environment; sometimes it happens, even when healthy plants are shipped. Just in case, I thing a good fungal control product (like mancozeb) is indicated

justatypn · #3 04-19-2007, 11:56 PM

I agree with Frederico, it's hard to tell if it is merely a plant in stress or a fungal problem. If it is not a fungus fungal control will eliminate future problems. There is a drying process the plants go through and I have received some barefoot with this process where the roots are firm with surface moisture removed. When I get the plants to my working area I soak the roots for 5 or so minutes to help reguvinate, at the same time I am soaking the media. I am still new at orchids so I am not sure if the dormacy is from the new enviroment or the dry process. Hopefully someone will chime in that is better versed then myself.

smartie2000 · #4 04-19-2007, 11:57 PM

I agree, most people send their plants bare rooted.
And something tells me that your plant isn't suffering from a fungus, and at least it will live. I would cut off all the dead spots to clean it up. It may just be adapting to a new environment

Becca · #5 04-20-2007, 12:04 AM

Would it show signs of stress that quickly from adapting to a new environment if I just received the plants today? They were shipped on Monday via priority mail?

justatypn · #6 04-20-2007, 12:09 AM

Fren, I thought it was a fungus because of the brown tip on the leaf in the background as well as the foreground the yellow/brown leaf has black spotting toward the bottom of the leaf. I have seen this on one of mine not new arrivals, and treated for fungus. Just hard to determine

justatypn · #7 04-20-2007, 12:11 AM

You have to consider the box being thrown around not to mention the prior actions taken before sending to you. No different than a cat not liking a car ride...

smartie2000 · #8 04-20-2007, 12:51 AM

Oops I made a mistake. Yes there's some minor fungus on the yellowed leaves. It's all curable and the plant will live with some good care. It's so unethical to sell something in that condition to someone though

Shadow · #9 04-20-2007, 04:17 AM

I would cut off all suspicious parts of the leaves, treat the plants against fungus and keep them separate from other orchids you already have. Good luck and don't buy anything from that vendor in the future!

Becca · #10 04-20-2007, 10:27 AM

Thank you everyone. I will try treating the plants as I think it would be more of a pain to send it back and loose out on shipping costs and such, plus I really like the plants I picked out so I don't want to have to try and find different ones. Thanks again everyone!