Is this Crown Rot? - Orchid Board

Will · #1 02-11-2011, 04:17 PM

Hello,
First off I'd like to say I really appreciate this forums wealth of information. So on to it. Four days ago I decided to get some orchids for my apartment. I went to home depot and purchased six plants, all phalaenopsis, not knowing what I was getting myself into. The temp inside the store was about 65-70 and they all looked healthy. I brought them home, unpacked them, and placed them on a southern facing window with open blinds and a light curtain which allows much of the light through. I initially had intended on repotting them all but thought i'd let them rest and get used to the apartment first. This morning I found that one of the smaller plants had lost a young leaf, about 5 inches long, not yellow nor wilted. Upon closer examination I saw that the center of the plant seemed discolored (darkened/saturated). Immediately, I got a pot of water and began soaking some media "Hoffmans Special Orchid Mix" in tap water (about 2 Gallons) and added a small pinch (perhaps a 1/4 tsp) of Miracle Gro Orchid plant food and left for work. Several hours later I returned, strained the media and set it aside to dry out some. While that was going on I gently removed the orchid from its original pot and three more leaves fell off. Dis-hearted I began trimming the dead roots off with a pair of sterilized scissors. The remaining roots were hearty, some green some white. I washed the original pot with a light bleach solution and found algae growing on one of the sides. Obviously this orchid had been over watered. I watched several youtube videos on what to do next while I let the orchids roots breath fresh air, about 20 min or so and repotted it in the original pot with some extra holes I had drilled. Oh, I bought some water on the way home (2 one gallon jugs) I lightly rinsed the media once it was repotted and mixed a light dose of orchid food as well showering the media once again. I placed some paper towels under it once it had drained to draw additional moisture out. What do I do next? The core or i guess crown still looks terrible. The phalaenopsis is now in a shaded spot with a fan gently circulating air around it.

camille1585 · #2 02-11-2011, 04:58 PM

It's got some nice roots on it, so if the crown rot doesn't kill it, it should live. To stop the rot a good solution is to pour some hyrogen peroxide into the crown, let it sit and then pour it out. Might want to repeat it a few times every couple days to make sure you got it all. After that as an added measure you can put some ground cinnamon in the hole.
Keep it shady for a while. (but not in a dark spot, you still want it to photosynethsize) With any luck it will put out a basal keiki or two and regrow from there.

Will · #3 02-11-2011, 05:31 PM

Funny you mention cinnamon. After I posted to this forum I remembered reading about cinnamon and ran out to get some. I mixed up a paste and applied it. Did I make a mistake? Should I have done the peroxide first/instead? If i did make a mistake is it too late to get some peroxide and apply it?

nenella · #4 02-11-2011, 05:39 PM

With Camille & would do the same if it were my plant.
Just one more thought .. have you a photo of the spike? as it could be 'sprouting' a keiki on the spike ?????

camille1585 · #5 02-11-2011, 05:39 PM

The reason I recommend hydrogen peroxide (usually the 3% one) is because it's a very strong oxidizer and can do a very good job in killing off the pathogens causing the rot. Cinnamon works as well, but H2O2 is much more aggresive and will do a more thorough job of killing off the microorganisms. It's not too late to use some if you want, but you'd have to clean out the cinnamon probably.

Will · #6 02-11-2011, 05:44 PM

Works for me, I'm running out the door to get some as soon as I finish this post. Nenella: I'll take some close up photos of the spikes (2) when I get back. DC traffic is bad this late so it might be an hour or so.

camille1585 · #7 02-11-2011, 05:56 PM

You live in Virginia near DC? Whereabouts? I spent 5 years living in that area, in Reston.

PinkCloud · #8 02-11-2011, 06:07 PM

Will, I'm so sorry about your new Phal. How many leaves did you loose in all? But well done you for all you have done for it already!

I agree with Camille your Phal has good roots so it might pull through. And even if you just try keeping the spikes on the plant it might make a keiki. All you need then is to somehow keep the plant alive long enough so that the Keiki can be potted.