Black root tips - Orchid Board

tolumnia · #1 06-13-2011, 06:01 PM

I have looked up this problem and tried a few things to no avail. It's not fertilizer (I stopped all ferts for a while and still new black tips) It's not water our water is super soft (gh and kh <3) and for the last several days it has rained so I have not watered at all. I just found new black tips that were not there before the rain started. The plants aren't getting too dry, nor too wet (except when it rains for 3 days)
I don't think it is a bug since it first happened before I took them outside.

This is occurring on a wide range of orchids from Angraecum, to Phal, to Epi. The Tolumnias don't seem to be having this problem.
The plants dealing with this are all growing very vigorously in both root and leaf. Most are growing new tips on the sides of "damaged" roots. All of my orchids are outside at the moment in the most open area I have so air flow should not be an issue.

Any suggestions?

Eyebabe · #2 06-13-2011, 06:06 PM

Just because conditions are ideal does not mean you can't have a fungus and/or bacterium.
Maybe because your conditions are good, the agent cannot overcome any of the plants.
Many of my rose bushes outdoors bloom beautifully but have brown leaf spot etc.
I'd try a general copper fungicide treatment and see what happens. You can buy that in Home Depot

anysnail · #3 06-14-2011, 01:29 AM

the only time i had black root tips was when i had a massive fungal growth deep in the middle of the the medium. i didn't know it was there until i repotted. here i was thinking i was doing everything right too.

Eyebabe · #4 06-14-2011, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anysnail

the only time i had black root tips was when i had a massive fungal growth deep in the middle of the the medium. i didn't know it was there until i repotted. here i was thinking i was doing everything right too.

And that's an excellent point I did not think of! But depending upon how many plants are affected you might have a lot of work to do

Ray · #5 06-14-2011, 10:20 AM

I noticed that sort-of thing on one of my wife's phals. Put it back in the GH after blooming, douses it with Zero-Tol, and it went no further.

tolumnia · #6 06-14-2011, 04:21 PM

Thank you so much for your replies!!! Some of these plants are mounted and all the others have been repotted in the last few months (I've only been doing this since Jan.) So medium isn't the issue but it's a great thought.
I tried to find copper fungicide today with no luck. I will keep looking. Since these are orchids do I need to use the fungicide differently or just like I use it on roses?
Thank you again for your responses.

anysnail · #7 06-14-2011, 04:22 PM

i would dive into one of those guys and see if there is problems with the medium. maybe you got a bad batch when you repotted last time and all your guys are dealing with it. my onc was growing strong and tall even though it had all that fungus amoungus.

Eyebabe · #8 06-14-2011, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tolumnia

Thank you so much for your replies!!! Some of these plants are mounted and all the others have been repotted in the last few months (I've only been doing this since Jan.) So medium isn't the issue but it's a great thought.
I tried to find copper fungicide today with no luck. I will keep looking. Since these are orchids do I need to use the fungicide differently or just like I use it on roses?
Thank you again for your responses.

I use it just like it says for the roses.
I found mine with the garden pesticides and herbicides (like Round-Up) in my local Home Depot.

tolumnia · #9 06-22-2011, 06:36 PM

OK I searched for days and couldn't find a copper based fungicide. I have been surprised at how few options are available in my area for fungus control.

So I gave over and picked up Spectracide immunox. The chemical in it is myclobutanil. Has anyone used it before? Is this safe to use on my orchids??