Mold on bamboo skewers

[ladybree]

Last weekend I repotted my phal in bark media. It was previously grown in moss. I had read threads that mentioned using bamboo skewers to check moisture content, so I put one in the pot five days ago.

I've been checking the skewer everyday, but today when I pulled the skewer out, there was white fuzzy mold on it and a foul odour. I threw the skewer out and inserted a new skewer in to check for moisture. After about 10 min, I pulled it out and it felt mostly dry. Now the skewer sits on the ledge next to the pot.

Now I'm concerned about the mold that was on the original skewer is going to harm my phal. I'm thinking I should let it dry out more.

[Wjs2nd]

Don't let to dry out. You'll just kill your orchid if it's dry for to long! Repot your phal if your worried.

[WhiteRabbit]

The skewer will need to be in the media for 30 minutes or so before you check it for moisture.

I do allow Phals to become just dry, or very nearly so, before watering.

I think fresh fir bark should be fairly mold resitant. Hydrogen peroxide can be used - I think it's safe to use the drugstore variety full strength, but I'm not positive ... hopefully someone else will know

[ladybree]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

I think fresh fir bark should be fairly mold resitant. Hydrogen peroxide can be used - I think it's safe to use the drugstore variety full strength, but I'm not positive ... hopefully someone else will know

Can I just pour the hydrogen peroxide directly onto the media with the orchid still in it without harming it?

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by ladybree

Can I just pour the hydrogen peroxide directly onto the media with the orchid still in it without harming it?

While I felt quite certain it is safe, I didn't want to give you incorrect info - did some searching to confirm. (I have safely used 3% H2O2 on other plants without problem)

I don't think it's likely that your bark has molded if it's quite fresh

Hydrogen peroxide....is it safe for direct application in 3% solution.

more OB search results
hydrogen peroxide orchid roots - Google Search


some general info on orchids and h2o2
http://www.cvios.com/Doctor%20Archiv...%20Orchids.pdf

from May 2002

Disease control.

3% hydrogen peroxide is one of the best fungicides. Hydrogen peroxide is produced by the plants themselves in the abscission layer between the leaf and the petiole when the plant wants to drop the leaf.

For crown rot in phalaenopsis pour 10% Clorox ( or Javex) solution into the diseased area and then water the plant with the 3% hydrogen peroxide (or dunk it into it) for 3 waterings.

Phalaenopsis violacea and its hybrids are very prone to crown rot. However if you mount the plants on a florist’’s oasis and hang them with the leaves pointing down, there will be no more crown rot!

Miltonias are prone to an orange fungus that kills their leaves. Watering with 3% hydrogen peroxide will eventually get rid of it.

As a matter of fact at Gold Country Orchids the 3% hydrogen peroxide is used instead of water on plants that have been repotted, to prevent rot.

hydrogen peroxide orchid roots - Google Search

[ladybree]

Thank you so much for your help, Whiterabbit. I'm off to the drug store to get some hydrogen peroxide.

[Maree]

For the last 20 years I used the skewer method to determine my watering schedule without an issue with mold. Not sure why recently the wooden skewers are getting moldy within 24 hours.
I’ve seen a suggestion to coat the skewers with nail polish and my local orchid guy suggested spraying the wooden skewers w Neem oil prior to using.
Any thought? Or other ideas? Thank you Mel

[Roberta]

I would just stick the skewer into the pot when you want to check it, don't leave it in there. Then you won't have any mold problem. If you coat the skewers so they don't absorb water, they'll be much less accurate to test moisture - if it's a bare skewer, you put it in the pot for a couple of minutes and feel it, you can tell whether it's moist or not.

Do note that this is an almost 12-year-old thread. It is better to start a new one for a new question. (At that time maybe peroxide was fashionable, now we know that it can damage roots, so don't use it,.)