Soft and floppy leaves on P. equestris... - Page 3 - Orchid Board

The Mutant · #21 02-22-2012, 08:00 PM

Thanks Bud, but the rot had reached the middle of the stem and the keiki didn't have any roots at all. Long story short - I threw the entire plant in the trash and disinfected everything like crazy (since I thought it was black rot, Pythium or Phytophthora). I feel a bit calmer now thanks to Camille.

I only got to enjoy it for a week, which is really sad. I believe it was already sick when I got it and the shipping probably didn't improve its condition. A more experienced person would probably have spotted the stem rot sooner and been able to save the Phal.

At least I've now learned that Phals can get stem rot as well as crown rot and I've learned how to treat it thanks to you guys.

camille1585 · #22 02-23-2012, 04:37 AM

I still think it's a shame you tossed it so quickly, with that keiki there is was salvageable.

The Mutant · #23 02-23-2012, 04:54 AM

But how? Should I've let the mother plant wilt away and hope for the keiki to grow roots? What if it had black rot and not stem rot?

I don't know if my nerves can take it... Trust me, I still feel bad about it (I could in theory still salvage it, it's standing in my hall). How should I save it? I don't have any peroxide but I do have cinnamon. Should I put it in a smaller pot and hope for the basal kaiki to put out some roots (unless the night spent in the garbage bag has killed it)?

camille1585 · #24 02-23-2012, 04:59 AM

Basal keikis are 'plugged in' to the mother's roots, that's why they often grow their own roots very late. So sometimes even if the mother dies (and if the infection did not spread to the keiki), her roots then belong to the keiki.

The Mutant · #25 02-23-2012, 05:11 AM

Okay, thanks.

I've picked it up from the garbage bag (the rot had spread rather nicely in the dark and humid environment) washed it, and chopped off two more leaves and treated the stem and affected area with some disinfectant. Now I'm letting it dry out a bit.

Should I sprinkle the cinnamon now or later?

camille1585 · #26 02-23-2012, 05:20 AM

Whenever, it doesn't matter. If the powder doesn't stick too well, you can make a paste with water.

The Mutant · #27 02-23-2012, 05:27 AM

I've sprinkled it and now the Phal is lying on the stove. I thought it might be better for to dry up a bit before I pot it.

Thanks you for being so patient with me Camille. It means a lot.

camille1585 · #28 02-23-2012, 06:05 AM

I'm patient with people because others were patient with me when I was learning, and I really appreciated it.
Some other forums I know will just tell people to please look up old threads because the info has been repeated over and over. I don't like that approach at all.

The Mutant · #29 02-23-2012, 06:59 AM

That's very thoughtful of you and it means a lot to a newbie like me.

If someone told me to look up old threads, I would get rather sad actually (but I'm a bit sensitive, though), so I'm glad none has said that to me.

Group hug to the entire OB!

camille1585 · #30 02-23-2012, 07:31 AM

I used to be a member of a french guinea pig forum, and that's exactly how they functioned. You rudely get told to go use the search function on the forum, get told that you are lazy for expecting others to repeat stuff for you, and before you can react, the thread is locked. So I quit. OK fine, some stuff has already been repeated over and over, but it's reassuring to hear from people that the advice in other threads also applies to your specific situation.