Coconut Oil as Fungicide?

[Im Just Saying]

I read in an older thread while searching about mildew that that coconut oil is an natural fungicide. I noticed today that my newest phal (acquired 1 week ago) has some white on a root and a patch on the stem. It doesn't look fuzzy or slimy however I don't recall seeing it a few days before. I'm taking it home tonight to repot (it is in sphag) however I wanted to treat the affected areas as well. Can anyone chime in to the effectiveness of this as a fungicide? Does it need to be in liquid form to apply?

Hope I can get this answered quickly as I have to rush to my local nursery after work. Thanks everyone!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Try it out on a small portion of the plant. The worse thing that can happen is that it has growth inhibitors, which shouldn't kill the orchid, but would only affect that little section you apply it to. I doubt something like coconut oil has growth inhibitors though. I'm more inclined to believe coconut oil may have some growth hormones in it.

[Bud]

if it is oil, avoid the sun...you dont want to fry your plant
my observance with coconut oil left in the open has this rancid odor after a couple of days meaning it will attract fungi or bacteria instead of killing them

[Im Just Saying]

Originally Posted by Bud

if it is oil, avoid the sun...you dont want to fry your plant
my observance with coconut oil left in the open has this rancid odor after a couple of days meaning it will attract fungi or bacteria instead of killing them

Ewww, good to know. I was actually reading Ray's home remedies and may try the cinnamon and elmers glue paste instead since I have both here and can apply it directly on the area in question.

[Ray]

Try a spritz with hydrogen peroxide before resorting to cinnamon.

[Im Just Saying]

Originally Posted by Ray

Try a spritz with hydrogen peroxide before resorting to cinnamon.

Sorry if this is too silly of a question, will applying with a q-tip directly to the area be just as effective? Thanks for your help.

[stefpix]

I have been wondering what Cinnamon is best. In the USA and Canada what is sold as Cinnamon is actually Cassia (Cinnamomum aromaticum) that contains Coumarin that can be toxic. True Cinnamon (which actually has such a better taste and aroma) is Cinnamomum verum and has negligible Coumarin content. The bark of the 2 species is very different: true Cinnamon has a very thin, brittle layered bark while Cassia has a hard and darker bark that may not be ground by a coffee grinder.

I wonder if both have the same properties as fungicide or not, or if one is better than the other for this purpose.

Most of the cinnamon I see in the USA is Cassia, but true cinnamon is available at some ethnic stores.

In Europe true cinnamon is sold as cinnamon.
Anyway H2O2 works well against mildew.
I wonder if dusting with Cinnamon or Cassia may inhibit root growth

[Bud]

cinnamon or cassia can both be used great (I know what youre saying because the Indian store in my corner sells a different cinnamon powder=and I used the commercial one from the supermarket and the ethnic store ones)...the powder form must be prepared with water to make into paste since cinnamon powder applied directly will dessicate the roots.
there are liquid form or extract that I also use against bugs...I also add the rolled cinnamon bark inside the spray bottle to add more potency

[stefpix]

For sure true cinnamon tastes so much better than cassia. if you look up on wikipedia there are illustrations that show the difference. Cassia's flavor is coarse compared to the true Cinnamon. good tip about the paste. I will use the Cassia for gardening and the true Cinnamon for cooking / coffee.

Cinnamomum aromaticum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Most of the spice sold as cinnamon in the United States and Canada (where Ceylon cinnamon is still generally unknown) is actually cassia. In some cases, cassia is labeled "Chinese cinnamon" to distinguish it from the more expensive Ceylon cinnamon (C. verum), which is the preferred form of the spice used in Mexico, Europe and Oceania.[3] "

[calypsoB]

ok...so, I checked my cupboards and I have saigon cinnamon, and cinnamon sticks...So I am confused...Are the cinnamon sticks actually cinnamon or cassia? and is the saigon cinnamon cassia? If I buy indian spices will it more likely be true cinnamon?