Crown Rot?

[bubblytea]

Hello everyone, this is my first time posting on this forum but I do love going through the forums to read on tips and different kinds of orchid culture since I just started getting into the addiction a couple months ago. I just recently purchased a Dtps. Little Gem Stripes 'MSWR' and as I was checking it along with all my other 'chids the top two leaves just fell off! O_O I've been making sure to try not to get any water in the crown even taking napkins to soak anything that might've gotten in there. The leaves looked perfectly healthy. Nice and plump and green... Is there anything wrong with it? Does it have a chance?
I appreciate any tips for a noob like me. ^^

[mattryan]

So very sorry, but yes it does look like crown rot. How are the roots? If you have a good amount it can be saved. I have saved some that lost all but 1 leaf. It can grow a basal keiki, but not all can be saved. Just make sure that the rot has stopped i.e. nothing looking wet or smelly, if not peroxide in crown until it stops fizzing should do the trick. Also cinnamon (like you use for baking) in crown will dry it up. Then you'll have to wait and see if it wants to live. Good luck..a long road ahead i'm afraid, but worth it if you want to try

Cheryl

[WhiteRabbit]

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

1. It is crown rot. But it isn't caused by bacteria initially... In your case, it was most likely caused by overwatering and improper gas exchange.

Which brings me to...

2. Your plant is extremely over potted. If I'm not mistaken, the root mass was most likely half the size of the pot the plant was placed in. Orchids are grown differently from other terrestrial potted plants commonly sold in nurseries or garden centers. Instead of giving an orchid's roots plenty of room to grow, it is the exact opposite; only place the orchid in a pot where the size of the pot will fit the size of the root mass.

If the pot is way too big, the potting media will retain too much moisture and start suffocating the roots. This can kill the roots, which in turn may start making the plant drop its leaves.

3. When watering, don't allow water to get trapped inside the crown.

People selling Phals usually present the orchid grown upright. That is the incorrect growth orientation for most Phals! This upright growing method is not only wrong for a large number of Phals, it also potentially causes problems by allowing water to easily get trapped in the crown of a Phal, when in nature, water travels away from the crown of a Phal when it rains, because a Phal grows either pendulously or perpendicularly off of their perches (these perches are usually trees, sometimes rocks), not vertically.

How do you know I'm telling you the truth about Phals not growing upright?

Please click on these links to see:

Phalaenopsis in natural habitat ( in situ) - YouTube

Visiting Phalaenopsis cornucervi (orchid) habitat in the swamp of Borneo-part 3 - YouTube

Visiting Phalaenopsis cornucervi (orchid) habitat in the swamp of Borneo-part 5 - YouTube

Phalaenopsis equestris | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The only Phal that I know of that can be found growing upright is Phal (Doritis) pulcherrima.

http://a402.idata.over-blog.com/3/75...cherrima_2.jpg

And yes, if you've clicked on the link for Phalaenopsis (Doritis) pulcherrima, and you've seen the photo of it in the wild, you will notice it is growing on rocks - (if you're wondering what kind of rocks; it's a type of limestone). Phalaenopsis (Doritis) pulcherrima is predominantly a lithophyte.

As a fyi, the reason I typed Doritis in parentheses is because some people acknowledge it as Phalaenopsis pulcherrima, and some people acknowledge it as Doritis pulcherrima, but both names describe the same species.

[bubblytea]

Thank you guys for the informative posts! I agree the pot it's in is too big for it but 3 in. clear pots are all I have and as a new grower I didn't feel comfortable enough to keep it in the green pot it came in. I do keep a 6 in. desk fan next to my growing area to increase air circulation and it's on 24/7. The roots look okay as of this moment but when I got them it only had 3 really short roots with no green tips to begin with... Oh well this is my first casualty but we all make mistakes so I just need to try again. ^^

[terracotta7]

Bubblytea...don't give up! I am sure that there is not one person on this forum that has not lost an orchid at some time. Good attitude...learn from your mistake...try to save what you have...and consider it a challenge. You have a lot of people here (mush more knowledgeable than I) who can give you advice like King did.
Welcome to OB!!!!!

[bubblytea]

Don't worry terracotta I'm going to try to see whether I can get a keiki out of this but considering how cold it is I'm not too hopeful... (the house I'm staying at has no A/C or heating unit so the inside of the house is usually as cold as the outside and it's been in the 30s lately ><)

[james mickelso]

Excuse me!!! I have never lost an orchid!!! I've lost dozens!!! BT don't dispair. There are lots of orchids out there for you to practice killing....I mean growing. Keep trying. They are actually far easier to grow than most people think. Basics and you can grow orchids your neighnors will be envious of and then you can tell them how easy it is and help them grow orchids too.

[rangiku]

bubblytea, put non-dissolving packing peanuts in bottom half the pot. See if the roots now fit snugly. Add/remove peanuts as needed. Fill with potting mix. That should help make your pot smaller.

And, yes, sadly I've sent many an orchid to Orchid Heaven. Live and learn and try not to make the same mistake.

[james mickelso]

BT I like the idea of the tupperware. Place some wet paper towels or cloth towels in with the plant. Just along the edges to keep the humidity up. Put in a sunny place.