HELP!!! Audrey is in Trouble :(

[DweamGoiL]

Everything was going just peachy until I noticed a black spot in between the 2 lower leaves today:



I pulled the 2 leaves apart gently and noticed the rot has spread between the 2 bottom leaves. I must have left water in there at some point

I am wondering should I attempt to cut the tissue off, sacrifice the 2 bottom leaves? Is there something I can apply as a disinfectant? Basically, what can I do at this point. She is still blooming just fine, her other 2 leaves are perky, but I know this is not good news...help!!!

[james mickelso]

I would leave it alone for now. Just watch it and if it gets much worse you can get some fungicide and put it on the spot with a Q-tip.

[Bud]

you have a magnificent plant with beautiful blooms....spray hydrogen peroxide in that area.....if you can manage to cut around it with a sharp blade its still small and have not spread....

[DweamGoiL]

So the next day, I went to check the rotting spot and found it had extended to the elbow (if you can call it that) of the top leaf so I decided to take a stab and gently incise the rot.

After cleaning it, this is what was left:



I couldn't find anything really small to really get in there and scrape out the rest, but I got most of it, and I also had to cut a small piece off the base of the leaf on the right. After I finished, I applied some peroxide and let her sit next to a fan for a good 10 minutes to make sure she was completely dry and then I impacted the wound with cinammon.



So far, so good. I checked today and the rot has not spread anymore. I have been extra careful when watering her to not get water anywhere near the leaves...lesson learned!

This morning, I noticed 2 or 3 buds looked a little droopy, which I guess she will drop due to what she's been through.



I will just wait and see, but it looks like all is well so far. Her leaves are still perky and the rest of the blooms are fine.

Thanks so much for the advice!

[MysticOrchid]

Good idea for using the cinnamon. The cinnamon is well known for its antibacterial, antifungi properties. I always use cinnamon on my orchids when I cut the flower stem, for example. with your sweet little orchid!

[Jinxy]

I hope it recovers, it's a beautiful orchid :-)

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I highly recommend reducing the pot size. It's too big. The media will retain too much moisture, and it will cause similar issues later down the line.

[Memnet]

She is a lovely orchid; I hope she fully recovers.

[DweamGoiL]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

I highly recommend reducing the pot size. It's too big. The media will retain too much moisture, and it will cause similar issues later down the line.

I didn't find anything locally that was smaller with numerous holes so I put in about 2" of packing styrofoam peanuts at the bottom of the pot and lined the pot with 2 layers of coir fiber - the kind they use for the hanging basket liners - to reduce the circumference of the pot. I also didn't pack in the bark mix too tightly. Right now, the media completely dries up every other day or so.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I've seen some people make their own clear plastic pots out of a water bottle. Its genius.