Vanda plant white fungus on root and poss. bacterial infection on leaves

[gardeningnewbie]

Hi,

I think my vanda plant has a bacterial infection on its leaves, but I'm not sure. Also, there seems to be some white fungus/mold growing on one of the roots. Some of the roots are also brown and looks dried up. Should I take my vanda plant out of its vase and cut these roots up? Attached are some pictures.

[Myrle Diefendorf]

Bacterial infections usually have a yellow edge to them . Fungal and leaf spot infections are usually brown. Your roots look as if they might have had a bit of breakage or damage, which causes them to brown. Their roots are white when dry and turn green with white spots when wet. New growing tips on healthy roots are usually brownish. Vandas like a lot of water and need frequent fertilizing as their roots are hanging out in air.This is a big Vanda Sanderiani.

[Bud]

I love your Euentha sanderiana Myrle....you should post a thread with pictures and the culture you give the plant.
*gardeningnewbie: since it is warm outdoors, you can take the plant out of the vase and hang it under a tree or somewhere with shaded bright light....the flowing air and the humidity in the atmosphere will heal the roots. Do not remove roots since sometimes you might think it is discolored but it is still functional. You need all the roots doing its work for the plant.
The leaves have mechanical damage. I don't think that is fungal or bacterial infestation. As long as the leaf damage is not growing big then you don't need to worry.
When the frost comes then put it back inside the vase and place it on the brightest window sill

[Myrle Diefendorf]

I received this from a grower in Florida with a tag Vanda Sanderiana. Did they change the name or was it tagged wrong? I grow my Vandas in slatted baskets with a bit of fiber over the basket roots, the others hang down. It hangs outside in partial sun in a tree and receives rain or the hose when dry. Fertilize weakly weekly by dipping roots in a bucket of quarter strength Better Grow fertilizer. Put in greenhouse from November through March where it is cooler at night 55degrees.

[Bud]

Your tag is correct. They still call it Vanda sanderiana.
"Called "Waling-waling" in the Philippines (sold as cut flower in floral arrangements) and is also called Sander's Euanthe, after Henry Frederick Conrad Sander, a noted orchidologist. The orchid is revered and is worshiped as a diwata(deity) by the native Bagobo tribe in the southern islands.
Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach originally named Euanthe sanderiana as Vanda sanderiana.
It has two forms, pink and white, also referred to as alba. M. Roebelin discovered the original pink variety in the Philippines in 1881 or 1882. Rudolf Schlechter separated Euanthe from Vanda in 1914 due to structural differences in the flowers. For breeding purposes and registration by the Royal Horticultural Society, however, it is still treated as a Vanda.
This just bloomed for me this spring but it blasted.
My thread two years ago:
Euanthe sanderiana blooming in a glass vase

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

That is not a sign of bacterial infection on the leaves of your Vanda. It may be physical damage as well as some past damage from either cold, or a very minor past fungal infection that has since healed.

There are no signs of a fungal infection on the Vanda's roots. That silvery white coloration on the living, healthy roots of an orchid is a layer of dead cells that forms a spongey matrix on the outer surface of the root called velamen. In other words, it is normal.

The sections of roots that have become a light brown in color are dead, most likely from physical damage or some other kind of damage. That is nothing to worry about, because as you will see later on, (provided you are able to continue having this Vanda around for several years), that the sections of roots that are still alive, will sprout new root tips along any part of the length of the roots, and those will eventually grow out to become full blown roots.

You can also try growing your Vanda in a clear plastic pot with large grade fir bark.

You don't need to utilize vase culture.

The roots can adapt to moderately humid environments, it doesn't have to be extremely humid in order for your Vanda to grow properly. It was just that the Vanda you bought had been used to growing in a consistently humid greenhouse type setting for a long time, so there will be a little bit of an adjustment period to a lower humidity environment before it really takes off.

@gardeningnewbie - What kind of Vanda is it? Do you know the name that's written on the tag of your Vanda?

[Chatbud]

Originally Posted by Myrle Diefendorf

Bacterial infections usually have a yellow edge to them . Fungal and leaf spot infections are usually brown.

I have an ascoscenda, the bottom most leaf is turning yellow (albeit very very slowly) from the outer tip and moving in. I snipped off an inch of the yellow a week ago but the remaining green leaf tip still continues to go yellow and moving in.

I wonder if it's a fungal thing or just general aging.

The entire plant otherwise looks very healthy but it is growing very slowly - foliage and root wise.
Far too slowly compared to my other 2 vandecous varieties.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Chatbud

I have an ascoscenda, the bottom most leaf is turning yellow (albeit very very slowly) from the outer tip and moving in. I snipped off an inch of the yellow a week ago but the remaining green leaf tip still continues to go yellow and moving in.

I wonder if it's a fungal thing or just general aging.

The entire plant otherwise looks very healthy but it is growing very slowly - foliage and root wise.
Far too slowly compared to my other 2 vandecous varieties.

Pics help a lot.

It could be aging, but it could be other problems.

It is very difficult to diagnose with the information you've just provided. There is just not enough information to even get a good guess as to what could be the problem.

---------- Post added at 10:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:55 PM ----------

For example...

1. What are the temperatures of your growing area, (day/night/seasonal)?

2. What is the lighting intensity like?

3. Do you grow indoors or outdoors?

4. What's the air circulation like?

5. What's the humidity like?

6. What is your growing area like?

7. How often do you water?

8. How often do you fertilize?

9. What kind of fertilizer do you use?

The more info, the better people are able to come up with possible reasons for your plant's behavior.

And like I said a little earlier, pics help tremendously.

[Myrle Diefendorf]

I have found that orchids often lose a lower leaf when the plant begins to grow vigorously again (spring) or whatever it's growing time is.

[gardeningnewbie]

@King_of_orchid_growing -- I'm not sure what species of Vanda this is. I actually bought this at Whole Foods. It came from a company named Silver Vase.

If anyone can identify my orchid, that would be extremely helpful. Thanks!!