Jewel Orchid Branch has developed mould & fallen off (with pictures)

[delta13]

My Jewel Orchid ( Ludisia Discolor ) I bought just starting to flower (picture 1) has been happily growing without any problems for over a month. I hardly watered the plant except for a few sprinkles to keep the soil (the peat mix it came with) moist/humid. It successfully opened and bloomed. (picture 2)

Just this morning I noticed the shorter of it's two main branches appears to have snapped off . It is detached now except for a stringy clump tying it to the main plant still (pictures 3 and 4)
Looking closer I could see little traces of mould on the soil surface, and then with a probe using clean tissue I removed a white blob of gunk from below where the branched had "snapped off" . Then i noticed the bottom of the detached branch was soft and slimy. Most of this was removed also. I remember now giving it a capful of water on Christmas day as a present. It seems this was too much and has caused a fine branch to get an infection.
The solid ball / knot of root between the two branches appears dry and unhampered.
The rest of the plant seems fine, except for the white mould, which looks as though it can be got rid of. I was spraying the surface with 9% Hydrogen Peroxide in a water sprayer, which seemed to work except i missed the last few repeat doses thinking the problem had gone away. I am convinced it is this Christmas Day watering that caused the rot. I have been investigating what to do using google and have read guides describing how it is possible to transplant the branch if the end is cut off with a sterile blade, dust with Cinnamon and placed in some moist peat soil. I read someone else saying place the branch in water and then it will root. I am becoming a bit water-phobic so I would really appreciate any advice anyone has to offer.

Ideally i would love to be able to root the injured branch and return it to where it was before, as a once fine-looking plant now looks odd and unbalanced.

Currently I have placed it in the corner of my kitchen (picture 5) so as to prop the plant up in it's original shape and so the clump holding it to the plant does not break. When not supported this branch easily gives and lays flat (pictures 6 and 7). To try keep the branch alive i have pushed the end into the cavity (picture 8) the mould had been in (which i realize typing this could make matters worse) while I find out what to do. The branch that suffered seems less solid now; faintly papery and slightly lighter, wet still visibly alive
Can it still be salvaged and could anyone suggest any life support methods for the branch, or is it a silly idea?
Is spraying the surface of the peat and lower branches with hydrogen peroxide effective, or harmful?
I am planning to change the growing medium this Saturday when I have the money to go shopping. Until then I would like to do all I can to prevent any more disaster.
Thanks for any advice
All The Best

[MattWoelfsen]

Hello Delta, sorry! I tried to open attachments but could not open it. I hope someone else can at least advise you on what to do with your Jewell orchid. I have this plant, not flourishing at all--so I hope you get some answers.

[Leafmite]

I can't see the pictures, either. Is this a ludisia discolor? How exactly are you growing this? Do you treat it with the H2O2 because you have been having problems with mold? I have the ludisia growing in a basket pot/nz sphagnum moss, kept damp.
If you have mold, I would re-pot it into new, fresh medium and increase light/air circulation. That might help.

[delta13]

Thanks, you too

[Leafmite]

I went and took two pictures (and added an older one taken during the day when the surroundings could be seen) in hopes it will help a bit until someone more of an expert chimes in. I only have the one right now and just bought it at the end of the summer. It has been growing well and is currently in bloom and has just started two new growths. I realized that I added quite a few packing styrofoam peanuts to the moss and chose a small pot. This helps keep it from being overly wet even though it sits in water. It gets some humidity from the container and surrounding plants, the window is South-facing, and I only water with rain or distilled water. I haven't fertilized it since September and my home temperatures are around 64'(F), a little cool, and likely a little cooler by that window. Good luck!

[delta13]

Thanks for the replies ! For some reason, even though I got the pictures down to a small size they aren't uploading properly.

My main worry right now is half the plant is dying and I need to transplant it using a tried method

The medium is not really the problem, although I will definitely change it on Saturday; the plant is ok. It will survive

When i threw a bit of water into the pot on Christmas day a bunch of water must have settled at the base of the branch and coupled with the present white mould, caused the root to rot.

It's this big branch that has become detached I am most worried about .

Leafmite, the fallen branch is about the size of your plant, that's why I want to save it. It is wilting more and more as I look at it

Does anyone know of a method to transplant the branch?

---------- Post added at 12:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:47 AM ----------

I managed to upload the pictures eventually

[Leafmite]

If it is rootless, treat it like a cutting from any non-orchid. I make cuttings in two ways, depending upon the plant. For Jewel orchids, it seems recommended to put the cuttings in a clean glass jar with water. I find distilled water works best for cuttings started in water.
Good luck!

[quiltergal]

I have a 22 year old plant that I have taken numerous cuttings from. For me they seem to root best in a vase of water. It does take a long time for roots to develop though. I think adding some kelp extract might speed up the process some. I think the weight of the growth is probably what caused it to break. The rot probably set in after the break. Even if you are not successful getting this piece to root, be assured that the plant will send up new growths to replace it.

My plant got quite leggy as the office it has been in for years was not very bright. When I retired I brought it home and repotted. I am now growing it quite bright. It has sent up lots of new shoots that I am hoping will not grow quite so long as the old ones. It's currently in bloom with 6 spikes. When it's done blooming I plant to break off some of the longer growths and toss them in the hopes that it will send up even more new shoots. Mine has been growing in regular potting soil all this time and does not seem to mind at all. In fact it seems to thrive on neglect.

[delta13]

Leafmite and quiltergal , thank you for your advice.
I had placed the branch back in the soil mix after cutting away the rot with an alcohol swabbed knife and dusted with Cinnamon.

The branch seemed to come to life again, yet I am going to follow your advice and place the branch in some mineral water in a glass

I'll post a picture and any updates.

Thank you!