center of new growths turning yellow

[Deborah]

Hi,
does anyone know what may be happening here?
this is the second plant in a month to have the center of the new growth die. they are both growing in the cool area, the temps get down to the mid 50s at night, and the humidity usually is over 60% I cant find anything in my books to pinpoint it,
thanks Deborah

[CodiMN]

Hi! I noticed that no one else has posted a reply yet.
What kind of orchid is this? The photo is a little blurry.
What other conditions happened to lead up to this happening to your 'chids? Maybe they are too cold? How do the leaves feel? Mushy? Anyway, I hope someone else chimes in to give some more advice.

[Deborah]

Hi Carolyn,
this is a miltoniopsis, the center growth is mushy and brown and if it does the same thing as the dendrobium chrysotoxum a few weeks ago, it will then turn dry black and fall off leaving a healthy (looking) bulb with no leaves,I was kind of wondering about temps too, it is getting down to about 55 degrees, but maybe my gauge is wrong. Deborah

[quiltergal]

It sounds like you have black rot going on. This usually occurs when plants don't dry out sufficiently. The cooler temps aren't helping.

[Ray]

I agree. Moisture in the "crown" and cool temperatures are serious problems, especially in combination.

[Deborah]

I was hoping you weren't going to say that, I water all of my plants at the base and check for splashes, but I might be missing it,could it be possible that high humidity( sometimes reaching 78%) in conjuntion with the really cool temp could do that.
thanks, Deborah

[quiltergal]

Deborah, I think it's the high humidity + low temps that's the culprit.

[CodiMN]

Agreed. Even if you work really hard to water just at the base of the plant.
Hmm, I wonder if there's a way to try to save it? Maybe do an emergency re-pot or something and some surgery? At this point tho, it's probably gone.

[Deborah]

Thanks to everyone who replied I think I'll raise the temp in this growing area a bit and let the plants stay in a warmer room for a while after watering, to make sure there is no moisture.
Deborah

[jrhennek]

Deborah
When you see this in your plants you can sprinkle ground cinnamon in the crown to stop this fungus. Black rot is a fungi that regular store bought cinnamon will stop.
Jayme