What is a good all around Fungicide

[khill]

Hi. I think I need a good all around fungicide. If you only had access to a Home Depot type store, what would you buy for your orchids? I have been using Neem Oil with much success but it seems I need something stronger. Many of my new pseudobulbs are turning black and dying on my catts. I think I am watering too much as well. Any help is appreciated.

[Orchid Whisperer]

AFAIK, no fungicide works on every single fungus. Here is a guide to selecting fungicides based on the fungus that you are treating:
http://staugorchidsociety.org/PDF/Fu...idDiseases.pdf

[astrid]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

AFAIK, no fungicide works on every single fungus. Here is a guide to selecting fungicides based on the fungus that you are treating:
http://staugorchidsociety.org/PDF/Fu...idDiseases.pdf

THAT. That guide is fantastic! What a gem!

I thought erwinia couldn't be stopped.
I suppose that it is so fast-acting that it's better to prevent it than to try to cure it...

[Ray]

I had a prized phalaenopsis clone that contracted erwinia. I immersed it over night in a 1:50 Inocucor Garden Solution bath, and the disease stopped, and the plant is now recovering nicely.

Now, a periodic treatment with that (@1:100) is used on all my plants as a preventive.

[silken]

Originally Posted by khill

Hi. I think I need a good all around fungicide. If you only had access to a Home Depot type store, what would you buy for your orchids? I have been using Neem Oil with much success but it seems I need something stronger. Many of my new pseudobulbs are turning black and dying on my catts. I think I am watering too much as well. Any help is appreciated.

If your new Catt pseudo bulbs are turning black, you could also be dealing with a calcium deficiency. It can cause that. Try adding a supplemental Cal/mag solution to your fertilizer routine. Cattleyas like to completely dry out before being watered again. Using the skewer method might help you with that.

[Ray]

Good point on the potential calcium deficiency, Silken.

Calcium isn't very well translocated within plant tissues - once it is absorbed and bound, it tends to stay where it is, so it needs to be supplied to growing tissues via the irrigation/fertilization process.

Shifting back to pathogens, many folks actually set their pants up for issues by overfeeding them, particularly with too much nitrogen. Not only does the excess nitrogen stimulate the growth of the microorganism populations, but it can also weaken the plants, making them more susceptible.

[khill]

Thanks everyone...great advice. I will look at all those options.