Need help please - Page 2 - Orchid Board

OOAJ · #11 07-12-2012, 09:51 PM

Music local society just had their monthly meeting and I was able to speak with one of our resident paph experts. He suggested that it could be mites and to check the roots. He also mentioned that the silvery white damage on the second plant appeared to be "cell collapse from under watering."

I pulled both plants out of their pots to check the roots and took pictures. I don't know paphs as well as phals, but the roots were all firm and odorless, so I'm assuming they're healthy?

The second one did have some of the fertilizer pellets stuck to its roots, which could be more indicative of fertilizer burn. For reference, the fertilizer I'm using is from Ray, it's the 13-3-15 time release blend for well and tap water. Before putting the plants back into their pots I tried to get most of the fertilizer out.

Both plants have 2-3 new roots emerging from the new growths and the new leaves on the new growths appear healthy so far. However the damaged on the old growth of the first plant seems to be rapidly spreading down the leaf. (I have ruled out sun burn on this plant as I have moved it to get less light and it still continues to worsen at an alarming rate).

Lastly, using an 8x loupe and still young and sharp eyes I was unable to see any mites or other crawlies that would cause this sort of damage.

Since writing my original post I have switched from daily misting with a hand mister to using a 1 gallon pump sprayer. I have also added another fan to the room in an effort to create additional air movement.

As always, please let me know what you think and thank you for your input.

dounoharm · #12 07-15-2012, 02:47 PM

those roots look good....i am at a loss as to why you are losing leaves....the plant bases look healthy...could it just be a dislike of the tap water? maybe you should switch to distilled water.....i dont like spraying paphs either, i just leave em on a gravel tray....gl

quiltergal · #13 07-15-2012, 03:57 PM

My guess would be the time released fertilizer. Paphs aren't heavy feeders and I think what you are seeing is fertilizer burn. I would switch to the MSU that gets dissolved in water, and start with 1/4 tsp/gal weekly.

The other question you did not answer was if you soaked your LECA really well before using. Unsoaked LECA has a boatload of nasties that sensitive Paphs won't like much.

NYCorchidman · #14 07-15-2012, 04:07 PM

I think I have a very similar issue with one of my paphs.
It is NOID maudiae type.
Just recently this plant started to show a yellowing leaf. It was the oldest leaf on the previously bloomed growth, so I figured maybe it's about time. Then another leaf, the second oldest one, also started brown this time, which worried me as it looked like some kind of rot.
Both yellowing and browning started at the tip of the leaves.
I am still thinking this is just an old growth dying on its schedule.

Then I noticed one of the bottom leaves on the new growth had brown rot where the leaf attach toward the center of the growth. This totally freaked me out because rot near the center means death or very difficult to deal with as it basically spreads out everywhere, roots, leaves, growth point where everithing orginate....

My initial reaction was to dump the plant. I like the flower on this plant and all, but it's not super special and didn't want to risk other paphs I have and love.

I moved it away from the rest and carefully cut the rotten leaf, which was difficult to do. I still had some rotten part left on the plant because it was almost impossible to get rid of it completely. I cut as much as I could and then poured hydrogen peroxide. I remembered reading how people treat crown rot on phalaenopsis with hydrogen peroxide.

It's been a little over one week now. The browning tip on the older growth is slowing down and I'm still hoping it's just part of aging process.

The yellowing/browing leaf on the first picture is now completely dark brown and dry. The leaf on the second, the browning is getting slowly larger with a yellow border. The rot on the new growth isn't spreading anywhere but the little bit of rot I couldn't cut away is all dried up.

A little info about the care, I use tap water as I do on all other plants and they all grow well. I fertilize when I remember with dyna grow 7-8-6. I don't mist the leaves ever! water on the media but I do give them a shower every now and then just to clean off the dust on leaves. I always soak up the water collected in between leaves and on the center of the growth with tissue paper.
All my paphs are near the bright window (no sunburn).

All my other paphs are perfectly fine, so why this one?
I have no clue. One thing I know is that this particular plant has been very very very slow growing.
Maybe temperature or light is not right for it, or it's normally slow growing, or genetically weak, virus, or bacterial rot, who knows?

If I spot rot again, I'm dumping the plant out. I am keeping a very close eye on this plant.

Regarding your plant, it's a mytery just like my case. One thing I would change is though, to remove those time release fertilizer pellets. It can be a major cause for chemical burn. See if removing it makes any difference.
plus, try hydrogen peroxide on the brown part after cutting it. but only if the browning part is wet, which is what my third picture is. I think mine has a bacterial rot somehow.
I'm not sure about browning leaf that's dry other than aging and dying leaves.

also, some paphiodedilum are quite susceptible to rot when it is hot and humid. Usually no cure but just death of the plant. but again, ths rot would be wet and very fast spreading.

OOAJ · #15 07-15-2012, 04:49 PM

I'm newer to s/h and growing in general, I've only been growing for a year, but these paphs were among my first plants and until very recently they were growing quite well.
In terms of soaking the LECA, I know I gave it a rince and let it soak for probably less than an hour. I'm guessing this was probably not enough... When I took the plants out to examine the roots I did try to get the fertilizer out. I know I didn't get it all, but I got most of it out, so hopefully that should help, assuming this is part of the problem.
If the LECA is the issue, is there anything I can do about it at this point or should I just take the plants out and soak the LECA again overnight?
Also, for what it's worth, the plants have been growing in this LECA for about 6 months without issue. The plants were obtained and placed into S/H at different times, but started having trouble very close to the same time.

NYCorchidman · #16 07-15-2012, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OOAJ

I'm newer to s/h and growing in general, I've only been growing for a year, but these paphs were among my first plants and until very recently they were growing quite well.
In terms of soaking the LECA, I know I gave it a rince and let it soak for probably less than an hour. I'm guessing this was probably not enough... When I took the plants out to examine the roots I did try to get the fertilizer out. I know I didn't get it all, but I got most of it out, so hopefully that should help, assuming this is part of the problem.
If the LECA is the issue, is there anything I can do about it at this point or should I just take the plants out and soak the LECA again overnight?
Also, for what it's worth, the plants have been growing in this LECA for about 6 months without issue. The plants were obtained and placed into S/H at different times, but started having trouble very close to the same time.

I don't grow mine in s/h, but since I'm very interested in that, I've been reading a lot on it.
Your initial soak of less than one hour is not enough at all. They recommend overnight.
Then again, since you mentioned that you had no problem of such kind in the past 6 months, I doubt it's the not enough soaking of LECA because if it was, the symptom should have appeared a long time ago I think.

I would try and get ALL the time release pellets and repot in a well washed medium.

Again, your paphs have nice roots growing, so it's still rather mystery.