Orchid base rotting - Orchid Board

kmigs26 · #1 09-30-2010, 09:59 AM

Good morning.

I recently cut off all the dead roots on my orchid (which were all but one) and repotted it in bark. Now it seems that the bottom of the plant is rotting. I am not sure why. I watered the plant when I potted it and then a week later...with fertilizer. Why is my plant rotting?

kmigs26 · #2 09-30-2010, 10:52 AM

AND the one remaining root is not drying up and dying also. WHAT am i doing wrong!?!?!

kmigs26 · #3 09-30-2010, 10:53 AM

Tindomul · #4 09-30-2010, 01:35 PM

Sounds like overwatering. Thats the only thing I can think of to rot a phal from the base, or perhaps you left the crown wet?

kmigs26 · #5 09-30-2010, 01:50 PM

i have been misting it every day because there is a new root growing and i wanted to make sure it had water. i have a constant fan blowing though so i don't think the water sat for too long on the plant but i don't know. will the plant recover from this?

Jennyfleur · #6 09-30-2010, 02:40 PM

It could be that the misted water hasn't evaporated properly and the fan has made it cold and damp resulting in rot. Or that water from the mistings has made the bark at the base of the plant too mosit and rot has set in as a result - just a couple of guesses/ thoughts mind you.

kmigs26 · #7 09-30-2010, 02:41 PM

hmm okay...so what do i do to repair the problem?

Jennyfleur · #8 09-30-2010, 02:52 PM

To be honest, I've never had a problem with rot (except on a phal that I discovered had been planted in some ghastly soil stuff with bark on top, so I didn't realise until it was nearly too late!). Therefore, hopefully one of the wiser folk on here can help with that, but one thing you could do is check that there isn't any bark in contact with the rotted area which could have caused it (in effect, make sure it isn't potted too deep). You could also try misting less but more frequently (but obviously not too late in the day when it won't dry!).

Again, these are just my initial thoughts but hopefully someone else will come along soon who can help you out more x

kmigs26 · #9 09-30-2010, 03:22 PM

thanks! i hope someone will tell me what to do! it didn't occur to me that the fan might make the water on the plant too cold. it should have but it didn't. thanks!!!

RosieC · #10 10-01-2010, 06:33 AM

If it's rotting at the base it is going to be difficult to save. What I would suggest is Hydrogen peroxide on the rotted area to try and stop it spreading but it depends how bad it is whether that will help or not.