Agony & Ecstacy: Phal. Grosbeak 'Chin Yo'

[D_novice]

Today I composted this plant that had two beautiful blooms. It succumbed to the same (virus? bacteria?) that afflicted every violacea-type Phal in my collection. This plant is ~82.5% violacea. The blooms were very nice and smelled like nice soap - not the spicy fruity smell of many Phals.

Well, all my violacea types are gone now. This was a bittersweet farewell.


early stage disease


bad photo, this eventually consumed the whole plant


Phalaenopsis Grosbeak 'Chin Yo'


Phal Grosbeak 'Chin Yo'


3rd photo

One other thing to add - all my phals were in a small space touching each other. Only the violacea types were affected, and treating the &*%$ out of them with phyton 27, steriliizing the surfaces with Physan, crushing an antibiotic pill and extracting it in rubbing alcohol - nothing made much of a difference. And, every other Phal is happy as can be! Just shows that susceptbility may well be the most important factor.

[fishmom]

Such a pretty bloom, too. Condolences.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Not a virus. That is a bacterial infection.

Apparently the plant is (plants are?) gone now, but if you see something similar in the future, don't spray with stuff. Cut off the darkened spots in the early stage. Keep any water off the leaves (no mist ing, etc.) Allow to dry for 2 or 3 weeks without watering, then return to watering carefully, wetting only the roots.

Any plants you have should be receiving supplemental calcium (which helps prevent disease if coupled with good care, such as careful watering). Magnesium is also beneficial. You can provide Ca and Mg by dissolving a teaspoon each of Epsom salts + lawn gypsum (or plaster of Paris) in a gallon of water. Add several ounces (a cup roughly) of the resulting solution to water you use for routine watering.

[Dollythehun]

Rip pretty one.

[D_novice]

I meant to say fungus or bacteria, not virus. For a bacteria it's slow-moving, but yes others have concurred, it is a bacteria.

I've been giving all my plants 1/4 tspn epsom salts/gallon H20 about 1x/month - though less in winter when I water less and feed less (they are windowsill, less light in winter, particularly this winter in Northern California). I've recently begun using dolomite, which is Ca & Mg, first sprinkled on the the potting mix, now dissolved in water about once every five weeks. I also use ProTekt, which is potassium silicate, the DynaGro guy, who is local, gave a talk to our local OS and claims that Silica is another critical and overlooked mineral that makes plants more resistant to disease, at least to fungal diseases.

By the time I noticed this in this plant, a lot of cutting would have been involved. However, since my approach decidedly didn't work, if it comes up again I'll try your cutting/drying out approach, whisperer, and see if I get a better result.

Although my collection is tiny compared to some, there's an advantage to having another ~120 plants, while one is meeting its tragic ending another is in bloom or bud or putting out new roots or growths, so I can maintain my optimism

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by D_novice

I meant to say fungus or bacteria, not virus. For a bacteria it's slow-moving, but yes others have concurred, it is a bacteria.

I've been giving all my plants 1/4 tspn epsom salts/gallon H20 about 1x/month - though less in winter when I water less and feed less (they are windowsill, less light in winter, particularly this winter in Northern California). I've recently begun using dolomite, which is Ca & Mg, first sprinkled on the the potting mix, now dissolved in water about once every five weeks. I also use ProTekt, which is potassium silicate, the DynaGro guy, who is local, gave a talk to our local OS and claims that Silica is another critical and overlooked mineral that makes plants more resistant to disease, at least to fungal diseases.

By the time I noticed this in this plant, a lot of cutting would have been involved. However, since my approach decidedly didn't work, if it comes up again I'll try your cutting/drying out approach, whisperer, and see if I get a better result.

Although my collection is tiny compared to some, there's an advantage to having another ~120 plants, while one is meeting its tragic ending another is in bloom or bud or putting out new roots or growths, so I can maintain my optimism

You are correct that dolomite contains Ca and Mg, but the solubility is very low. Epsom salts (Mg sulfate) are a better source of Mg. Since you have been using that in the past, I would continue to use it. Calcium can come from Ca sulfate (gypsum, or Plaster of Paris, which are very similar), or from Ca nitrate. I would use the sulfate and the nitrate on different days; used on the same day, you may end up precipitating a sulfate in your growing medium.

Silica is a plant micro-nutrient, but it would be quite unusual to see a deficiency IMO. I don't see a harm in using protekt, but don't see a benefit either (not without some peer-reviewed science indicating that it is helpful and worth providing).

[peterlin]

You said that "Only the violacea types were affected". Are the rest standard complex type?

The violacea type needs to be kept warmer, 70F night temperature, but not exceeding 80F. It likes to be grown shaded. Good air movement is essential. It's easy if your growing condition is right for this type of plant. If not it's not as forgiving as complex hybrid that are bred to be more vigorous and can take on more stress.

[D_novice]

I definitely was not able to provide the correct conditions for many of the Phals that I gave away, sold, or lost to disease. Not all the ones that are fine, and that were literally touching the violacea that got a bacterial infection, are complex hybrids. Fairy Tale Joy is, so is Hsinying Little Knight 'Trinity', so is Lovely Amethyst 'Chin Yo'. But the corningiana is not sick, neither is the gigantea.
3 primary hybrids are also fine, mentaiwensis x zebrina, venosa x amboinensis, and equestris x bellina.
I didn't mention, during this long cold winter, our heater died and the house was pretty darn cold for many weeks. That can't have helped!!
Happily, Fairy Tale Joy produced one bloom (after many blasted buds); bellina x equestris has one bloom and many buds; and Little Knight is in spike.

[jkofferdahl]

I'm so sorry that one went.

[No-Pro-mwa]

So sad for you. It was a beauty.