Having problems with my Promenea

[Discus]

These things are awesome for splicing.

[ezil]

Thanks Discus! I'm printing these instructions for my better half and "orchid handyman". Over the past few years I've invested in small fans and adaptors, as they were available. Some sold for $3, others as much as $15!. Your method would allow me to free up some outlets AND make full use of my equipment.
As for your other question about the use of cinnamon: using the powder mixed with water/alcohol is great for applying to isolated areas, but not as a spray. I think that's what Camille was thinking of doing.

[camille1585]

Yup, I wanted to spray. Cinnamon is steeping now, but I wonder if I will need it. I heavily sprayed the affected plants twice with hydrogen peroxide, and today was the first day that there were no new yellow leaves.... *going to knock on wood*

[nenella]

Camille hope you managed to get the problem under control.

[camille1585]

I think it's under control on all the affected plants, except the Promenea hybrid, which is precisely the one I'm most attached to! I'm removing more and more leaves off of it... I'll spray a second time with steeped cinnamon, but if it still doesn't stop it then I'll go buy fungicide. I've been putting it off, because that stuff is a bit expensive!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

While I've never grown Promenea, I've grown certain species of Zygopetalinae with and without pseudobulbs. Some of the problems with leaf blights can sometimes be associated with problems in the root zone. If you haven't checked it already, try checking again. Should there be problems with the roots, instead of using bark or moss, have you considered using coconut fiber - (not CHC, but the fiber itself)?

[camille1585]

I have it in a clear pot, and all I see is masses and masses of good roots.
Doesn't the fiber hold really a lot of water though?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

It holds quite a bit of water, but it also provides better air circulation than moss. Try it out and see if it provides better results for you. I've had good results with the mother load of difficult Zygopetalinae with pseudobulbs, Acacallis cyanea, with coconut fiber.

[Discus]

Re: wiring fans in series or parallel, hope the attached image helps someone.
You also get a hybrid series/parallel; this might be used where you have parallel circuits going to each shelf with the fans on that shelf wired in series.

In general though, parallel is what you want.

re: the cinnamon, surely once you've made an alcohol extract "tincture of cinnamon" you can add the amount you want to a spray bottle of water?

[NatalieS]

If the problem is bacterial, you might try a tonic made from garlic. Garlic is known for its anti-bacterial properties. I crush a couple of cloves of garlic into a jug, pour about 750mls of boiling water over them, and let it steep overnight. I then let the pot and plant soak for a bit in the mixture. I've used it on my den, beallara, and phals. I adapted this from using a garlic and soap mix sprayed onto germinating blue poppy seedlings to stop damping off. I suppose if you've tried everything else, it can't hurt.