Sedierea Japonica Updates (Project 6a - Spring 2008)

[kavanaru]

Hi Shirley, as I said, I was not here for the whole months, therefore I cannot be 100% sure about extrem temp variations, however, weather in Basel is quite stable, and I do not suspect that. Furthermore, nobody complained about the whether when I came back, and that's something to pay attention to, as it seems sort of a "local national sport" here

both plants are growing next to each other (as in the picture) and receive exactly the same treatment, so I don't know exactly what happened there..

[Becca]

Oh Ramon I am sooo sorry to hear of your little sick one! How sad!!!! Could it be an issue with the roots? Is there any hope that it may recover even if it takes a while?

Mine hasn't changed much, other then the new roots that posted pictures on previously, they have grown longer and that is about it. Oh and I have had two new leaves, but they are so much smaller then the original leaves....is there a reason for this?

[kavanaru]

HI Becca, I really do not understand what has happened with this plant. The root system is fine, it has even starte to produce some new roots (you can see 3 of them growing on the back side of the plant in the picture). The fallen leave were still green, but the basis just suddenly became yellow and they droped. There is not even signed of crown rot, which is the first thing I thought.

for me, the strangest is that the other plant, sitting just next to it all the time, shows no signs of sickness and is actually doing great...

[shakkai]

So sorry to hear about you project plant, Ramón! I've never seen anything like that - all in 4 days? I wonder what could have triggered it. Have you had a look at the base of the plant? It is possible that it may have been rotting from the bottom up, not the top down as with crown rot.

Becca, I think smaller leaves is a sign that something wasn't just right when they were growing. Either not enough light, water, or food or something. Maybe this is a hang over from before you upped your watering?

[camille1585]

Ramon, I'm so sorry to hear about your project plant too! But based on the symptoms and the lightning speed at which it progressed, it sounds very very similar to phytophtera. This disease does cause stem rot (amoungst other things), making the leaves rot off from the bottom up, and from the base of the leaf first. While searching, I can across this scientific article with a photo of the symptoms:
Phytophtera rot of some orchids
But the only problem with this diagnostic is that you only have one plant infected. Phytophthora normally spreads very easily and quickly. Have you tried treating your poor plant? Since the roots are still good, you might have a chance with it.

[kavanaru]

Actually, the leave have fallen very quickly but still quite green. Only the basis became yellow, and then it dried out at the joint with the plant. no "wet rot". I have checked the plant, and actually the stem looks fine (disected the stem, but did not take pics)

you can also see that the roots were fine (ok, by the time of the picture N° 3 they were already 2 days in the trash (I picked the plant for the pics today )

[Becca]

Ramon, it still has a leaf on it and you put in in the trash? Shame shame shame! LOL.

[kavanaru]

I know, I know... but after loosing so many plants after my holidays, and seen how quick this one died, I did not want to rick the spread of another infection... on the other hand, it was indeed my Project Plant, but one of 3 Standard Sedireas...

[camille1585]

You've already had so much bad luck already with your orchids after your vacation, and now to lose a project plant...that's not fair! Yeah, it's probably a good idea to toss it, but it's a shame considering it has good roots and a leaf.

[Becca]

Well just a quick update on what is happening with my project plant.

I was having fungal problems on the roots of my Sedirea japonica Daruma Minamr Project Plant every now and then. I try to keep it moist or else the leaves start to split. I have it where it is getting good air circulation, but I would still see fungus growing on some of the roots, but I think this was because one or two of there roots were not so good anymore. I still had it potted how it arrived (in a 2 inch short green plastic pot with sphag) and I was letting it dry slightly between watering due to the root fungus problem. The fungus looked like little white dots if that is of any use. I unpotted it and and soaked it in the Physan 20 and used some fresh 4A sphag moss and wrapped it around the roots to try and create a mound of sorts with an air pocket/hole for the roots to be in and repotted it into a clay pot. The clay pot has been really working well with my one potted Neo so I thought it might work well with my Sedirea japonica as well.

I have had new leaf growth and three new roots. I did trim off the roots that were not good, but most were still pretty firm.

I'll try and get a picture to post of it tomorrow. Any recommendations or comments would be greatly appreciated.