Really frustrated lately

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by Mokeck

Hang in there. I'm having the same issue in NE Miami, my orchids are unprotected outside. Mid-October I applied a preventive dose of Cleary's that seems to be helping though other growers will disagree with using such a strong fungicide this way and of course all kinds of cautionary measures need to be observed. During a break in the weather today or tomorrow I'll dose with physan at half strength, it doesn't take much. Try not to get discouraged. I learned from trail and error to pot most everything in clay pellets/lava rock anticipating epic sustained rain like we're having now. Let's hope everything pulls through.

Thanks Mokeck, unfortunately the clay pellets - lecca do not work anymore in this rain, they were great during the summer, but my cymbidium was only in lecca and tree fern and when I took it out from the pot, the roots soaking soaking wet:-(
May I ask, how do you use physan? You spray all the plants, leaves? Is it dangerous for any spikes? I have it but use it mostly for disinfecting and plants if some issues occur, never as prevention, but I would try now. Unfortunately forecast for tomorrow and Monday is RAIN and WIND, so not sure when I can do this. Many thanks for tip for physan.

[Mokeck]

Some growers add just a few drops per gallon every time they water. This produces growths that are pristine and unblemished. One quarter teaspoon/gal is what I plan to use today, applied to the entire plant and drenched into the media. At that dose I haven't seen it damage spikes, roots, anything. It doesn't eliminate fungus but knocks it down to much lower levels. You can add a drop of liquid soap as a surfactant, spreading the physan more evenly but I usually skip it. Physan is pretty safe and dissipates quickly. It will definitely help get us through this deluge.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by Mokeck

Some growers add just a few drops per gallon every time they water. This produces growths that are pristine and unblemished. One quarter teaspoon/gal is what I plant to use today, applied to the entire plant and drenched into the media. At that dose I haven't seen it damage spikes, roots, anything. It doesn't eliminate fungus but knocks it down to much lower levels. You can add a drop of liquid soap as a surfactant, spreading the physan more evenly but I usually skip it. Physan is pretty safe and dissipates quickly. It will definitely help get us through this deluge.

Mokeck, thank you very much, I will try this, however all the plants are so so soaking wet now that I can not imagine to spray them any time soon, so I will have to wait if we ever get any dry weather, and than to apply. Many thanks once more. I never heard about adding a drop to every watering, interesting:-)

[Mokeck]

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't wait. More water, at this point and especially as it contains a powerful medicine, won't hurt at all. By the time we get a dry patch, fungus will have proliferated to levels I wouldn't be comfortable with, but that's just me.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Maybe good point, I guess I will spray when it stops raining, I hope any time soon:-) Many thanks

[Carpe Diem]

Sorry to read about your drowning orchids! Wish I had a solution.

[WhiteRabbit]

I don't know about this particular Cym species ... but most Cyms (in my experience, at least - I would think especially so in leca) are hard to over-water ... besides "wet" , how are the roots?

Can you not bring any inside for a while? Even too little light for a bit is not as bad as way too much water ...

[Leafmite]

I am so sorry about your experience! Ohio often has years like this with weeks on end of rain. This is why all my plants are either rootbound or in fast draining mediums that I make up myself. One of the problems with lots of rain is that calcium and other nutrients are washed away quickly so they often become stressed due to deficiencies, especially with inert mediums (or fast-draining soils). Adding plenty of extra calcium and fertilizing more often during periods of heavy rains goes a long way to helping orchids resisting disease. Just an idea. :|
In the painting section of big box stores, they have clear, lightweight, plastic dropcloths that are less noticable. I use these to cover my plants when it will be cold and windy. I weight the dropcloth down well so it doesn't move too much. This is the least obtrusive idea that comes to mind.
Good luck! As others have said, we all love your orchid collection and hope you find a solution to save them.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

I don't know about this particular Cym species ... but most Cyms (in my experience, at least - I would think especially so in leca) are hard to over-water ... besides "wet" , how are the roots?

Can you not bring any inside for a while? Even too little light for a bit is not as bad as way too much water ...

Many thanks to everyone, it is very nice to hear all the nice words and advises. As for the rain, I just officially gave up, it stopped for some 2 hours in the afternoon and now it is raining again, this was partly cloudy with 20% chance, so I ca only imagine what tomorrow and Monday will be when forecast says rain and wind. I did cover what is mounted and I could not move, I did move everything to inner balcony section close to balcony glass doors, I did move the most suffering inside, and that is it, I can't go crazy, the whole day, and week. Whatever happens happens, I hope I wont loose much, but who knows, if this is not stopping I feel like I can't win this bottle against nature anyway.
Leafmite - thanks for calcium tip, once it is not soaking wet I will provide MagiCal to them, so they will get some boost.
WhiteRabbit - it is Cymbidium aloifolium, I did dry the roots, and than soaked in KLN, they look ok, not all lost, they were probably looking just too wet when I took it out, but I am sure if I left it as it was for next few days it would be worse. Any tip for good mix for this Cymbidium once I will pot it again???, I am leaving it bare root for now.

[peeweelovesbooks]

Tommy, what sorts of problems are you having? I live in Miami and it hasn't stopped raining but none of my plants are having any problems.

do you pot in clay and in LECA? Or are you using something else? I tired LECA/TREEFERN and it didn't go well for me at all. So, for me, it's straight LECA with river rocks and clay pots or 2) mounts or 3) slat baskets.

I check daily and I'm not having issues. YET.