New plants arrival with mold - what to do asap

[christoph0315]

Hey ,
Just received a shipment of 20 phaleanopsis from Taiwan and some of them have black mold (as it looks to me) they came moist with spaghnum moss wrapped in newspapers

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Any asap advises? I brushed the leaves under running water but didn't put more water on the moss.

Thanks a lot

[Keysguy]

I thought they could only be imported bare root?

You can't wipe that off with a damp cloth? If not, It's probably not mold.

[estación seca]

The rules changed and importing in sphagnum is permissible.

I would clean them with rubbing alcohol and watch them. I would be concerned about mealybugs. I would hope this is not likely from a commercial grower, but mealybugs can cause black spots like that.

[christoph0315]

Its definitely mold. I was able to wash it of and will give them some dry airy time. Was thinking about the alcohol as well but that would mean I most likely would than go and repot. Stupid circumstances, I'm going today on a trip for 3 weeks and my caretaker is not experienced. Worst case is, I have him to bring them to the local nursery. Thats why I was asking for any further advises.

[Keysguy]

I'd just make sure you keep a really good air flow over them. You can't really have too much.

[aliceinwl]

It looks like black mold on leaking sap. Many of my Phalaenopsis seem to leak sap when there’s a mealy bug somewhere but some just leak it. A wipe down with a damp paper towel and a careful check for mealy bugs solves the issue for me. The mold feeds on the sugar in sap so it disappears after a clean up. Good air circulation will also limit its recurrence.

[Leafmite]

I second what ES says...I would clean the leaves off very well with Isopropyl alcohol. It is too bad you cannot watch them. If you do drop them off some place, do warn the place that there might be some kind of infection/infestation so they can isolate the plants.

[estación seca]

I would keep them very warm, and in the lower part of the acceptable humidity range. Round-flowered pink/white type hybrids easily tolerate 30% humidity. The starry-shaped flowering hybrids with lighter green leaves probably shouldn't go below 50%.

[Ray]

For your trip, I would water them thoroughly, and place them in an enclosure that will contain some humidity - a plastic storage container with plastic wrap covering most of the top (not all) will suffice.

Not only will that protect the plants, it makes a good “quarantine ward” away from other plants to see if they are carrying any hitchhikers.