Dendrobium nobile with aggressive soaking brown rot on new leaf tips
Hello everyone, first post and two-month newbie.
I recently got my first non-phal, a Dendrobium Wave King “Akebono.” It seemed to be doing well except for one mature mealybug and some black/brown speckles, with a steadily growing new shoot and roots. Then nursery had potted it well in a slotted clear plot and small bark/perlite mix.
This orchid lives close to a partially shaded southwest window getting a few hours of direct sunlight. Temps indoors are 68-78F right now, and humidity 35-40%. I water every few days when the oldest psb starts looking a bit shriveled, alternating between tap/RO water and quarter strength MiracleGrow Orchid Food + quarter strength Superthrive.
I’m still in the honeymoon stage with orchids so I inspect them several times a day when I’m at home, which was most of the last week. Thursday, I noticed that the largest leaf on the new growth looked like it had a waterlogged brown tip, and frantic googling told me it was probably bacterial soft rot. (Photo 1) I excised it with alcohol sterilized scissors and a ~5mm margin, then dusted ground cinnamon.
Saturday, I noticed the middle of the cut appeared to be getting waterlogged again, so I cut it this time 1cm past the visible damage. (Red line in photo 2 approximates extent.)
I looked over the orchid this morning and it seemed fine, then went out for the day.
Came back to another leaf tip with a circular waterlogged brown spot 1cm deep. (Photo 3) I actually have a pic of it the day before looking fine (left most leaf on photo 2). Cut that one with the same treatment as last time. I’m going to run out of new leaf at this rate! (Photo 4).
Am I doing something wrong to increase its susceptibility? Can I do something more to prevent this?
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