Suggestions to help prevent fungal nonsense?

[uwodahikamama]

I am pretty sure I’m dealing with a fungus. I’ve also seen fungus gnats a few times I believe. I saw some mold in a pot of a rescue Cattleya that I repotted (and had used peroxide on). I noticed in one of my rooms where I keep my Phals that a few of them had yellow round pale dots. Not good.
I look at them often so I think it’s recent. But given that it’s on several of them I want to move quickly.
So I ordered Physan 20. It had great reviews.
Does anyone use it regularly as a preventative? What sort of dosage/schedule do you use for that?
My biggest question is how to prevent this from happening again. My temps don’t go higher than around 78 during the day and go down to around 64-65 at night. I have my humidity levels set to 60% though sometimes this summer it can get into the upper 60% depending on the weather outside.
I have a small fan that blows constantly every day, and an air conditioner that pumps at night.
Is my humidity too high? Should I keep my temps a little lower? Do I need a bigger fan? I don’t always have the fan on high, sometimes it was on low on cooler days, maybe even a day or 2 it was off. Only because I thought it might keep the temps from getting too cool during the day and because I read that you don’t need much for it to circulate the air.
I can keep it on high every day though if that’s an issue.
I really thought my care was on point!

[Ray]

Fungi are ubiquitous in the environment.

Physan 27 is a topical disinfectant. It will help keep the population at bay in the surroundings, but won’t affect an infection.

Over the last decade, I have regularly applied a plant probiotic. Here is an article about their functionality.

The quality ones contain a wide variety of microbes that predate pathogens, secrete antibiotics, and can stimulate growth. The one I am using now (and sell) also contains bacteria that photosynthesize and fix nitrogen, meaning that they can produce fuel and fertilizer from right within the plant. My plants simply don’t get infections.

If you go the probiotic route, you cannot use disinfectants, and they will kill the microbes.

[uwodahikamama]

Originally Posted by Ray

Fungi are ubiquitous in the environment.

Physan 27 is a topical disinfectant. It will help keep the population at bay in the surroundings, but won’t affect an infection.

Over the last decade, I have regularly applied a plant probiotic. Here is an article about their functionality.

The quality ones contain a wide variety of microbes that predate pathogens, secrete antibiotics, and can stimulate growth. The one I am using now (and sell) also contains bacteria that photosynthesize and fix nitrogen, meaning that they can produce fuel and fertilizer from right within the plant. My plants simply don’t get infections.

If you go the probiotic route, you cannot use disinfectants, and they will kill the microbes.

Ooooohh that sounds good! It’s on your website for sale?
You never have any infections? That’s super impressive because I know you have lots more plants than I do!
Will applying it now that I have one stop it altogether or do I need to kill the fungus first then apply once it’s clear as a preventative?

[estación seca]

The photo doesn't look like a fungus problem to me.
Fungal infections aren't common in Phals kept in the home unless they are very warm and very humid, or are too cold and wet.

[uwodahikamama]

Originally Posted by estación seca

The photo doesn't look like a fungus problem to me.
Fungal infections aren't common in Phals kept in the home unless they are very warm and very humid, or are too cold and wet.

It’s gotten up to almost 80 degrees during the day and around 65 at night. They’re right by my humidifier.
What does it look like? So far it’s just a few Phals but I need to get it under control.

Oh I also soak them in a pot for 10-15min when I notice they are thirsty. Could the cold temps at night when they’re still damp have any effect?

[Ray]

80 degrees is only “moderate” for phals. They love hot, humid, and shady. Cold and wet is to be avoided, but that would more likely cause root issues.

The regular use of probiotics is a good way of preventing all sorts of issues, but I do not know if it will address your concerns.

(By the way, while I may have had upwards of a thousand plants in PA, I moved to NC with 12, and now am up to about 30.)

[uwodahikamama]

Originally Posted by Ray

80 degrees is only “moderate” for phals. They love hot, humid, and shady. Cold and wet is to be avoided, but that would more likely cause root issues.

The regular use of probiotics is a good way of preventing all sorts of issues, but I do not know if it will address your concerns.

(By the way, while I may have had upwards of a thousand plants in PA, I moved to NC with 12, and now am up to about 30.)

I thought my temps were ok, only thing I could come up with is underestimating the amount of airflow needed.
Maybe I’ll try spraying them with a fungicide/bacteriacide then flushing the pots before I add probiotics.
Very frustrating!

[estación seca]

Fungicide will kill many of the probiotic organisms. You can't flush it all out. The idea of prophylactic spraying for disease has been discredited; it kills beneficial organisms that keep the fungi under control, and selects for pathogens resistant to the fungicides used. These are the same reasons the general human population should not routinely take antibiotics to prevent infections.

Windowsill growers will only rarely need fungicides. The only pathogen issues I've had have been Phalaenopsis crown rot in plants I kept too cool in winter, and Erwinia in Phals that were too hot and humid when I couldn't get into my growing area for several weeks. I successfully treated the survivors with hydrogen peroxide in the crown, not on the roots.

[uwodahikamama]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Fungicide will kill many of the probiotic organisms. You can't flush it all out. The idea of prophylactic spraying for disease has been discredited; it kills beneficial organisms that keep the fungi under control, and selects for pathogens resistant to the fungicides used. These are the same reasons the general human population should not routinely take antibiotics to prevent infections.

Windowsill growers will only rarely need fungicides. The only pathogen issues I've had have been Phalaenopsis crown rot in plants I kept too cool in winter, and Erwinia in Phals that were too hot and humid when I couldn't get into my growing area for several weeks. I successfully treated the survivors with hydrogen peroxide in the crown, not on the roots.

Do you think I should use probiotics to treat this instead? I’m not sure what to do about it, but I can’t afford to have it spread.

[estación seca]

I don't know what is causing it. Could you try to post better photos?

I think in general probiotics are a good idea. The State Highway Department uses them on all freeway plantings here.