Mold ID and Solution

[hunterty10]

This mold has been attacking my cattleya bag babies recently and I can’t seem to get rid of it. Does anyone know what it is or how to be rid of it?

[camille1585]

Welcome to Orchidboard!

How is your humidity and airflow where the affected plants are growing? Can you tell us about your growing conditions in general?

[naturalistSean]

Looks like something I had on an Oncidium last year. It wasn't a problem and the plant is still very healthy. I saw your post on Reddit too but thought responding here is better. Did you recently repot from some other medium? I notice a decaying leaf. The mold may just be eating dead organic material. Here is the relevant thread on this site: Mold on almost blooming Oncidium bark and roots

[hunterty10]

[QUOTE=naturalistSean;994524]Looks like something I had on an Oncidium last year. It wasn't a problem and the plant is still very healthy. I saw your post on Reddit too but thought responding here is better. Did you recently repot from some other medium? I notice a decaying leaf. The mold may just be eating dead organic material.

So all the Cattleyas I bought were baggy babies and they were severely dehydrated, so I assume there wasn’t much issue with the conversion to inorganic media, and I made sure to remove all the old medium in the process. So I’m assuming, like your reply, that the old roots didn’t survive being ignored at the big box store and are now rotting.

Would you suggest reporting and removing dead roots and leaves or just letting it run it’s course? I understand catt’s are specifically finicky about repotting.

[estación seca]

Camille asked about growing conditions because mold like that tends to occur with high humidity, poor air circulation and temperatures too high or too low. It is likely if you increase air circulation it will go away.