Ptychogaster or Snow Mold

[JennS]

Well the strange part about this particular experience is that this 'chid never was in bark. It never even lived outdoors. It came in a pot with spag and I just repotted it recently. I kept it in spag and then when I looked at it a couple weeks later because the spag was staying so wet, it had the snow mold. It is so strange that is growing all over the mulch too (well underneath the top most layer).

I am happy (well not completely happy) to repot. I do have a few that did not get repotted for one reason or another. I just want to see before I do that, about treating the area (the mulch) for the snow mold and about treating the roots. Listerine sounds good, so I will try that but any other advice about the mulch? Should I just rake it all away, dispose of it, and put fresh much down? Could i possibly just spray the mulch really good with something? Or do I need to remove the mulch and spray with something on the dirt? The 'chids are currently on boards that are set above the ground a few inches. I don't know if they actually "get" the snow mold, but I would like to eliminate as much of it as possible.

I will get a new pic of the stuff that just came up out of nowhere and post it later.

[JennS]

Oh, and thank you for the reply!

[Snowden]

I've had snow mold attack my Aliceara not once, but twice. I don't think I got it all the first time; Aliceara has very fine roots. Not to alarm you, but it almost killed my plant. It took a long time for it to recover, but it is now doing fine.

1. Spread newspaper over your work area.
2. Remove ALL the old medium from the roots and clean the roots as much as possible.
3. Remove and dispose of everything (old pot, medium, and newspaper) and wash your hands.
4. Drench the plant and soak the roots in Physan solution.
5. Repot using new medium and a new clean pot.
6. Mix up more Physan solution and dunk the newly potted plant in it.
7. Use Physan on and sterilize any tools used in the process.

Hope this helps.

[BellaA]

Hi Jenn, hope this helps!
I had white fluff growing around the base of my aggregatum. When I removed it and inspected the roots they were affected too. I re-potted it using extra charcoal and watered with a very diluted solution of neem.
I also sprayed/wiped the outside of the pot with 409. It seems to be doing fine now, but I still use the 409 bi- weekly.

[JennS]

Yes, I have been very worried as I have heard that it can kill the orchid because it does not allow the roots to get any moisture/water. I am glad that I checked on this particular orchid because it was just recently repotted and I wouldn't have looked at it for a year or so! By then it would have been long gone.

I just ordered some Physan. I thought I had need oil, but couldn't find it at home, so I decided to just get this stuff since I hear so much about it.

I will go ahead and repot again after the Physan arrives. I will also check all the other 'chids and get rid of the mulch, try to soak the area with some physan treated water and then leave it mulch free for awhile to let it dry out. Then I will re-mulch the area. I am thinking that with the layers upon layers of mulch and all of the rain we have been getting it does not dry out and then keeps the mold living. I want it all gone! First thing though, fix up the orchids.

Thank you everyone for your help!

[cb977]

Good luck, Jenn...keep us informed

[susiep]

Jenn, thanks for bringing this to my attention! I have never seen this on my orchids or potted plants, but I have seen it in the yard in the landscape mulch many times. Usually when the mulch is very deep and stays wet (like recently with all the rain). I don't mulch really thick like that, but my neighbor does and he always has that white stuff in his shrubbery mulch. The bad thing is it is only about 25 feet away from my orchid house! Another thing to worry about .

[JennS]

I wouldn't get too scared, because I believe my orchids got this from sitting directly on the mulch for a few days. I was out of town and the bench they were on just happened to rot out (not hard to imagine why with the thick mulch) and my mom just picked them up off their sides and set them down on the mulch. I didn't get to them for a couple days when I returned and I think that is how it started. If it is 25 feet away, I doubt it could spread to your orchid house, but as always, keep a close eye!

Thank you to everyone for all of your help. I have supplies on order and will attack the repotting and getting rid of the old mulch this weekend. Luckily I like yard work so it shouldn't be too bad. Hopefull it won't be too hot this weekend!

[caseydoll]

I've never seen anything like that before. I learn something new everyday! I wanted to add that your outdoor growing area may benefit from being sprayed down with Physan too. Just in case there are some nasty spores or something waiting around. I know a few people on here disinfect their greenhouses with it. I'll look forward to the updates.

[susiep]

Jenn, "not too hot this weekend?" Are you kidding? It will be too hot for yard work until November You are probably right about the distance from the moldy mulch to my orchids. I have seen mold grow in my pots on the snail pellets when they get wet. I usually just spray them with alcohol. This snow mold is different, but it probably wouldn't like the alcohol either! with getting it under control (all this rain sure isn't helping).