Phalaenopsis: Stakes developed white fungus at compost level

[Susie11]

Hi Everyone,
Yesterday I bought a beautiful Phal. and it has three lovely spikes. I fed it when I got it home because it looked dry. Today I was admiring it and to my horror, I have noticed that there are strange white fungal? marks on the stakes where they meet the compost. I have included some photos so that you can see what I mean. If this is fungus what do I do next - throw the plant away? I hope not. I have isolated it so as not to contaminate the rest of my collection which is small but steadily growing.

[Val]

This happened to me several times. I don't think it's a real problem.
I believe the plant just needs a better ventilation. It probably comes from an environment with higher humidity and ventilation.

[Susie11]

So no need to panic then? Well that is good news I can stop worrying now. Thanks Val have a nice day.

[Val]

I think a light spray with Physan20 (or other anti-fungal) solution would be beneficial.

[silken]

Hopefully it isn't sitting in water. I see it is in 2 pots.

[Susie11]

My Orchid is not sitting in any water. I did let it drain away after I fed it and then poured the excess away. So it is a fungal infection then, I will get some of that spray you mentioned Val. I take delivery of a phrag. caudatum/wallisii at the end of the month and I can't risk anything infecting that! Many thanks guys.

[Oscarman]

My guess - not fungal. More likely it is from moisture being drawn up the bamboo/wood stakes and then evaporating, leaving white mineral deposits.

Your plant looks happy and healthy

[zxyqu]

Oscarman hit it spot on. It's most likely just evaporated water leaving behind mineral salts on the bamboo skewer. Plant should be just fine, and the blooms look great as well!

[Susie11]

That is so good to hear. I am smiling again. I actually thought that the plant pot on the outside might have infected it. I used to have a Zygopetalum and it caught a fungal infection (spots on the leaves and crippled growth) and I used the same pot holder that I had used for that. But I did meticulously disinfect the pot before I placed it in it inside. So thank God for that!
I bought the plant yesterday from a road side seller! I thought that was why it might have caught an infection but that doesn't seem to be the case so thank you everyone for your help.

[Gage]

I have noticed a white fungus of sorts develop whenever I use the skewer method and leave them in the pots. I know it's not minerals/salts because it's kind of fuzzy. I guess my bamboo skewers must harbor mold for some reason. I just spritz them with fungicide before putting them in the pots and that keeps it from getting mold/fungus.

However, from your pictures yours looks like mineral deposits. So no big deal.