Bad winter: Bacterial Issue?

[Lars Kurth]

It has been suggested, that this is Anthracnose. The yellowing of the leaf tip makes sense, but I can't find any information on how Anthracnose progresses and how fast it moves.

[Connie Star]

Originally Posted by BikerDoc5968

Lars, I would have to say Erwinia, also, as this devastated my Phals this past summer; I must have lost 30 to 40 plants to crown rot or just DEAD! As has been said previously it can rapidly destroy a plant. I tried Phyton 27 with NO effect! I sprayed Physan-20 mixed 1 1/2 times stronger than directed and sprayed EVERYWHERE! This slowed things down but you have to do it frequently. Removing affected parts is paramount. Using cinnamon seemed to work well. If you can find agricultural Streptmycin, this is the gold standard. Erwinia, not to get too scientific, is a gram negative bacteria and the Steptomycin is very effective in killing this type of organism. Also, Cipro which is readily available and cheap should work also, since it is very active against gram negative bacteria. Cipro is very soluble in water, especially if the water is warmed to about 120F (50C), then spray it everywhere. You may have to repeat the Physan or Cipro routine. Sorry to hear about your situation. I know also you have adequate air circulation because moisture promotes the growth of the bacteria. And like other types of infections, general spraying with water spreads the nasty stuff.

I'd be concerned about the medical and environmental effects of spraying an antibiotic, especially Cipro and especially if such use becomes widespread or indiscriminate- I've not heard of it being used on plants before but it makes sense as it is active against gram negative bacteria.

Is anthracnose a bacteria or a fungus.

[BikerDoc5968]

Anthracnose is a fungal disease that affects deciduous hard wood and ornamental shrubs and trees

[euplusia]

This winter is bad. Never before I have been asked by several persons here around in two weeks who bring plants with rot and ask what happened. I had a Laelia praestans mounted on cork for twenty years and growing happily. Suddenly starting from backbulbs a disease destroyed my plant. Maybe in November it was a bit dark. I don´t know what happened. I think of bacteriosis, I cut off all brown rhizome parts, placed the rest in pure clay pellets. So thanks for all suggested antibiotics.
I just come back from the greenhouse spraying 28 litres of Benomyl and Previcur (Fungicides). I give as much light and fresh air as possible.

[The Mutant]

Originally Posted by BikerDoc5968

Anthracnose is a fungal disease that affects deciduous hard wood and ornamental shrubs and trees

Seems like it can affect orchids too: Orchid Diseases (you'll have to scroll down a bit to find it).

[Lars Kurth]

This winter is bad. Never before I have been asked by several persons here around in two weeks who bring plants with rot and ask what happened.

It was unusually warm in Europe until January. In the past, I always found that the most difficult time for me is mid October - mid November, when it is still fairly warm, it is dark, humid and rains a lot. Leaves are decomposing, other plants are rotting and generally lots of germs are around. When I am not vigilant, I would end up having problems 4-6 weeks later. Of course this year, the temperatures have been similar to Oct-Nov weather for most of the winter.

I just come back from the greenhouse spraying 28 litres of Benomyl and Previcur (Fungicides). I give as much light and fresh air as possible.

Can you still get Benomyl in Germany? I thought it was taken off the market everywhere.

[euplusia]

They stopped selling Benomyl some five to eight years ago, in Switzerland later than in Germany. I rarely used it. Now I tidied up and rearranged my things and found some left over.

[Lars Kurth]

Well, I don't seem to be able to get things under control. I managed to get the thing which looked like bacterial issues under control, by watering significantly less and a regime of applying fungicides.

However now I seem to have different issues: root system like this http://www.orchidboard.com/community...root-loss.html

Roots start to go yellow first, then shrivel (they look like the one on the picture), then leaves are dropped rapidly and the plant dies. For vandaceous plants, the stem looks grey when cut through (not black, no purple rings). It is obviously not watering, because other plants which have get the same amount of water look perfectly healthy. Plants which look entirely healthy go from healthy to dead in about two weeks.