Fusarium is NOT friendly!

[Gage]

So I bought a top cutting of Vanda Lauren Gardiner (cristata x tessellata) a couple of months ago with a few good roots. It soon started putting out new roots, one of which started collapsing on itself a few weeks ago. I should have immediately cut off the damaged end of the root, but I left it thinking that the supposed thrips damage wouldn't hurt the plant. Regardless of whether thrips started the work or not, the almost unrelenting rains we have had over the past few weeks certainly gave the Fusarium a good start. Yesterday when I decided to clip off the dead/dying root, to my horror I found the dreaded purple ring, indicative of Fusarium. Fusarium is a fungus that attacks the roots of many genera of orchids, but can be particularly nasty with Vandaceous orchids. When you find a root infected with Fusarium, you have to cut back until there is no more purple showing, and sterilize your blade or use a fresh blade between cuts. In this case, the infection had traveled into the main stem. So I had to cut the stem above the infection, which also removed all of my good long roots. Now all that is left is 2 new roots about 1.5" long each. At least I have that. And I did fertilize it well including a heavy dose of seaweed many hours before removing the long roots, so hopefully that gave it a boost to grow new roots. This morning I gave my whole collection a good soaking with Physan 20 and dish soap, and hopefully the Physan will deter the infections that I know our rains are inviting. If this Vanda doesn't make it, at least it wasn't expensive, and I can always go back to Motes Orchids and get another division from the original plant. Se la vie.

[WhiteRabbit]

Dang - sorry to hear that Let us know how it goes

[Gage]

Thanks, will do.