Crown Rot, Leaf Rot, Root Rot???

[Jkelee]

Hi, again

I've heard it all, and asking for more good advise!! I have lots and lots of baby Catts, no taller than 5 in span. All are in Australian Gold Seedling media. About 6-10 a day are getting sick with yellow, browning, then black, and Falling off leafs.

I have them in a Green house with lots of moving air with many fans, and windows, and an exhause fan as well. I didn't have this problem until I put them in my green house about 1 month ago. I am losing my butt here

Plz help me out!!

Thank you!

[luckygrower]

Jkelee,
I also use Aussie Gold, but I use the medium grade for the orchids that I grow in it including seedlings as I believe the seedling mix holds to much moisture for orchids,even seedlings, that may be the problem. I only use the seedling mix for African violets.

[Ross]

The mix looks too wet. Cats really like to dry out between waterings (or at least not constantly wet.) I've had good success with thiomyl which is a systemic fungicide meant to treat rot. These are pretty far along. Good luck.

[quiltergal]

Those are way too wet. I'd repot the survivors in coarse bark. Catts really don't like having wet feet all the time. That's where the rot is coming from. You need something that drains well and quickly.

[Shirley]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Those are way too wet. I'd repot the survivors in coarse bark. Catts really don't like having wet feet all the time. That's where the rot is coming from. You need something that drains well and quickly.

Yes, I completely agree. I think you need to cut away the rot as best you can and give the plants a soak before you repot. Instructions I go by (off the internet) are: "Orchid Rot -- Remove compost from plant, then soak entire plant 10 minutes or more. Cut away all rot with treated tool. Soak plant wounds again for 10 minutes. Repot in PHYSAN 20 soaked compost. Use 1 tablespoon Physan 20 per gallon of water." Sounds like this could take up an awful lot of time if you have many, but maybe worth it. Good Luck!

Shirley

[Jkelee]

Thank you ALL for the good advice!! Tncluding You Jay. I only spent lots of $$ on Aussie Gold, as they advertise this; You cannot overwater Aussie Gold®! So I believed them and bought a boat load of seedling mix! As well as all the other mixes from them.

All was working great when I had them in the Aussie for the first 2-3 months when they we on my covered open air patio/porch. But when I put them all in my Green house, all went to crap.

I just recently got all that Air movement I mentioned, with 4 fans moving all over. Do you think that maybe my dumb butt got this problem because I didn't have the AIR Moving when I put them all in there??

For about 3-4 weeks they were without fans, just had 3 open windows at all times, and the exhaust fan blowing.

I hate to blame this on Aussie Gold, and have to Repot hundreds... As they DO dry out, and don't water again until my moisture reader says too. Down to the 0-1 reading.

So do you all think I was just the stupid one and didn't have enough air moving around for them??

And now that I have the air flying correctly, I still need to use Thiomyl (which I'll get). Correct, just to get rid of all the remaining Rot?? I have Physan 20, just didn't know if I should you both of these products?

I hope that the air moving and the Thiomyl will do the trick?? I hate to waste so much $$ and time in re-potting.

Plz let me know if my "lack of Air" lead to this problem. And if my "plenty of Air" will help, along with the Thiomyl.


Thanks soooooo very much!!

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Jkelee

And now that I have the air flying correctly, I still need to use Thiomyl (which I'll get). Correct, just to get rid of all the remaining Rot?? I have Physan 20, just didn't know if I should you both of these products?

I hope that the air moving and the Thiomyl will do the trick?? I hate to waste so much $$ and time in re-potting.

Plz let me know if my "lack of Air" lead to this problem. And if my "plenty of Air" will help, along with the Thiomyl.

Couple things: according to the label Physan 20 is not for rot. This comment is for those recommending it. The label says "Spray anytime disease other than rot is evident".

Second, Thiomyl is great as a systemic rot curative. But the caviate is that it doesn't mean you can continue to keep a plant wetter than it likes. I use it on those rare occasions that a rot spot errupts on a leaf and I want to be sure to get the source.

Several here have suggested you repot into a coarser medium for cats. I agree. Air is the thing. You can use any coarse material including styrofoam peanuts. The pseudobulbs will store the fertilizer nutrients you provide, as long as you provide them regularly and in a dose they can absorb. Get rid of the rot that has already occured. Cut off the rotted roots and other plant parts. Dust the open cuts with cinnamon or spray with Physan 20 and let dry (if you have flowers of sulphur, or Captan, that will work as well).

[Lagoon]

Yes your right, it is a seedling mix, which is part of the problem - Its small in grade and less in air. The larger grade of aussie gold might have worked better. Don't believe in the "you can't over water in this mix"
Its such a marketing lie

Don't feel bad!

I know you hate to hear this, But I would indeed repot everything in this seedling mix. Catts need a larger more open breathable mix.
To me, Its better to dump that mix then to dump your wonderful orchids.

Supt to you in the end

[Jkelee]

Ok, I guess I will re-pot then. But just for the note, I do have 2-3 Large peanuts in the bottom of every pot. In the pics that those of you say its "too wet", Well I just watered them before taking some of those pictures.

If Seedling mix is NO GOOD for seedlings, then why do they make and sell so many different mixes of it? I just was following the rules of using a seedling mix for baby Orchids.

For Catts no larger than 5" spans, what is the correct size of bark to use, Fine or Medium? And what KIND of bark is best for small Catts?? Fir or Coconut? I have every kind, as I've used them all... endling up with Aussie, thinking that was the best.

I just bought the Thiomyl. So hopefull that will stop the rot as well.


thanks!

[Sandy4453]

I don't know anything about Aussie Gold but the mix does look like it's retaining too much moisture for these Catts. BUT, I'd be 'willing to bet the farm' that this is a bacterial infection on your plants, maybe, maybe not caused by too much of the moisture getting trapped. The plants should be quarantined from the healthy ones, all rot cut away, cleaned with Physan 20 (all pots submerged as well, in new medium), hydrogen peroxide and cinammon then left in low light, no water (except for Physon cleaning every 3 days). Physan 20 is excellent for fungus and bacterial infections. Don't worry about watering so long as the Physan is diluted in the water. It will guard against the spread of potentially new bacteria therefore defeating what water alone can cause.

I would remove everything from your GH and do a thorough disinfecting before moving them back in.

I am going through fighting a bacterial infection on a Phal of mine, not crown rot but worse because of the looming threat of what else can be lost. This spreads....

Best of luck and please keep posting your progress.

P.S. Dyna-Rok is outstanding for potting Catts in.