Phrag leaf rot: another - Orchid Board

JKeys · #1 03-24-2014, 10:47 PM

So I have several phrags. I dealt with rot on one of them, but not another is showing symptoms.

Although it is actively growing (one mature, one baby growth) and has the healthiest root system if all of my phrags, it had popped out a tiny part of a new leaf on the mature growth. This didn't grow for a while but now is yellowing a little.

Anyone have advice for how to handle this situation?

Thanks so much, help is greatly appreciated.

RosieC · #2 03-25-2014, 10:24 AM

dounoharm · #3 03-25-2014, 11:05 AM

maybe a bit cold? cold and wet is a recipe for rot....repot it, clean up the roots, and give it a rinse of peroxide, then pot it in clean media and keep it warm...a heating mat is good for this...ya'll been having some nasty weather up there, maybe it caught a draft? that's all I can think of, good luck!

JKeys · #4 03-25-2014, 06:41 PM

Ok, thanks

tuvoc · #5 03-26-2014, 02:08 PM

My 'Evening Blaze' did the same thing for years. I had about given up on it, when I read somewhere here on OB that over fertilizing could be the problem. I stopped feeding it altogether, and lo and behold, it put out two new growths that are perfectly healthy and about twice the size of the old ones. It's worth a try.

Kim

JKeys · #6 03-26-2014, 06:56 PM

Thanks Kim. I don't really feed them that much, but I will cut back and see what happens.

phraggy · #7 03-30-2014, 04:46 PM

I have about 40 phrags and they get fed just twice per year. I think they could manage with no feeding at all!!

Ed

RosieC · #8 04-01-2014, 07:15 AM

Interesting!

I feed mine more than that, though a lot less than my other orchids. What medium do you use Ed?

phraggy · #9 04-01-2014, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RosieC

Interesting!

I feed mine more than that, though a lot less than my other orchids. What medium do you use Ed?

Hi RosieC. I mainly use sphag plus a good helping of sponge rock but you can put phrags in anything you wish--even gravel -- and they'll adapt to it.

Ed

RosieC · #10 04-02-2014, 05:14 AM

Thanks, I was just wondering if some mediums had more natural nutrients in them (such as compost would) so needing less fertiliser).

I grow Phrags in Leca, usually S/H, so there is no fertiliser at all naturally there. I'm currently trying a weak solution of Akerne's Rain Mix (MSU equivalent) with every other watering. It's meant to be used weak with every watering for most orchids, but for Phrags I use it even weaker and not every time.