New growth on cattleya is black...what's going on?

[HighSeas]

I recently read a paper written by Sue Bottom who now puts Vodka 0.6 tsp./Gal on her orchids. Apparently alcohol increases the absorbency at the roots. This would probably be a good time to give that a shot while you're dosing them with Calcium.

According to her trials with this, it made a significant difference in their growth and flowering.

I think I'll try it myself.

[boisemomma]

So.....how much powdered milk to a gallon? What does a goldfish pond do for the orchids?...I have a koi pond...can one add crushed egg shells to all the orchid planting mix before repotting or should you just top dress?

---------- Post added at 09:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:17 PM ----------

Vodka!....now you're talking my language!

[RandomGemini]

You can water the plants with water from your pond. It's supposed to be good for them.

[Leafmite]

Goldfish and Koi are wonderful at providing nitrates and other nutrients for plants. I was also adding fertilizer tablets for the two lotus and lilies. So, when I was watering my orchids and other plants with this, they were really happy. Then I broke down my pond and began watering with rain water with orchid fertilizer added. I just assumed that a fertilizer advertised for orchids would have everything they needed, like the fertilizers for my other plants. Sigh.
I use red lava rock as a medium for my cattleyas so I just put the eggshells among the rock, not broken too much. I tried oyster shell but it went right through the rock. Eggshell doesn't work immediately (it must begin to decompose) but, later, provides a slow, steady release. As for the powdered milk, I add about a spoonful. Hope this helps. I've been doing this for the past three years and haven't had any trouble since.

[boisemomma]

Thanks so much! That's all very informative and I will do just that! I love this site!

[Nexogen]

Originally Posted by boisemomma

My Pot.Eye Candy is getting new growth but some of the new growth is totally black..my other cattleya's are not doing this..I do spray with a fungicide monthly..hope someone can help me figure this out..see pictures..

Is a physiological disorder, not a disease. Cut all the affected tissue, leaving the damaged leaf could serve as an entry point for disease. Do not use fungicides, if your plants develop calcium deficiencies, spray them with a calcium solution. Some varieties of Cattleya tend to be more sensitive to calcium deficiency.

[kindrag23]

Originally Posted by tucker85

It looks like Black Rot. Cut all the affected tissue off below all the black and with a margin of green. Give the plant plenty of calcium when it's putting on new growth.

I agree my 1st 2 did this. And they were dead less 6 weeks. And thats with them being completely seperated.

[james mickelso]

Black rot. Plain and simple. Cool growing conditions with high humidity. Calcium deficiency is just part of the problem. This happens from time to time. Just like Tucker says, cut off all the black necrotic tissue down and below the green living tissue. Dab some powdered cinnamon on the wound. Get a systemic fungicide and start using it. Let your plant dry out completely before watering it again. Also good air movement around the plant will decrease the reoccurrence of this bad guy. This new growth is toast but it will produce a new growth from the stump.