Lepanthes leaf rot? eaten?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

It's not a cultural problem you have. You know how to grow them. I wouldn't be telling you anything you didn't already know about cultivation requirements.

You have a pest problem. I've heard of people using beer or potatoes as bait. I've also heard of people using coffee grinds. I'm not too familiar with these tactics. I normally see the buggers with a jeweler's loupe, pick them off with a pair of tissue forceps and kill them.

If you're able to dismount the orchid and re-mount them onto fresh mounts with fresh media, that could help too. Otherwise be diligent.

---------- Post added at 12:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 PM ----------

If you like, here're their cultural requirements:

Bright shade.

Moderate to high humidity (70% - 100%).

Use low TDS water, rainwater, or RO/DI water.

Very, very diffuse fertilizer once every 2 - 3 weeks.

Intermediate to warm (55 F - 95 F).

Grow mounted.

Moderate air circulation.

Do not dry out completely. They like it consistently moist. Only allow to dry out to dampness and then water again. Be careful not to overwater.

They grow fast, like I'm sure you know.

All this is repeat stuff if you've grown Lepanthes telipogoniflora successfully before. But like I said, if you want to check against someone else's advice, then here it is.

---------- Post added at 12:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:38 PM ----------

You could also try soaking the mounts in water for a few hours to see if the snails crawl out because they need to catch air, idk.

[vraev]

Thanks for your advice Philip. Seriously, everything is appreciated. I honestly did nothing special back then. It stayed small while potted in the pot, so I put some sphagnum on a cork piece, put the lepanthes...tied it up..added some live sphagnum and that was it. Later on, I removed the live sphag, but other sheet moss started covering it..but the lepanthes grew fine. At that time it was growing in a 3' tall tank at 1.5' height below the lights (4 x T5 + 2 x T8). That would give it some good warmth...whereas now in my new tank, the lights are LEDs... so not much heat, only 5-8" under the lights and just cold mostly for my highland nepenthes. I also used to use a humidifier at night only to turn it into a fog forest..but haven't done that with the new smaller tank.

I think I'll do what you said... remove it from the mount...re mount it on a new mount.

BTW...do u use sphagnum on the mount? is it only directly at the wood level, then plant on top and tie? exposing the roots? or do u also put moss on top of the roots before tying the plant?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Personally, if the mount is either cork, some other type of wood that is safe for orchid use, or tree fern plaques or poles that have lots of holes, I cover the entire mount with moss that is only 1 layer thick, then I place the orchid with root on top of the moss.

[vraev]

Thanks for your advice Philip.

cheers

V

[vraev]

The problem continues ... noticed another leaf getting eaten. Notice the layers of the leaf eaten away.



Trying to do the drowning method.









any idea of how long I should leave it in there?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Probably no more than a few hours.

[vraev]

Thanks Philip. Left it in there for atleast 10h. No snails floating at the top. ..I know they are there...I picked out two small ones from the same mount a week ago. Since then haven't seen any.

[orchids44]

I hate bush snails, so much destruction in a little thing. I have had luck with Diamatatous Earth. Wear gloves when using. Sprinkle some on the media, make sure it stays dry. The snail crawls across it and causes their shell damage leading to dehydration and death. You will see the dead snails, shriveled up and very dry!
Hang in there.