White mold on Phal bark/roots

[judiwa]

I have had a noid yellow Phal for 6 years or so that I like very much. I tried to turn over a new leaf and water more and provide more humidity for my plants this year but now I have white mold (snow mold? ) in the bark. I can't get any new bark until tomorrow so will nurse the plant along until then but was wondering if there is a home remedy to disinfect the roots? I read you can use 10% bleach solution? I can buy a fungicide tomorrow as well but do not know which one and would rather use something cheap for only one plant (unless my zygo also has it) I also read you can just let the plant dry out more which is what I have done in the past when I got a bit but I thought there was too much to let go.

I guess I will be going back to go back to my old wicked ways and let them dry out more. I thought the air circulation was adequate but I guess not.

Also I knocked the plant off the shelf a couple of weeks ago (no mold then) and the tiny, embryonic bud on the tip of the persistent spike broke off, will it branch or should I just cut it off?

Thanks for any suggestions.
judi

[rbarata]

...but now I have white mold (snow mold? ) in the bark.

Are you sure it's mold? A photo would be very helpful.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by judiwa

( I can't get any new bark until tomorrow so will nurse the plant along until then but was wondering if there is a home remedy to disinfect the roots? I read you can use 10% bleach solution? I can buy a fungicide tomorrow as well but do not know which one and would rather use something cheap for only one plant (unless my zygo also has it) I also read you can just let the plant dry out more which is what I have done in the past when I got a bit but I thought there was too much to let go.

I guess I will be going back to go back to my old wicked ways and let them dry out more. I thought the air circulation was adequate but I guess not.

Also I knocked the plant off the shelf a couple of weeks ago (no mold then) and the tiny, embryonic bud on the tip of the persistent spike broke off, will it branch or should I just cut it off?

Thanks for any suggestions.
judi

Don't use bleach (or peroxide or cinnamon) on the roots. Physan is a good fungicide and pretty non-toxic to plants. But you're much better off just repotting in fresh bark, and letting the plant go nearly dry before watering again. The mold in the bark won't hurt anything, any on the roots will clear up when they're allowed to dry out (which is what they want to do anyway... Phalaenopsis plants have evolved living on trees where they get rained on and then dry out)
As for the broken bud, leave the spike - it is very likely to to send out a branch that will bloom. Just be patient.

[judiwa]

Thank you, that is what I will do then. Sorry I have no photo but I am sure its mold, it looks like pictures I have seen and even has a few threadlike filaments starting to grow, plus it smells like a mushroom farm.

[rbarata]

Sorry I have no photo but I am sure its mold, it looks like pictures I have seen and even has a few threadlike filaments starting to grow, plus it smells like a mushroom farm.

When I read about white mold the word mealybug comes immediately to my mind but, as far as I know, they don't smell.

[Roberta]

Mycelium ...Mycelium - Wikipedia
Harmless, unaesthetic, and also indicative of an unhealthily moist environment. Only necessary treatment is repotting and not letting the bark stay soggy.

[judiwa]

Nope, not mealy bugs, I used to grow a lot of cactus and I know what those nasty little things look like.

Yes, hyphae,I knew that's what it was but couldn't think of the word, it looks just like the top photo in the link. I live in a dry desert-like climate and its been hot and my ferns are not happy so I tried to raise the humidity and didn't pay any attention to air circulation. Thanks for the advice, I'm happy I don't have to go through a lot of treatment with fungicides.

judi

[xiphius]

Just out of curiosity Roberta, why the recommendation to not use peroxide at the roots (I get the argument against bleach and cinnamon)? I have flushed problematic pots with "drugstore grade" (a.k.a. 3% hydrogen peroxide) before and none of them have seemed to mind. I suppose this could be genera specific though (I have done this to both paphs and phals).

In the past, I have watered with it and then let it sit and fizz for 20-30 minutes before flushing the pot. I have never seen a negative impact from doing this and I have actually seen it help in cases where root rot is starting to set in.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by xiphius

Just out of curiosity Roberta, why the recommendation to not use peroxide at the roots (I get the argument against bleach and cinnamon)? I have flushed problematic pots with "drugstore grade" (a.k.a. 3% hydrogen peroxide) before and none of them have seemed to mind. I suppose this could be genera specific though (I have done this to both paphs and phals).

In the past, I have watered with it and then let it sit and fizz for 20-30 minutes before flushing the pot. I have never seen a negative impact from doing this and I have actually seen it help in cases where root rot is starting to set in.

If it helps and you do see root rot cure, perhaps it is OK. Those roots are tender, and I would have concern that the tissue it removes when it fizzes could include hairs at the growing tips of roots as well as stuff that you do want to get rid of. (That;s what the fizzing is... the oxidation of organic matter) I use Physan as a fungicide... it does seem to have very low toxicity for plants bigger than algae. However, I try to use as little of anything as possible... fresh media cures a lot of ills.

[xiphius]

I get that the fizzing is killing stuff. It may damage some root hairs, but then, so does repotting .

1-3% peroxide is pretty gentle, but both paph and phal roots are pretty thick and sturdy (I can't really speak to using peroxide on anything outside of paphs or phals, so I suppose genera with really sensitive roots might get damaged).

Personally, I am extremely wary of any copper fungicides (I've had some bad experiences in the past). I also try to not use more of anything other than water than I need too and definitely agree that repotting before the mix gets stale or too wet is the best solution But I wouldn't completely rule out peroxide if you see mold in your pots and can't or don't want to repot. Better to nip it in the bud before it gets to your plant imo.