Hmmm....what is going on with my Aeranthes? - Orchid Board

Becca · #1 03-09-2008, 12:41 AM

Here is a photo I took today of my Aeranthes ramosa, I noticed the dark spots on the leaf yesterday....some on the top, including the largest spot, and a few small spots at the base of the leaf....it is only this leaf that has the problem....it lives in my orchidarium with all the other 'chids and I haven't had any other problems. Any ideas? I did bump up the level it was sitting at for light about a week ago but nothing major, and like I said that was a week ago...so I don't think it is a burn. I put some Dragon's Blood on the areas hoping to stop any bacterial problems from spreading in case that is what it is. I can't tell if the dark spots are spreading or not...it looks as though it may have gotten bigger but I could have imagined it...lol. I am tempted to cut part of the leaf off! Not the best pictures...sorry! Oh and the redish streaks going down the leaf is some of the Dragon's Blood.

FinnBar · #2 03-09-2008, 08:12 AM

Hi Becca,

unless the burn could've come from heat i agree, the lights aren't the cause.
that looks pretty nasty. is the dark area soft or wet feeling as in a bacterial rot/infection?
I'm not familiar with Dragon's blood but I've had good results with isopropyl alcohol.
if the dark area spreads towards the crown i wouldn't hesitate cutting it off.

Ross · #3 03-09-2008, 12:16 PM

If it is rot, I would water it real well with Thiomyl solution. That's a systemic meant to cure rot. Then figure out how it got started. Does water sit in the crown?

Becca · #4 03-09-2008, 01:16 PM

That is what I don't get....I haven't changed anything else other then the lighting a week ago, and it is only on one leaf. I haven't had any water sitting in the crown and I keep a close eye out for that with it and my phals and paphs since I have the misting system. Perhaps it is just bacterial.....

The Dragon's Blood is something that Steven (IdahoOrchid) recommended to me when I was having some crown rot problems or something like that. It is an extract of a plant...I can't remember where I purchased it from and I tried doing a search but I can't seem to find much....I will have to contact Steven again.

I guess I will just have to keep an eye on it and see if it spreads any more....it just seems so bizzare! I thought maybe it was attacked by a bug that sucked on it or something...lol....but I think it is safe to rule that one out...lol.

FinnBar · #5 03-09-2008, 03:04 PM

last fall two of my Aerangis came down with some kind of bacterial rot, also on one leaf only. started as wet looking spots which then got dark.
they caught a cool draft, thanks to two fans in the tank. (and i had the window ajar in the room...) fixed the positions and never happend again
i'm just thinking if something like that occurred while you moved it to the better lit spot..?

Ross · #6 03-09-2008, 03:16 PM

It does sort of look like rot. I have not experienced this yet with my Angraecoids, but did with Haeralla. The crown was damaged due to rot and it responded, after a liberal dose of Thiomyl, by sending out three new growth shoots! I think lots of problems come from fan location, cool drafts, etc. The plant in the photo looks pretty dark to me, darker than any of my plants. The lowest light in my tank, at the bottom under all the hanging plants, is still 600-700 foot-candles (6000-7000 lux). My Angraecoides are all positioned to receive a minimum of 1500 foot-candles (15000 lux).

FinnBar · #7 03-09-2008, 04:07 PM

and they've bloomed happily right?
actually,
i was getting pretty small and light green leaves and moved most of my Aerangis lower in the tank. after a few weeks mystacidii and citrata are both putting out two spikes. maybe the change triggered it, go figure.
they're now growing between 450-600fc and clearly, seem happy. i also have a noid Phal in bloom at 500fc with 18 flowers on two branched spikes.

Ross · #8 03-09-2008, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinnBar

and they've bloomed happily right?
actually,
i was getting pretty small and light green leaves and moved most of my Aerangis lower in the tank. after a few weeks mystacidii and citrata are both putting out two spikes. maybe the change triggered it, go figure.
they're now growing between 450-600fc and clearly, seem happy. i also have a noid Phal in bloom at 500fc with 18 flowers on two branched spikes.

How is it that yours like low light and mine like high light?

Dorothy · #9 03-09-2008, 05:21 PM

Becca - Is this the same Dragon's Blood ?

Dragon's Blood,A resin derived from the fruit of Calamus Draco,Dragon's Blood extract,5:1.Calamus Draco,Calamus gum,Willdenow extract,Daemonorops,Daemomorops draco,Sanguis Draconis.Narrative.MDidea Extracts Professional.

gmdiaz · #10 03-09-2008, 05:30 PM

Hiya Becca,

Can you wash that Dragon's Blood off and take a closer pic of the bad area. . .I am having trouble seeing what's what.

I am sure thinking it looks like a burn. . .

Sometimes if water is sitting on a leaf it magnifies the light and like a magnifying glass can cause a burn underneath. But I am just guessing. . .