need help - Orchid Board

ewbie · #1 12-07-2006, 02:11 AM

Hi! I don't know where to post this but I'll try it here.

This is my ailing paphio which I transferred from fir bark to s/h last Sunday. I rinsed the hydrocorn until the water is clear before planting. Yesterday, it was already like this.

Did I not water it well? There are 3 roots when I transferred it. Two days ago I checked for red mites and wiped water+soap. Yesterday there are a little of it and I sprayed again. Should I treat the hydrocorn before putting the plant?

I hope we could save this plant. Its a bellatulum

Thanks,

Ray · #2 12-07-2006, 06:27 AM

1) Semi-hydro is not a "savior". Starting with an ailing plant is not the best way to learn.

2) All inert media should be presoaked before use. The porosity of the individual brands will affect the soak time required, but doing so for 24 hours or more is a good standard.

If you don't presoak the medium, it will draw down the reservoir very quickly for a few weeks until it gets to the same degree of saturation and release.

ewbie · #3 12-07-2006, 07:02 AM

oh, i did soak it for maybe 12 hours before using it. can you not gauge by the picture if it needs watering or not?
what can i do for the plant? did i overwater it? i transferred to s/h hoping i would not overwater not as a savior. having a hard time to determine the bark if it's dry or not. i was hoping with the clear plastic container i could see inside.
Thanks

Tindomul · #4 12-08-2006, 10:28 PM

All you can do now is wait and see. Good luck with that.

Ray · #5 12-09-2006, 08:46 AM

If there is liquid in the reservoir, you probably don't need to water.

At this point, I might consider putting the whole thing - pot and plant - into a sealed plastic bag (simulating a greenhouse), and keeping it in a warm, shady location. The warmth will speed up the metabolism a bit, shade prevents it from cooking, and the high humidity protects it against desiccation while it recovers.

ewbie · #6 12-10-2006, 10:11 AM

thanks ray! i was thinking of doing it but am not sure if its the right move.

btw, while it's in the bag, should the plant also receive fertilizer until it recovers? another thing, when you say warmth, should that be 24 hours or is it okay if temp drops a little at night? coz i put it under the lamp but shaded it.

thanks again for the advice.

ewbie · #7 12-17-2006, 02:03 AM

After leaving it here

for a week. This is how it is now.

And I don't know what the white thingy under are. It's a good thing it's not moving.

Any advise what shall i do next?

Oscarman · #8 12-17-2006, 03:01 AM

Looks like mold to me - did you have the roots all cleaned of organic material prior to potting it in S/H?

I would get it out of there, make sure it is thoroughly cleaned of organic material and try again. I would spray it with Physan20. The pot size seems a bit large to me.

If that is rot on the leaves, trim and treat with a rot preventer (I use cinnamon). Let dry. Try the humidity chamber again - make sure there is some ventilation.

Does anyone else think the leaves look like they have some bug damage? The edges of the right hand leaf doesn't really look like rot. The new growth seems a bit distorted (mealies?)

Ross · #9 12-17-2006, 09:44 AM

Actually, I was thinking mites. The whitish areas of the leaves appear sunken.

justatypn · #10 12-18-2006, 01:25 AM

Here's my thoughts...the larger leaf, if the tip is/was moist/mushy when you took it out of the container tells me the leaves edge was against the side of the container and could be rot from the moisture, which can eventually be cut back. The middle young leaf is deformed which tells me it could be pest related most commonly "mealy's". My concern is the roots and root bed, I am seeing dark in color, which could be organic matter not rinsed off well, a bit of rot, or nature of the beast, if the root system is firm, your good. As previously suggested I would use Physan (as directed). Suggestively I would not put the plant back in the plastic container. I would get yourself a gallon size ziplock bag, put 2 sticks in the plant to prevent the ziplock sides from touching the plant, zip the bag up leaving a small whole for a straw to go into and blow air into the zip lock and leave it. Give it about a week to 10 days and see how it looks, when the bag looks deflated I would merely blow a small amount of air into the bag once again, or you could just seal up the bag an not leave the straw in the zip. You will need to make sure the medium is ever so slightly moist, to much will cause mold. Keep us updated on this and we will help you the best way we can via

's. Just my 2 cents worth....but worth salvaging