Masdevallia rechingeriana with a rot problem

[BrassavolaStars]

Hello all,

I do not know what to do about this orchid. It’s a Masdevallia and it keeps dropping leaves.

The leaves that fall off have a wet, slimy spot at the bottom that resembles rotting lettuce and has an off smell. What should I do?

I have sprayed it with Physan and cleary’s but the problem remains. Do I have to repot it to effectively sterilize it?

It hasn’t really gotten warm. It was fine until it’s last watering about a week ago. It is potted in moss in a slotted pot with styrofoam at the bottom.

I will try to post pictures in the morning but it doesn’t really look like anything.

[BrassavolaStars]

Here’s are some photos. Unfortunately, nothing really shows up. I also have a picture of an old leaf that fell a few days ago.

[aliceinwl]

I don’t know if this would make a difference, I have a Masd barlaeana and Masd Ibanez-behar, I have them in small grade bark and potted a bit higher in the media so there is more air circulation around the base. Sometimes letting things dry out a bit solves the problem.

Hopefully someone chimes in with more specifics.

[BrassavolaStars]

Hopefully what I just did won’t be a problem.

I gently pulled it out of the slotted pot in one piece, and picked out some of the moss near the base of the leaves and moved some of the other moss further away.

I tried to disturb the roots as little as possible.

I don’t remember masdevallias being particularly sensitive to anything moving the roots anyway. Finally, I sprayed it with physan again.

None of the leaves on the plant right now look unhealthy so hopefully drying it out a bit will work.

[Ray]

You seem to have an extremely variable collection of plants with a wide variety of different growing parameters - going through your posts, you've mentioned masdevallia, trichopilia, zygopetalum, rhyncholaelia, cattleya, nobile and hard cane dendrobiums, phalaenopsis, aeranthes and keferstenia. Trying to grow them all under similar conditions must be a challenge, and is probably part of the source of the issues you are experiencing. It is a rare "orchidist" who hasn't been there at least once in their growing career!

Bacteria and fungi are ubiquitous. If plants aren't getting what the need, they will be more susceptible to them, providing a host that allows the population to grow ("Typhoid Mary", if you will). Repeated use of disinfectants can weaken plants as well, at a minimum killing any beneficial microbes that might be present.

Narrowing the collection to plants that closely match the conditions you're able to provide can help, but you might want to consider reinforcing beneficial microbes rather than fighting the bad ones. In order of increasing effectiveness, possible products include worm teas (1 species) EM-1 (2), Quantum Orchid (3), and Inocucor Garden Solution (10+).

[DeaC]

Hi there. You mentionned that you watered last wk. and it's potted in moss. Mine are also in moss but considering the time of yr. I decrease waterings as moss holds a lot of moisture and condtions by my window are cool. A small fan for air circulation may be beneficial as well. Good luck growing.