Is my new maxillaria tenufolia healthy?

[Niki]

Hi everyone,

So, I'm the one who's been posting about the odon. Tiger Crow "golden girl." Well, I noticed today significant rot in three of the four pbulbs (one of which was the new growth). I think there was something wrong when I purchased it, because I've only had it for three weeks and it looked worse daily.

Anyway, to make a long story short, when I pulled out the plant and took all the bark out, it was clear that more than half the plant was rotten. Since it was under warrenty, I decided to get a new plant, rather than try to save this one.

Unfortunately, the place didn't have any more tiger crow's left, so they gave me the choice of whatever was left in the store. I choose what looked like the healthiest plant (that had just arrived from the grower) maxillaria tenufolia that just arrived in the store two days ago--note, the next time I buy, it will be from the orchid grower themselves.

Of the two maxillaria tenufolia newly arrived, I picked the one with the smoothest looking pbulbs. But, they have some brown marks on them....is this okay? The other plant had no brown marks, but less pbulbs (it was a much smaller plant) and the pbulbs were very wrinkly.

I want to move this plant to S/H, so I included lots of pictures for you all to see. I don't think it has any new growth, but I'm new to the orchid world, so I could be mistaken.

Should I be waiting for new growth before moving? I'm hoping to move it within 30 days to make sure the roots, etc are good (so that it they're not, I can exchange again).

Thanks!!

Niki

[Ray]

I'd say that plant was in pretty good health. Those brown spots can come about from mechanical damage, or fungal/bacterial damage from letting it "go to be" wet.

[gmdiaz]

I love this orchid! I've got one too. It does like a lot of RO water, bright, indirect light and 50-60% humidity.

Mine is doing very well in an open, quick draining, medium-sized bark mix media, windowsill culture with nearby cool mist humidity and a fan.

I am seeing some fungal/bacterial damage, too. Keep an eye on it to be sure the "funk" doesn't continue spreading. I ususally spray Physan (available at FirstRays.com) on anything that doesn't look good.

Be sure that when you do water, you water throughly in the morning so that the leaves and surface of the PSBS (psuedobulbs) are good and dry by evening.

And I think it helps immensely to add a fan to your growing locations. . .just about all orchids thrive with good air circulation. Good air circulation will prevent most fungal and rot problems.

[Niki]

Great, thank you all for your comments!

I will spray right now. I bought some to spray on my oncidium golden girl (the one i returned for this one cause it was still under warrenty).

Quick question. When I spray, should I spray the soil too?

Also, I sprayed my Phals last night because I was worriedthat the Phals may have been too close to the rotting odon. One of my Phal is showing new growth, so I'm re-potting to S/H today. Should I spray the roots before I repot?

Also, I can't find KLN anywhere, so I will order it from Ray when he gets back from vaca and use it when for I repot the other Phal and this one to S/H (Ray, should I wait until I see new growth to replant this guy in S/H?)? Also, do you think it'll be okay to repot in S/H without KLN (since I don't want to wait too long, have four new growth buds and don't want them to get too far along before I repot).

Lastly, should I pot in the pre-soaked Aliflor and not water for 3-4 days? that's what the orchid grower at the orchid nursury told me to do (and he apparentally also knows Ray!) I told him it appeare that Ray waters right away from what I could tell on firstrays.com, but I thought I'd double check.

Niki

[Niki]

Also,

should i be making spraying part of my regular maintanance like the bottle says (once per month)?

Have just sprayed it. Opened up the windows for a breeze, and am putting bowls of water around to help up the humidity (it's been close to 50% here in Minnesota lately) and in the winter we have a humidifier in the house (for my sinuses) and we keep it as humid as the dew point can handle (plus the bathroom is always more humid, so hopefully it will like it here)

Niki