Has my Phal got crown rot?

[supersheep]

Ok, so, long story short, I repotted this orchid a week ago, but the medium was going a bit mouldy. I started a thread here and tried the cinnamon water as mentioned.

Only I think I did it all wrong (sob!), because now one of the Phals is looking very, very poorly! The very next morning (yesterday) the leaves were all sagging around the stem and now it looks all blackish and withered - and I think it may be rotting.

I took it out of the medium so I could see what was going on and, below the shrivelled looking stem, it seems quite healthy. The roots have a few black spots on them, but are firm and there's lots of green in them.

Anyway, does it look like crown rot? I wonder if I got cinnamon water in it when I did the wash with cinnamon. Still, on the bright side - the medium didn't look mouldy at all when I tipped it out!

But is there any way of saving it? This will be my 4th rescue phal this year! So I definitely want to do all I can! I've become quite an orchid addict now!

[The Orchid Kid]

look like it to me - did it happen very quickly?

The roots don't look too bad, so all may not be lost. Maybe repot and see how it goes? Someone with more knowledge will hopefully give you more specific advice.

Glad to know the cinnamon wash worked tho!

[mattryan]

I have saved 2 phals with crown rot. I took them completely out of the medium and put into a glass jar and watered the roots everyday. Sometimes it works. Goodluck! Oh it took a couple months before I saw anything growing.

Cheryl

[cbuchman]

It looks like crown rot to me too. but you can hope for a basal keiki. Remove any evidence of the rot and keep the plant on the dry side. I might produce some new leaves. It's slow going. So patience!

For next time, always check the crown after watering. If you see water, use a paper towel to wick it out or blow on it hard. I don't summer (very few) phals outdoors in the summer because of the crown rot from the rain!

(P.S. I've got a basal keiki going and it has 2 leaves so far and some decent roots. First time success )

[WhiteRabbit]

I have also got a basal keiki from a completely crown rotted Phal. It had a nice amount of good roots, so I just cared for it as usual - a couple months later it started the basal growth. Initially it grew quickly, but last couple of years the leaf growth has been slow. Been growing nice roots tho.

I believe it depends a lot on if the meristem tissue has rotted or not, if there's a chance for basal growth.

[supersheep]

Originally Posted by The Orchid Kid

Glad to know the cinnamon wash worked tho!

I'm too sure I'd say it worked - it did seem to help remove the mould from the medium, but my poor Phal is suffering now! It did happen very quickly too - overnight literally. I did try to get all the water out of the crown, but guess I must have missed some...

But glad to hear there's still hope for the Phal! And thanks for the suggestions. At the moment, it's just sitting in it's clear pot with no medium around it. I've been spraying the roots with water every day.

How should I remove the rotted crown though? Do I cut it off, maybe just above where the roots are coming into the stem? Or peel away the leaves (they're very wilted now!).

Oh and should I soak it in some H2O2 as well, just to be on the safe side?

Thanks! I am determined to save this one!

[LadySoren]

H2O2 as in hydrogen peroxide?

So, I've heard people spraying all parts of orchids with all kids of stuff like Fantasic and other cleaners. I'm all for the cinnamon approach to fungus, and I've wiped down the leaves with Clorox wipes, but I'm scared I'll kill the plant with household cleaners, alcohol, H2O2, etc on the roots... Are they really that resilient to damage as long as you wash it off or something?

[The Orchid Kid]

My fungal growth in the medium seems to have reduced, now I took it out of the ceramic display pot and exposed the roots and medium to light and air.

I'm trying to keep my cultivation as organic as possible too.

Regarding your rot, I would be inclined to cut away all rotten growth, as it ain't gonna improve and dab on a little cinnamon powder to guard against fungus. Whether it needs a medium around it or is fine being sprayed till new growth starts is something someone more experienced may be able to address.