Leaves falling off Ang. didieri

[JFeathersmith]

I bought this plant at the end of July, and was REALLY EXCITED because I've been wanting to get one of these for months. I usually run it under the faucet while I'm fixing breakfast and then set it in the dish drainer while I'm gone for the day. It's been living in my kitchen, where it doesn't get much direct light, but a lot of bright, indirect light. (the windows face south, but the shelf I put it on sometimes, and dish drainer, don't get a lot of direct light)

I was out of town this weekend for about 4 days. I watered it in the morning Saturday and put it in an empty terrarium with several other plants to provide a more humid environment - I did not put a lid on it. (I've done this before, and the weather was cool and overcast. The rest of the plants, including a couple mounted orchids, all seem to be fine.)

When I got home this afternoon, I saw one of its smaller leaves had fallen off, but I thought perhaps it was due to the fact that something on a shelf nearby had fallen into the terrarium onto a fern next to the orchid, and might have struck the orchid, too.

Well, some odd thought possessed me, and I decided to gently tug on some of its other leaves, and several others simply fell off when I did so, all from lower down on the stem. D: D: D: I'm horrified. I can see some dark discoloration at the base of the leaves where they came off the plant; it seems like there's also some discoloration on the stem of the plant, too.

Is this some horrible variation of crown rot? Is there anything I can do to stop it and save the plant?

Thank you!!

(It needs repotting anyway; about a week after I got it, I noticed a smell of mildew coming out of the pot, but its roots are REALLY adhered to the pot, and some of the "rock" or whatever is in there, so I've been nervous to take that task on, since I've read these plants really hate having their roots disturbed.)

[Leafmite]

These originate in Madagascar where it is always very breezy and so they are susceptible to issues caused by fungus. Indoors, unless you have a fan blowing on them, you might want to just water the roots and try not to get water on the leaves. Some people use a fungicide with these to prevent issues but adding Calcium with every watering seems to do just as well in preventing the issues.

The roots are really not as finicky as people say. Just soak them really well for about an hour to help them become more flexible, carefully remove the old medium and, if you think any roots have been at all damaged (even scratched), put them in dry medium and do not water for a few days to allow the roots to heal. Most of the issues people have with re-potting these is caused by roots being damaged and fungus invading and killing roots. For medium and pot, I use basket pots with red lava rock but many people mount them or grow them in small Vanda baskets.

Good luck!

[JFeathersmith]

Thank you!

I was thinking along the lines of vanda basket or net pot - what other kinds of media are appropriate inside the pot/basket, besides lava rock? I may be able to find something like that locally, but I'm not positive; of course if I have to order the basket online I may as well order the "filler" too. I do have a bag of pumice, but the pieces are on the smaller side, I don't think many of them are over 1/2 inch in width.

What do you use to get calcium into water? Are there commercially-produced plant foods that are good for that, or do you boil eggshells or dissolve calcium tablets or . . . ?

[Leafmite]

Whatever you use as a filler should not move around when you water as that would make the roots unhappy. You could probably use most types of rock as long as it has a bit of texture for the orchid roots to grab. I bought the last bag of red lava rock at a Lowes store but most places that sell landscaping materials sell it, too.

It doesn't take much rock and the rock is mostly to keep the orchid from moving around in the pot and to help with humidity.

In the summer, all my orchids are outside and I add powdered milk to my watering can. Indoors, that would smell rather foul so I bought Cali-Magic. I also add eggshells but they need to decompose to release the Calcium and that can take some time.

Good luck!

[JFeathersmith]

I think I am going to need that luck. I soaked it and got it out of the pot this morning so that I could temporarily put it into a pot I have with lots of slits in the side - and most of the roots were mush, and two more leaves fell off in the process. I worry that it may not survive long enough for me to acquire another, better pot, but at least it's out of the rot.

[Leafmite]

That might be why the leaves were falling. You may still be able to save it. I have both an Angraecum leonis and a sesquipedale that were once rootless and they are both fine now. Angraecums tend to really like to grow roots. You at least have some good roots? That will really be a bonus. Keep it unpotted for a day or two to let the fungus issue clear and then pot it in something that allows plenty of air to the roots.

[JFeathersmith]

Okay, good, I guess they're tougher than I feared! It has several, maybe 7, roots about an inch or so long.