Brown/black leaves on Ang. distichum - what to do?

[JFeathersmith]

I got this plant on Tuesday, along with several others (auction at orchid society!), and when I was looking over them more closely yesterday, noticed that some of its lowest leaves are clearly dead or dying.

The dark brown/black discoloration (lower left in images) has me very worried that the plant has some sort of bacterial rot. Is there something I can dunk it in or water it with? Or should I just amputate this whole "stem" to prevent it spreading?

The lowest leaf on one of its other stems is yellow, which I'm hoping it just an old leaf dying off, and not a sign of a more systemic problem.

Thanks for any insights!

[SFLguy]

Looks normal, probably just acclimating to new conditions

[JFeathersmith]

I've had a few dendrobiums lose leaves shortly after bringing them home, but they just went yellow and dry and fell off, they didn't turn brown/black and mushy. Whatever it is, more of the leaves on that lowest stem were turning brown this morning, and it looks far too much like pictures I've seen of bacterial rot, so I snipped the whole little stem off and I'm hoping none of it's gotten into the rest of the plant.

[Leafmite]

Good luck with it! I try not to get the leaves wet with this one and I add extra Calcium. I hope that this is the last you see of the infection!

[JFeathersmith]

Thanks! I got this at our society's auction this past week, and one of the other members said he's growing one in a terrarium, but that wasn't necessary BUT when I water it, I ought to make sure and run water over the leaves, too . . . which does make me nervous if there is infection present. :|

I'm hoping it survives long enough that I can get it onto a mount; it's got some aerial roots already and the person I was talking to this week said they like to be mounted (and can eventually really sprawl all over).

[Leafmite]

I have mine in a bowl with a Lepanthopsis and some other miniature orchid. The distichum is in the middle, where the bowl is open. The mini orchids are to the side so they get more humidity. Lava rock is at the bottom, NZ sphagnum moss was laid on top and the orchids are all planted in the moss. I put a little bit of a different moss culture in the bowl, too, and it has spread over everything to improve the appearance. When I water, I water to the side and let the rocks wick the water to the moss. I have been using distilled water with the occasional addition of Cal-mag and a little Ironite. I have some eggshells in there, too.