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By slipperfreak at 2007-07-17 04:11
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A lot of first-time Paph growers (and some more experienced growers too!) encounter a problem known as crown rot, which Paphs (particularly those from subgenus Brachypetalum) are susceptible to. This is caused by water being trapped in one of the lower sheaths at the base of the growth or inside the growth itself. A similar problem, root rot, can also occur when the plant remains overly wet for an extended period. Both are caused by bacterial infections (the bacteria are invited in by excess moisture). When either of these things happen, the plant can lose most or all of its roots. While this leads to devastating damage, the plant can heal. Using a flame-sterilized tool, remove all the rotten roots (black/brown, soft and hollow). Next, in the case of crown rot, remove completely all the bracts/leaves from the affected growth (the base of these will be soft and brown) until you have the firm, white matter within that is unaffected by the rot. You can do this by grasping the base of the growth with one hand and using the other to pull the leaf sharply downward. Now use a toothpick to smear cinnamon over all the wounds; this will dry them out to prevent further infection. Now, allow the plant to dry off completely (this will take 1-2 days generally) then place it in a Ziploc bag and wrap it in moist sphagnum moss. Blow hot air into the bag and seal it shut. Now place the bag in diminished light. After some weeks, the plant should have grown a few new roots. Once it has 3 or 4 roots each an inch or two long, pot it into a seedling bark mixture and grow it on as normal. It will typically take the plant a couple seasons to flower again.
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