Crown rot in blooming Phalaenopsis?

[Fenix]

First time to experience what I think might be crown rot?

Received an orchid as a gift with about half the flowers open and over a week a few more buds opened. I noticed today that one of the earlier flowers started wilting and I thought that was strange since the blooms are not done yet.

Upon closer inspection looks like the base of the plant is rotting. Tissue is black and feels soft and mushy. Note since I received it I haven’t watered yet. It’s been with me for just under two weeks now.

What should I do to address the problem?

[SouthPark]

Does the orchid get some nice gentle air-flow in the growing area?

Also, does water ever get trapped in between the leaves in the crown region?

Here, due to rotting - you could try applying a systematic treatment (eg. monterey garden-phos) or some similar phosacid treatment. Or maybe try a copper spray for orchids.

Provide suitable warm temperature for that orchid, and gentle air-flow in the growing area. Also, try to use airy-enough media so that air movement can get down in through the media and around the roots, and through the pot.

I always aim to not use decorative pots for my orchids in the tropics, that might cut down on air movement. Pots having big enough holes, and enough holes down at the bottom can also help with the air-movement. Gives roots some breathing space and breathing time, and helps with water (and oxygen content) movement.

Also, I try to avoid having water 'stew' in an orchid pot (such as hang around the media for relatively long amounts of time) ----- just to avoid root drowning issues and/or bacterial/fungal issues.

[Orchidtinkerer]

I don't think that will make it. The plant will have had an infection or went through some cold shipping before getting to yours. With these multiphals available at supermarkets it is a bit of a hit and miss game. They are half as expensive as from a reputable orchid nursery but half the time the stem will rot which can't be saved.

Ps: no this is not crown rot, this is worse. This is stem rot.

Some people will argue it can be saved, I highly doubt it and even if, it is not worth saving.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Orchidtinkerer

Some people will argue it can be saved, I highly doubt it and even if, it is not worth saving.

And some won't argue that it can be saved. Instead, they will argue that there still may be a chance of survival if some appropriate treatment is provided. And indeed there at least have been cases where recovery occurred for similar situations.

Also ------ just suppose hypothetically it 'could' be saved ----- this one. Then what do you mean by 'not worth saving' if it just so-happens to survive?