Bacteria, Fungus, Rot, or other? Young phal and prosth were in transit for a week.

[itzi]

I ordered some orchids from SeattleOrchids.com and they were in transit for about 4 days, and then a friend of mine held the package for me for another 3 days. They were packed wrapped in packing paper stuffed with thinly shredded newspaper strips.

I opened the package today, and the plants are in nice condition aside from some leaf issues. No root or stem rot, or other obvious afflictions.

I need advice on the leaf issues, both of the plants are in 2 inch pots.

The Encyclia/Prosthechea fragrans has some leaves that seem dry, including the one in the picture. It is thin and a little "crispy", so I'm leaning towards it just being damage from heat or sun.

The Phal. hygrochila has me more puzzled, it has brown spots on the larger leaves, but they dont have the signs of infection that I recognize; no yellow edge. The leaves seem a little mushier in those spots.

For now, im just giving them all a little soak and rinse and leaving them in their given pots. Any advice would be appreciated, I would love to see these plants grow to blooming size and I intend to do what it takes to get them there. Thank you

[Shadeflower]

hey itzi I have the fragrans too. I agree with your diagnosis.

The other one is a bit more serious. I think it has suffered from cold damage which has caused cell collapse.

If it was me I would try to replace that one. You can't really argue with the picture but then again it is only the tips of the leaves affected and maybe cutting off the affected parts would resolve it but there is always the risk the roots got damaged by the cold.

So first one will be ok, second one should be ok but it has sustained damage during the week in the post.

[itzi]

Good point, I've emailed them and asked. I do think cold damage makes sense. I presume it was during or before transit, because even though it was kept in packaging after arriving, it was stored in a room with temps above 65 until I got it. Thanks for the advice!

[Roberta]

if it froze (heat packs failed) Phal hygrochila could have experienced damage. But the species is very cold-tolerant. Mine (large plant not seedling) lives on my patio, experiencing winter nights close to freezing with no problem. A seedling might be more fragile, though Yours does look like it suffered some damage, probably will do new growth just fine, but if you can get them them send you a replacement that would certainly be beneficial..

Just for the record, Phal. hygrochila is a species that seems to have challenges of classification. It has been Vandopsis parishii, Hygrochilus parishii (monotypic genus) and now it is classified as Phalaenopsis. Plant and flowers look a lot more Vandaceous to me, but I guess that's not what the DNA says. At any rate, for me it grows like a cold-tolerant Vanda. http://orchidcentral.org/Images/Vand...20parishii.jpg I'm not changing my tag

[itzi]

Thought I'd give an update: Seattle Orchids responded promptly and are going to ship me another Hygrochila when the weather is good! So thats really nice.

I've repotted both of them, keeping the Phal in the same container just with fresh medium and placed higher up in the pot. The fragrans I put into a 4" plastic pot with new media as well, and after watering, the leaves have perked up again. Things are looking up! If both Phal's survive I might even try breeding them one day

[thefish1337]

Originally Posted by itzi

Thought I'd give an update: Seattle Orchids responded promptly and are going to ship me another Hygrochila when the weather is good! So thats really nice.

I've repotted both of them, keeping the Phal in the same container just with fresh medium and placed higher up in the pot. The fragrans I put into a 4" plastic pot with new media as well, and after watering, the leaves have perked up again. Things are looking up! If both Phal's survive I might even try breeding them one day

I highlighted the issue right there. Also this could simply be tissue collapse from temperature changes.

[Roberta]

It is so refreshing when a vendor is responsive like that!
Just to whet your appetite for hybrids... Phal hygrochila (when it was Vandopsis parishii) was crossed with Phal japonica (when it was Sedirea japonica) to make Vandopirea (Phalaenopsis) Little One, a very nice, modest-sized and floriferous, cold-tolerant Vandaceous plant - just because these are now classed as "Phalaenopsis" doesn't mean that their culture is anything like the usual Phals.

[Shadeflower]

thx roberta, I hadn't even realized the vandopsis had been renamed a few years ago.

made me find the name to a cross I have with it the Vandaenopsis Denipar. Now I have a name for it. Although considering the name change I would have called it a denichilla

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

thx roberta, I hadn't even realized the vandopsis had been renamed a few years ago.

Actually got renamed twice... Vandopsis parishii became Hygrochilus parishii before it became Phal. hygrochila. Whew!

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Actually got renamed twice... Vandopsis parishii became Hygrochilus parishii before it became Phal. hygrochila. Whew!

I would really like to know why the powers that be have to mess with the taxonomy of plants well known for decades? It just messes with those of us whose interests are focused more on care and culture than DNA.