Suggestions please... - Orchid Board

jeremyinsf · #1 07-10-2013, 12:52 AM

Got quite a few new plants yesterday, and then today, noticed what I think could be erwinia or crown rot on one plant? This is Paph William Matthews 'Quest'. There are two+ growths, one that appears fine, and then the other that has the problem, is in spike, and has a baby growth on it which appears to also have the problem. I say possibly erwinia because before I cleaned it off and sprayed it, there was what appeared to be some seeping clear liquid on it.

Should I sacrifice the 'bad' stuff to save the good growth? They are a couple inches apart.

I've sprayed it with Physan 20, let it dry, and put rubbing alcohol on it.

And it's separate from the rest of my collection, for now. It was however in a box close to other plants on the way home.

Suggestions and thoughts appreciated. I've had some experience with pests, but nothing with bacteria or rot (yet).

Thanks all.

Discus · #2 07-10-2013, 04:26 AM

Yes, that does look rather like a rot of some kind, possibly bacterial (it certainly looks like the pictures I've seen of such things). Orchid Diseases has quite good pictures of all sorts of unpleasant maladies.

That site recommends the following:

Quote:

Treatment: Immediately remove infected tissue using a sterile instrument, spray bactericides like Physan or copper compounds on infected and adjacent plants following label instructions (copper should not be used on dendrobiums or blooming plants), disinfect growing area with 10% bleach solution. Treat nearby plants as well as those that are diseased.

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I would certainly suggest using a blade to excise those affected leaves ASAP. Treat the cut ends with cinnamon or sulphur. Ideally sterilise between cuts, dispose of blade afterwards.

---------- Post added at 10:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:22 AM ----------

Some people have even tried topical antibiotic creams... treatment for bacterial rot [Archive] - Slippertalk Orchid Forum- The best slipper orchid forum for paph, phrag and other lady slipper orchid discussion!

Island Girl · #3 07-10-2013, 01:13 PM

I agree with Discus, very good advice.

The only thing I have to add, is that I'd recommend you to use Phyton 27, its a good one (effective) - its a copper-based bactericide, and its a systemic. Just wear gloves when mixing/using, & turn off fans when spraying, etc., b/c you'd prob rather not breathe it in. Good Luck! I hope u caught it early enough, but... I'm thinkin that u did

billc · #4 07-11-2013, 09:03 AM

This usually works for me, drench the affected area with hydrogen peroxide, then make a paste with cinnamon and rubbing alcohol and spread it on the rot. It seems to spread with watering so isolate whatever use use to water that plant for a while.
As a side note, since I changed to K-lite fertilizer about a year and a half ago erwinia infections have virtually disappeared.
Trying to cut it out where it is in the crown is usually futile because you wind up destroying the growth.

Bill

jeremyinsf · #5 07-11-2013, 09:25 AM

Thanks all.

Bill, I switched to k-lite a month ago. So, yeah, hopeful on that.

I'm considering not letting bloom (cutting the spike). I've heard "don't let a sick plant bloom, as it could be it's swan song". I figure there is other growth on this plant, and I would rather it focus it's energy on getting healthy. I have a larger plant of this also in spike now, so I don't even need to see the flower this year.

Anyone have thoughts on that?

Island Girl · #6 07-11-2013, 01:12 PM

Yea, I don't like to let a sick plant bloom... And especially if you have another in bloom, then you don't really need to see this one. Next year u will be rewarded, b/c it had the chance to recover

EDIT: Oh yea, I've done the peroxide and cinnamon & alcohol paste thing, and that works wonderfully too. Thanks Bill, for some reason, I forgot about that when I wrote of phyton! And IMHO, I wouldn't use water for the cinn. paste, just alcohol... Maybe it's me? But I don't like to add any water to a rotting spot, that I don't have to.

billc · #7 07-11-2013, 02:16 PM

As long as you can keep the rot to that small section in the picture there's no reason not to let it bloom. That is not a big area of rot. I've seen it take over a whole fan in a few days if left untreated. My theory(for what it's worth) is if it want's to bloom, let it. With paphs you only get that one shot per fan.

Bill

jeremyinsf · #8 07-11-2013, 09:23 PM

Thanks Everyone! I've treated it as best as can for now. I'm going to keep it isolated, outside, and watch it every day for now. I will re-treat it and see what happens. The good thing about how things are today, it's easy for us to take pictures, and compare them... so I will know if the problem is really getting worse or not. Thanks again!