Paphs - brown rot issues

[mauraec]

Hi paph experts -

I have about 20 paphs - mostly maudiaes, etc, that I have been treating for brown rot around where the leaves attach to the roots - almost all from the outside (not dinding rot insode the crown from water pooling up there. I have been at this since I got them back about 3 weeks ago. I have done the usual recommended things - soaked them in a Physan solution, removed all the rotted areas I could, dusted "wounds" with cinnamon, and placed them in 4" clay pots with damp spaghnum just touching the roots. BUT!!@!! The rot is still spreading, and after spending all morning in latex gloves, with my sterilized tools, this time soaking them in a solution of hydrogen peroxide before starting to cut away again at the rotting areas.... I'm ready to scream.

Isn't there some way to get the rot to dry out without having to practice microsurgery on all my patients? I've also fungicided and insecticided with both chemicals and organic stuff I am ready to throw them all out the window.

Does anyone know of a solution or technique to get rid of this once and for all? I'm ready to try anything but using the sterilized razor blades that I've been using to incise out the rot.

HELP!!! I'm really ready to give up on these - I'm just finding that when I leave them be, the rot spreads further.

Thanks,
Maura

[leafmite]

When I have this problem, I cut, then use isopropyl alcohol on the cut, then, with a new cotton ball, I wipe the neighboring area (not roots) with alcohol to disinfect and dry. I then dab the area with cinnamon and I then keep the affected plant dryer than normal for a few days. If you have these in moss, maybe using a plastic vanda basket to provide ventilation will then prevent further infection. The last time I had this problem, this fall, I didn't get all the brown removed but it didn't progress. Good luck! I know this can be very frustrating.
Leafmite
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[mauraec]

When I have this problem, I cut, then use isopropyl alcohol on the cut, then, with a new cotton ball, I wipe the neighboring area (not roots) with alcohol to disinfect and dry. I then dab the area with cinnamon and I then keep the affected plant dryer than normal for a few days. If you have these in moss, maybe using a plastic vanda basket to provide ventilation will then prevent further infection. The last time I had this problem, this fall, I didn't get all the brown removed but it didn't progress. Good luck! I know this can be very frustrating.
Leafmite
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Hey, Thank you! I thought of everything but the alcohol - makes sense. I'll try it and then OUT THE WINDOW if it doesn't work. I know, I know - I'll give it time.... Patience, Maura, patience.....

[orchids^_^]

Hope It works... I am NO expert at this...
I'm in Colorado and it's is very very dry, so I never have rot. What I have to worry about is get enough moisture in my room and it is very annoying... Good Luck!
Alex

[mauraec]

Hope It works... I am NO expert at this...
I'm in Colorado and it's is very very dry, so I never have rot. What I have to worry about is get enough moisture in my room and it is very annoying... Good Luck!
Alex

Thanks - what I can't understand is that they seem to get it even when they're dry! And, of course, none of them had it before their adventure in the English Greenhouse...

[cakedaddy]

Is this rot a sort of rust color? I have a problem like that and I have tried a few fungicides...still there. Whatever the problem is with mine doesnt seem to be in a hurry to spread and hasn't effected blooming or growth, but it's so ugly!
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[mauraec]

Is this rot a sort of rust color? I have a problem like that and I have tried a few fungicides...still there. Whatever the problem is with mine doesnt seem to be in a hurry to spread and hasn't effected blooming or growth, but it's so ugly!
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Yes it is rust colored - but mine doesn't spread up the leaf, really, but it's more like the rot sinks through the layers at the bottom of the leaf until it become detached. I know I should post an example, but I actually cleaned them all up already, and it's a question of waiting to see if any more appears. Funny thing is that the roots on all mine have new growth and no rot whatsoever - in some cases, the root ball is twice the size of the plant that's left!

[catttan]

I have the same problem with my paphs, but I thought that was just aging as it seems to affect only the oldest and lowest leaves and don't seem to affect the plant or blooming. I use a pair of sharp scissors to snip off these dead leaves.BTW I spray fungicide regularly on all my orchids whether they are infected or not (the normal practice for all orchid growers here in the hot and wet tropics).

[mauraec]

I have the same problem with my paphs, but I thought that was just aging as it seems to affect only the oldest and lowest leaves and don't seem to affect the plant or blooming. I use a pair of sharp scissors to snip off these dead leaves.BTW I spray fungicide regularly on all my orchids whether they are infected or not (the normal practice for all orchid growers here in the hot and wet tropics).

Thank you, Yew! Can you tell me what you use as a fungicide and how frequently you spray? I have soaked all of these in physan before potting them - in the smallest pots I can fit them into. They seem to prefer being squished.

[catttan]

Thank you, Yew! Can you tell me what you use as a fungicide and how frequently you spray? I have soaked all of these in physan before potting them - in the smallest pots I can fit them into. They seem to prefer being squished.

I rotate these fungicides around; Manzate, Captan (both in powder form) and a systemic liquid type (don't know what it is - name and instructions all in Thai but very effective). I spray about once every 2 months or so. Remember I grow my orchids outdoors 24/7 and exposed to the rains that tend to leach out chemicals and fertilisers pretty fast. Thus the high frequency of application.