Leaves Turn Black - Help!

[SvenLittkowski]

Two of my baby orchids have problems. i suspect something, but want to ask here for assistance first. What could be the cause? And can they survive? And how to react?

- Plant with yellow label: Laeliocattleya 'Trick or Treat'
- Plant with white label: Myrmecophila thomsoniana var. aurea

[Dorsetman]

Oh dear , black at the root of the leaves like this is bad news. Looks like a bacterial rot. Gently tease them away , and a[pply a disinfectant. If you don'yt have a "proper" orchid one ( Physan - follow the label) then even a household one. diliuted well ; the object is to try and control the bacteria ( zap them ! )

[Halloamey]

I am not sure about the Myrmecophila, but there is some bad news for the Lc hybrid, I don't think it stands a chance. Follow Geoff's advice, I would also recommend Hydrogen peroxide straight from the bottle. Firstly isolate these plants from the others as this rot can spread through the water and also with touch. I think the media you have used is wrong, it seems too small and water retentive and soggy.

[SvenLittkowski]

I have a 6% hydrogen peroxide (HG). How to apply? I don't mind to apply to all of them.

I had them the entire day under a fan in order to dry them. The surface is dry. But not sure about inside.

UPDATE: I just gave HG on the substrate. Right after a few minutes, i took them off the substrate. Their roots seem to be okay, as far as I can judge. I will add photos of their roots tomorrow.

[kiwiorchids]

yes i would agree with Amey, that media looks nowhere near what it should be for epiphytic plants, especially like LC. It needs to be fairly open, free draining, maybe like a 2 parts bark to 1 part perlite or hydroponic grow-granule, and should mostly dry out within 3-4 days and hold just enough water fpr around 2 weeks TOPS. You might find Sven, this is the root of the problem.

[SvenLittkowski]

I think, I won't water all plants for the next days, but let them dry (inside or outside those substrates). Would you all agree?

[kiwiorchids]

you could try that, but maybe try repotting a few into a more open media and just comparing.....trial and error!

[zainal abidin]

I agree with Amey just isolate them and chop the infected one apply with fungicide and keep it dry and change the media.

[SvenLittkowski]

Fungicide?

[zainal abidin]

Fungicide?

I got similar one when the condition is matched for eg so wet they begin to produce fruiting bodies which is consistent with fungal infection.You can use Physan or Thirum as recommended anti fungal treatment.