Orchid Care OrchidTalk Orchid Forum Links Nursery

Welcome to OrchidTalk Orchid Forums


The Friendliest Orchid Community on the Internet!


  •  » Learn to Repot your Orchids
  •  » Learn Orchid Care Tips and Secrets
  •  » Find the perfect Orchid for your Growing Environment
  •  » Chat with Orchid Growing Professionals

OrchidTalk - "Bringing People Together to Grow Orchids Better!"


Let us help you grow your Orchids better; Join our community today.


YES! I want to register an account for free right now!


Register or Login now to remove this advertisement.

Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: more of my iffy orchids. virus, bacterial, fungal?

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Real Name
    Clara
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    near Philadelphia
    Posts
    91
    Member's Country Flag

    Default more of my iffy orchids. virus, bacterial, fungal?

    Name:  20201229_094715_resized.jpg
Views: 386
Size:  43.7 KBName:  20201229_095054_resized.jpg
Views: 440
Size:  55.5 KBName:  20201229_094838.jpg
Views: 368
Size:  105.1 KBName:  20201229_093010_resized.jpg
Views: 473
Size:  55.4 KB

  2. #2
    Real Name
    Zainal Abidin Bin Othman
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Huntleya, Bollea, Cochleanthes
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Melaka, West Malaysia
    Posts
    14,968
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Very difficult to diagnose anyway need to remove the infected leaves and spraying with fungicide/insecticide if possible isolate.

  3. #3
    Real Name
    Ray Barkalow
    My Grow Area
    Porch/Patio.
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Oak Island NC
    Posts
    2,103

    Default

    Tell us about your water source and feeding regimen.

    Some of those photos look like past damage that will not likely progress, but others look more nutritionally-based to me.

  4. #4
    Real Name
    Clara
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    near Philadelphia
    Posts
    91
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Hi Ray,

    I've been using r/o water. In sunny weather My new greenhouse gets quite hot and the humidity drops to around 25 -30%. I've been watering 2-3 times a week when its very hot and not watering when its cloudy or cold. I fertilize 2 times a month 1/2 t per gal K-lite. Occasionally some KLN or Kelp max. I'm trying to get more organized and consistant, and I'm trying to water a little less.

  5. #5
    Real Name
    Ray Barkalow
    My Grow Area
    Porch/Patio.
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Oak Island NC
    Posts
    2,103

    Default

    Clara,

    1/2 tsp/gal is about 100 ppm N, which is my recommendation for weekly feeding, so I suspect a nutritional deficiency is part of the issue. The next time you water, do so with water containing a tablespoon of Epsom Salts per gallon to give your plants a magnesium boost. After that, up your feeding frequency to weekly, as that’s better than doubling the concentration at your current frequency.

    Water is the driving force for growth, so it pays to adjust your potting media to accommodate that and water more often, not less.

    If you do the calculations based up the pertinent chemical reactions, in order for a plant (any plant) to add one pound of mass (a few weeks for corn in mid-summer, a couple of years for a cattleya, 4 or 5 for a paph, or a lifetime for a tiny pleurothallid-type) the plant must absorb and process 200 pounds of water (~25 gallons), but only 5 grams (~1 teaspoon) of fertilizer nutrients.

    Drop the KLN. It is stimulating root growth, which stimulates plant growth, but that, coupled with a nutrient deficiency, becomes a “double-whammy”. Besides, there is no better stimulant than KelpMax, and it provides a wide array of nutrients that fertilizers don’t. It should be used monthly @ 1 tablespoon/gallon.

    I’ll also add that it pays to try to avoid wetting the plants when you water. I know it can be difficult - my greenhouse is PA was watered using an overhead “rain” system - so it pays to water early in the day so the plants have lots of time to dry before nightfall.

  6. #6
    Real Name
    Clara
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    near Philadelphia
    Posts
    91
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Thank you for the guidance Ray! I've been a little confused as to how much to fertilize. I've seen recommendations to limit fertilization in the winter. I'll start with your recommendations. Thank you, and my hungry orchids thank you. Clara

Similar Threads

  1. please help me identify...virus, bacterial, or fungal?
    By Weetamoo in forum Orchid Ailments / The Compost Pile
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: January 13th, 2021, 09:18 AM
  2. Is this a bacterial infection?
    By kelchm in forum Orchid Ailments / The Compost Pile
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: December 5th, 2017, 11:00 PM
  3. Gongora galeata-Fungal, Bacterial, or something else?
    By kiwiorchids in forum Genus Specific
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: August 29th, 2011, 02:11 AM
  4. Is it bacterial disease?
    By Diamond in forum New Growers: Ask the Senior Members
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: December 16th, 2009, 01:57 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
OrchidTalk --An Orchid Growers Discussion Forum brought to you by River Valley Orchidworks. A World Community where orchid beginners and experts talk about orchids and share tips on their care, cultivation, and propagation.