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Saved phal with crown rot - now what ?

9 years ago

I didn't have the heart to throw out my strong blooming Phal that got root rot.
Poor thing had one withered leaf left, so I put it outside and ignored it except for water and a little Magna Grow occasionally.

It slowly started to get another leaf, then another and now I have 5 leaves and another one coming.

It also started to get healthy roots coming above the crown rotted area. It is really looking healthy! I think being outside in the high humidity really helped it out.

It will need to come soon, so I will need to repot and spray for bugs.

Should I leave it at the original planting depth or lower it to where the new roots are coming from? Should I cut it off the dead crown area when I repot, I do not think there are any good roots below where the new roots are sprouting from,

Can you suggest a mild bug spray. It could have a few white flies. I have the Bayer Rose and flower insecticide but that may be too strong for orchids. The bottle does not mention it's ok to use on them.

Thanks

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Comments (6)

shavedmonkey (Harvey in South Fl.)Z10b
9 years ago
a picture is needed...
dakota01
Original Author
9 years ago
I knew someone would say that.

Where is the post that explains how to post pics? I have no idea how to do it.

I have an Android phone and an iPad, which is easier to post pics from.

Many thanks!!
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Nick, thanks. When I looked more closely, the stem was black all the way down, and the surviving roots' tips had turned black since they were trimmed during repotting in early May. Too bad. It was from Norman's 7 years ago, and was a lovely rose color w/ a yellow picotee. I haven't seen it available in years. Dtps. Sogo Melinda 'Caribbean Sunset' Sad to see it go, WC8
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If you really want to spend a year or more waiting for blooms, might be best to buy a new plant. If you want to experiment, you can keep the light up and wait for the plant to either make a basal keiki or send up a spike with a keiki. Either way it is a sure bet if you can hold on to those remaining leaves. I have a lot of experience with crown rot because of my cold house over winter. The newer, fancy hybrids do not do well over winter. My older plants do fine. I have two now which developed crown rot last winter. One (one leaf left) has made a nice big basal keiki, the other lost all leaves and is sending up two spikes. I'm sure the spikes will produce keiki's. The trick is to keep them warm and sunny and treat as normal. Both of mine had great roots which provided the energy. Both are in translucent pots and the roots are bright green and healthy. I believe the plant which lost all leaves was provided energy through photosynthesis of the roots. Jane
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Sheila the phal I had with crown rot when blooming I did nothing but continue to grow it and enjoy the blooms. The plant bloomed for six months and before the blooms ended the keiki appeared. I can't give you an exact timetable because I expected to lose the plant. I always use a couple of drops of Superthrive in my fertilizer water so continued my normal watering routine. The crownless phal can survive for months if everything else is good. If I were going to try a keiki product, it would be the liquid form of keiki product rather than the paste since the liquid can be poured rather than dabbed. Those are my rambling thoughts and I wish you luck with whatever you decide. Brooke
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Crown rot is a fungal infection. Captan will kill the rot but may kill the bulb too. You might have success with the following approach: In 3 dishpans prepare the following solutions: 3TBS chlorine bleach in 2 quarts (or litres of water 2 cups vinegar in 5 cups water 1 Tbs vitamin B1 1 Tbs Iron chelate 2 drops Superthrive in 1 gallon (4 litres) of water Submerge the bulbs for 3 minutes in the bleach solution. rinse them and soak them 5 minutes in the vinegar solution. without rinsing soak them 5 minutes in the B1 Chelate and Superthrive solution. It may kill the fungus and won't hurt the bulbs. If it doesn't work completely you can still use Captan.
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jane__ny
9 years ago
You need to get a free account with Photobucket or Shutterfly. Get the App on your phone (I use Photobucket). Take your picture on your phone or Ipad and upload it to Photobucket (or whatever photo program you choose). They all have Apps.

Go to the program (PHotobucket) and R-click the HTML link on the side of the photo. Paste that into your post on Garden Web. Hit Preview and you will see your photo. Its easy.

Regarding the Phal, without the picture it sounds like your plant made a basal keiki (baby) which has its own root system. If the mother plant looks dead, just cut the new plant away from the original. Make sure you include the roots from the new growth and plant it.

Jane
dakota01
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks Jane, you make posting pics sound easier than what I found when I searched this site.

I don't think it's a kieke, it's more like my plant made a miraculous recovery, the leaves seem to big to be a kieke. It just looks very healthy compared to when I first put it outside and is growing healthy looking roots above the original crown.
tim45z10
9 years ago
There is a choose file feature that will allow to post one pic. Look right above your user name. On my galaxy.
janartmuse
9 years ago
Yes, it is easy to post a picture as this forum has an "Image file to upload" button. As for bug spray, I've used insecticidal soap before on phalaenopsis with no ill effect. Should be fine for whiteflies, thrips, whatever else you might have gathered from the great outdoors. Be sure you smear it over the leaves 100%. Slow on scale, but hopefully you don't have that. As for your repotting question, I'd use some common sense. Remove whatever is dead, and put the plant deep enough in the pot, so some roots go into the potting medium, and use medium to coarse bark so the plant gets plenty of air below. It's ok if a few roots reach out all over the place, but I think lower is good in general. Be sure you don't put the crown of the plant below the "soil" line though. Congratulations on the recovery. Janine

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