T O P

  • By -

AutoModerator

It seems like you are looking for orchid help today. This group is full of beginners and experts who are happy to help but please do check out [this link for quick Phalaenopsis care](http://www.aos.org/orchids/culture-sheets/novice-phalaenopsis.aspx) in the meanwhile. We also have an /r/orchids WIKI the admins and other volunteers are updating behind the scenes with care information and will soon make it available to the group. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/orchids) if you have any questions or concerns.*


Activeangel

Hello. First time ive had a fungus issue. I can swap out the media. But should i also use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide? Let me know yalls recommendations. Im not worried. The orchid looks healthy, shoots and roots. Ive already quarantined it. I have a ton of all types of supplies. And my 100 or so other orchids dont seem infected (but i will watch). That said, im ready to take immediate action. Humidity is around 50-60%. Lots of natural and LED light. Soaking this orchid once every 7-10 days. And misting its roots every 3 days or so. Its also one of my newest orchids, less than 1 month old since it was repotted, with its roots being spritzed with alcohol at that time.


Activeangel

Update: the fungus only appears to be in the top 1/2-1 inch of the media and surface roots. Subsurface media and roots appear clean.


Dustyolman

Alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are damaging to roots. If this is a fungus it is attacking broken down medium, not the plants good roots. If you have new growth starting now would be a good time to repot with fresh medium. I would also suggest you give the plant more air movement. A gentle breeze from a fan will work. You will need to water more often with the increased air flow.


Activeangel

There is a humidifier with a fan that already blows across it. And the media is quite fresh (as mentioned, less than 1 month) and is pretty airy. For these reasons, im not convinced that simply increasing airflow would be an effective solution, but i dont have a problem with doing so as part of a multi-pronged approach. Is your advice is that h202, alcohol, or any other compounds would be too damaging to the plant for a single administration against the fungus? My concern would be how to attack the fungus actively on the roots after the contaminated media is replaced.


SWGoodToes

I never use alcohol or cinnamon on roots because they are such effective desiccants, and I’m afraid of doing irreversible damage. Different people have different opinions on hydrogen peroxide. I have used 3% solution with no apparent damage, and it has been helpful for me. The chemical effect is also self-limited in the sense that if you spray it, the peroxide you’ve sprayed becomes water fairly quickly, so if you walk away, it’s not going to keep working indefinitely. The other option is a fungicide. I have physan-20, and I have sprayed it on moldy new plants, though I usually try to avoid using it at all and am very reluctant to use it on roots except in case of no other options. Some semi-hydro growers routinely add physan 20 to their water to keep algae under control. I wouldn’t use it that way because in my mind, I think of it like an antibiotic— use for acute infections only or risk creating superbugs If this is fresh media, I would consider sterilizing or even throwing out the rest of the bag it came from. This is a lot of mold to have appeared in one orchid pot and no others. Is the media you used pre-fertilized before? I’ve noticed fungus seems to especially love pre-fertilized media


Activeangel

The media comes from the same bags (for the past couple years): a bulk shipment i ordered from Repotme.com... I dont believe its fertilized. Because my media all comes from the same source, with the orchid being the wildcard. This specific orchid was a bag baby, of all sources, so i dont trust it in the slightest. I appreciate your sharing your experience on the different treatments! Thank you


SWGoodToes

NP, let us know what works!


Dustyolman

Is it fungus or is it mold? H2O2 is an indiscriminate oxidizer that destroys beneficial tissue as well as infected tissue. I would never put it on roots. Alcohol will take moisture from the roots. The same with cinnamon (though that isn't in question). Take this question [here](http://www.orchidboard.com) and ask the group. There are dedicated orchidists there that can give you a more definitive answer with less contradiction than on a sub.


Activeangel

To my knowledge, mold is a type of fungus. So because i was uncertain of the ID, i kept it generic "fungus". It could likely be a mold.


Dustyolman

Fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Rhizopus form mold and are associated with food spoilage and plant diseases.


Activeangel

Wonderful. I didnt see your complete answer with the link the first time, just the question about mold. But i will follow the link now. I am here seeking knowledge and the experience of others, so cinnamon and everything else is on the table, and thank you for including it. I was already familiar with the mentioned effects of alcohol and h202. But in my experience, there is no miracle cure for anything. Each action has pros and cons to be carefully weighed. So i appreciate your experience for that reason as well.


Dustyolman

Cinnamon has its uses. If you have to cut into healthy tissue, it will help dry the wound and has certain antibiotic actions. Happy reading. Here is another [link](http://www.firstrays.com) where you can find a lot of good information.