Den Cathy Beck on Essentials - update

[jerrymeola]

I have been trying for days to post this update on Cathy, but regardless of what I tried I could not upload any photos to the gallery.

I decided to post the entire article to the web and link to OrchidGeeks from there.

http://www.orchidsamore.com/disease%...%20results.htm

[rodbender]

Good article Jerry!! My results have been good with the Worm Tea, Companion, and Essentials also.

[FLaCo]

I am using Worm Tea, Companion and Superthrive. As soon as finish my bottle I will switch to essential.

[articuno75]

I can't remember how the mix was done on this. ( I don't have Companion or Essentials, BUT plan on getting in the future.) Are the solutions mixed together and then used, or used separately?

[FLaCo]

Originally Posted by articuno75

I can't remember how the mix was done on this. ( I don't have Companion or Essentials, BUT plan on getting in the future.) Are the solutions mixed together and then used, or used separately?

They are mixed...well at least I do.

[solay]

I tried to find some essentials on line but didn't see any. Where do you buy it? What site should I go to find some.

[jerrymeola]

Jenny I mix all three. They are compatible and it saves a lot of time to spray only once. Recommened spraying is every 28 days, but since I fight fungal problems this time of year, I increased it to 14 days for the use of Companion and just added the Essentials as part of my routine. I do not know if 14 day treatments did anything extra.

Solay it is a commercial agricultural product and not supplied in under 1 quart sizes. It is usually purchased in the 265 gallon size. It dilutes so greatly (100-200 : 1) 2-8 ounces will do most hobbyist a year. I will bottle some in smaller sizes for members of the forum.

By the way, I added another set of photos to the web page. It is a bare root mount that grew 5 inches of roots in five weeks and produced 4 flowers.

I have 800 new Cattleya potted in 2 inch pots from grower plug trays this month. I am following their development. I am hoping to have the plants pot bound by October show season.

[FLaCo]

Jerry, I don't mean to jack your thread...but how would you take care of maybe bacterial rot?

I had to throw away 3 Catts that were doing great but then would get black from the bottom up. Sometimes the leaf would start with a spot...but other times the Catt bulbs would become black before I even got to see a spot on a leaf.

Purchasing two fans blowing 24/7 helped out and spraying Dithane M-45 seemed like it would help...and maybe it did but two plant and then later a third had this problem.

Any suggestions...?

You can grab this comment and answer it in my thread at the Pests and Disease Category.

[jerrymeola]

The disease is Phythium fungus (black rot) not bacteria. I do not think Dithane will work as that is a topical fungicide.

If it is only spots on the leaves, cutting it off works. If the root has spread to the roots it is usually too late. And that can be quick.

It happens every year and commercially it is just a dollars and cents issue. I usually discard a couple of hundred each year. It is usually the weakest plants so maybe I did not really want to sell them to my customers anyway.

There are several systemic fungicides that are supposed to work to cure it. They are mostly powders which take a certain skill or special equipment to administer. Aliette and Banrot are two powder types. Subdue is a liquid. The cost is extreme. Aliette was purchased by a customer and she paid $165 for a pound for the product. Subdue is over $300 a quart.

Moreover the warnings on the labels indicate how bad they are for humans. Total covering for your body and masks. If you get it on yourself 15 minute flushes are necessary. It would be best to use one time disposable body suits. They make them special for agriculture administration of poisons.

It develops in hot humid conditions, like June July rains. I expect Companion to strength the plants before next season, but this year I had just divided 800 Cattleya the week before the rains started and then I left town.

It is stopping now as it dies in high dry heat.

Plants in the house usually do not have a problem, because the air conditioning keeps the humidity down.

[solay]

Wow, now you've sold me Jerry. The Catts. look great. Maybe if I do the same I'll get similar results. Doesn't hurt to try. I'll PM you about buying some next week. Thanks You.

Damian, I had the same problems with a few of my Catts. that I had to toss. I moved them outside (It's pretty dry here in California) and the better air circulation seemed to have helped. I lost about 3 divisions I got from Jerry. Poo...

[FLaCo]

I also lost one of Jerry's 4 dollar Catt noid.

[jerrymeola]

Solay and Damien you should have mentioned it to me. Damien I hope it was not the extra large one.

I can not eliminate the danger of infection in divisions but I can replace them.

All the plants you received were drenched for Pythium before they were shipped. The fungus exists everywhere.

The two mounted orchids in the Essentials article were from the same Noid batch. They were mounted because they looked so bad in a pot. And now I recognise the plant Blc Toshies' Magic.

Part of the success in growth is also due to the heavy rains that came after the divisions. I grow outdoors under shadecloth because the rain does such great things for the orchids. It soes cause problems when the rain is continuous and teh sun does not shine.

[FLaCo]

Originally Posted by jerrymeola

Solay and Damien you should have mentioned it to me. Damien I hope it was not the extra large one.

I can not eliminate the danger of infection in divisions but I can replace them.

All the plants you received were drenched for Pythium before they were shipped. The fungus exists everywhere.

Jerry please, every single plant I have received from you has been of great quality and at a price that only a friend would give. Thanks!

Many others that were not yours got it too. I blame it on my environment, and my inexperience with fungus ...it happen to yours before I added fans. It wasn't your fault so I didn't mention it to you. I mentioned it because I was kinda bummed out from all the ones I lost that NOID... which i was looking forward to since it was like a surprise.

Plus, If i was in a situation where I thought something was wrong...I would deal with it in a private manner.

Thanks to your post I don't feel so bad that I have this problem. Starting in September I will put my plants in the regimen you have put yours. This way I can have stronger plants that can fight off any invasion.