Help me with this one,please.

[heatherm]

I have a question. I noticed that with some of my vanda orchids the roots begin to grow and look very healthy, then all of a sudden the tip starts to get a black ring around it and then it just seems to dry up or rot away, only at the same tip area. Anyone knows what causes this? I am becoming a bit concerned, since a new plant which I purchased earlier this year and which I was looking forward to doing so well with has started with this trend.

Help please::confused

[willowbanks]

Heatherm, this sounds like a very strange thing to happen.

From what you have said is happening I get the idea it is a chemical burn happening.

What fert (NPK) have you been feeding the plants and what other products have you put on them?????

Bill

[heatherm]

Bill, thank you for your response. I believe you are correct. I did some research last night after I posted the message and came to the same conclusion.

Last month I bought a Mircle Grow Orchid Fertilizer and some Superthrive which I had not seen for many years. Maybe the two of them are too much or my mixture was too strong. I will stop using them on this plant and reduce the mix on all the other plants just in case. Think that will solve the problem? I'll find out I guess.

[willowbanks]

What is the NPK of the Mircle Grow and what rate did you mix it at????

Bill

[digitalgate]

root turning black can be due to the following reasons
1) over fertilization
2) fungus
3) mechanical damage - small animals who love green roots, small curious finger that love
green soft tissue of roots
4) insufficient sunlight which lead to mold growing on plants/ roots
would be nice to see a picture of the plant.

[heatherm]

Bill,

30-10-10 and I used a little less than half of a teaspoon to a litre of water. I also added a drop or two of Superthrive. I sprayed it on, and it has been raining alot recently, so I am beginning to move away from the over fertilized theory. My fourteen year old daughter who I asked to take a picture of the damaged root thinks it is a lizard or some other insect that did the damage.

I will try to get her to down load the pictures soon. I think it was a bit too late in the day the pictures were not as sharp as I would like, so I may take some tomorrow at an earlier time, before I send any.

[heatherm]

Thank you Digitalgate.

I hope to have some pictures by tomorrow. Anyway the plant seems to be surviving and the other roots have begun to look quite healthy again.

[willowbanks]

Heatherm, I think a teaspoon is about 3 grams, your using a liitle less than half so that would be close to 1 gram per litre and that is the same rate I use for my Vandas.

For now I would out the Superthrive till you get to the bottom of the problem. It is suspected that Superthrive may be a highly concentrated fertilizer.

Your fert with NPK 30-10-10 is one that I would use on seedlings for quick growth, not flowering size plants. You might like to think about getting one about 20-5-14 (example ratio only, close to these figures is fine).

How often have you been applying the fertilizer????

Oh, almost forgot, I don't think it is a lizard or insect damage.

A photo of the whole plant would be good as well as the roots.

Bill

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by willowbanks

Heatherm, I think a teaspoon is about 3 grams, your using a liitle less than half so that would be close to 1 gram per litre and that is the same rate I use for my Vandas.


Bill

My one teaspoon is 1.5 g. Measured with a accurate beam balance. But you might have a different habit of loading the tea spoon so yours might be 3g.

[Jonsberg]

It could be any of several things, but modern food shouldn't burn roots. Just in case, I mist the roots of my bare-rooted vandas lightly about half an hour before feeding. Also, check for pests around your patch - it may be advisable to use a systemic insecticide a couple of times just to eliminate potential probelms.

[Ben G]

Excuse me but the same is hapening to my vanilla.

[heatherm]

Just wanted you all to know that I tried another fertilizer as suggested by Bill and now the plant has a real spike (2 others started but did not continue).

Where the root dried also has grown 2 roots.

I keep taking pictures, but I have to get someone to show me how to transfer them to the computer and then to this website.

I have quite a few orchids with spikes now so in a week or two I expect to have some new blooms on show. We have been having alot of rain so although I think that helped the plants to produce the flowers I hope it does not hurt the actual blooms when the open. (At least I'll know they are capable of flowering again

[heatherm]

Bill and Digitalgate (or anyone else who may know)

I have a question for you two.

I purchased some seedlings quite a number about 2 years ago. Den. Big Alex x Silver Wings.
These are the same ones I spoke about when I joined which seemed to have been plagued with a fungus. I seem to have gotten rid of that, but they still have not sent out any spikes yet. I have them all in one pot about 12 plants (I gave away some.)

Should I leave the together or should I separate them? They are growing and look quite healthy now, but no spikes. Am I just too anxious?

[heatherm]

Jonsberg

Please advise the name or components of a systemic insecticide as although the plant I mentioned before seems to be over the problem, I have a couple more suffering from the same problem and not showing any signs of combating the problem.

Thank you, Heatherm

[Jonsberg]

Hi Heatherm,

The systemic I use is called 'Rogor 100' and is made by Amgrow Chemspray.

It contains 100g/L Dimethoate and 729g/L Liquid Hydrocarbon

You need to use it twice (at recommended dilution), around ten days apart. I don't recommend using it all the time though, since it's like cracking what may be a nut with a sledgehammer.

Hope this helps.

[willowbanks]

heatherm, we really need you to work out how to get your photos up on the screen, I can't advise you about whether your Dens are ready to be potted out unless I can see the size and condition of your plants.

Bill

[heatherm]

Willowbanks:

Did you receive the email I sent? I am not sure if you received the attachments.

[willowbanks]

Here are the photos from Heatherm,
Image042.jpg
Image040.jpg
Attachment 37176

[willowbanks]

Heatherm, what you have is a semi-terete Vanda (hybrid between terete and strap leaf Vanda), a very hardy plant.

The damage to the root tips is mechanical.

From your comment above, it is already putting out new roots, keep a close eye on them and see if it happens again.

Bill

[heatherm]

Thank you, Bill. I will try to get the pictures of the denbrobiums to you by weekend.

Heather