Now I'm nervous!

[BGGraham1]

Please tell me what to do! this is my poor Sedirea japonica that I inadvertently fried last week.

The leaf looks horrific, but the stem is starting to turn yellow.

This is with the flash


without flash...


Please tell me if I can do anything.

Thanks all!

[ArtGeekMark]

Oh no! I hope it'll make a comeback, the roots appear great granted I'm kind of still a beginer 3 yrs in... I hope it works out!

[orchidaddict789]

I believe the plant will make it--it has many a couple of leaves and nice roots. You might want to remove the damaged leaf, because a secondary fungal infection may affect the damaged tissue, and the fungus can spread quickly. Best to remove it. Looks the plant's going to shed it soon anyways.

[Dendian]

I don't like the way the brown is going down the leaf.. its too close to the stem of the plant.

The leaf is turning yellow because the plant is drawing the nutrients out of it - it was too damaged to use. The thing is - if you don't cut it off and the brown goes down below where the plant would shed the leaf - the it will go into the main stem - and that is very very very bad. You can see where the leaf will come off - its that green ridge down by the stem. If you can cut above that ridge - but below the brown, and it doesn't continue after you cut - then you are safe.

I don't like that the new growth also has a yellowish tinge to it - which is why - although I hate to do this - I think you will have to do surgery to remove the leaf.

Be very careful not to nick the new growth - and use Physan 20 and a sterile blade, and probably use cinnamon.... you may be trying to stop an infection.

[otis 226]

If it was mine, I'd do the surgery Dian reccommends. The roots are looking good, so here's hoping you can catch it in time.
Best of luck with this.
Tony

[BGGraham1]

OK. Thanks everyone. I'm going right now to take care of it. I'll post pics afterwards.

[Puddy1]

Good luck Brigitte!

Wow ! Is that how severe sunburn looks?

[BGGraham1]

Alrighty, then! the surgery is complete and the patient is in recovery!

When I touched the leaf to get a good angle on it, it just popped off. So, I tried to trim the edge a little more, then I Q-tipped on some Physan 20 (2 tsp to a gallon of water.) I dabbed out the crown as best as I could, then I used a Q-tip to dab on a little cinnamon. I used the other end of the Q-tip to get some little errant sprinkles of cinnamon off of the clean areas of the leaves, and that was it.

Here are the pics




This is the leaf after removal, and the underside...



I think I have Orchid PTSD now. I'm just devastated...

[Dendian]

It looks good - and I am glad to see you were able to get below that brown - and no brown was in where you cut. Popped off is actually a good thing - the orchid was ready to release it.

Take some time - let both your orchid and yourself recover from the ordeal. If you feel a need to look at something - watch that new green root grow... I think it will do just fine.

[Puddy1]

Good job Brigitte I'm sure she'll be fine Like Dian said...you do have that cute little nub to watch

[BGGraham1]

Now the question is, since its mounted, i have had to soak it every other morning. Tomorrow should be the day, so do i go ahead , or should i mist the sphag, roots and mount only? Looks like this one will be going on vacation with me.

[dounoharm]

looks like a fine job, should be ok if it doesnt affect the stem of the plant.....gl

[Greybeard]

I think the surgery was the right thing to do and you did good by your chid and with the roots I saw it should make a full recovery so give it time and relax, take a deep breath Dr. Didn't I read in a thread your going to an orchid fair My prescription for you is to buy more chids to help in recovery oh and I have been promoting your shade house so I charge one orchid for advertising and pharmacy fees

[JungleMel]

Originally Posted by BGGraham1

Now the question is, since its mounted, i have had to soak it every other morning. Tomorrow should be the day, so do i go ahead , or should i mist the sphag, roots and mount only? Looks like this one will be going on vacation with me.

I'm no expert but I wouldn't soak the whole thing right now. Prop it up in the water so only the roots and mount get wet. Or I would mist the roots well, more often. I'm a little more paranoid in these situations as anything that stays wet for too long might harbor fungus that normally wouldn't bother a totally healthy plant, but now has an opportunity to get to an injured/recovering one.

Good luck!

[Orchidchick]

I'm with JungleMel on this one Brigitte, I think you should give the wound from the sugery time to heal before you soak it again. Just mist the roots and spag with plain water and give your baby time to recover. In the mean time, I like greybeards idea pf buying a consulation orchid just to get you through this whole thing.

P.S. Some of the roots are really dark. What kind of fertilizer are you using?

[otis 226]

Ditto gal. I'd keep the roots and sphag lightly misted but would not wet the surgery area just yet.
BTW, it looks like you did a really good job and I'd be willing to bet it will bounce back from this.
Just be aware that from now on your little one may continue saying, 'BRIGHT LIGHT, BRIGHT LIGHT!!' for sometime to come.
Best,
Tony

[BGGraham1]

Originally Posted by JungleMel

I'm no expert but I wouldn't soak the whole thing right now. Prop it up in the water so only the roots and mount get wet. Or I would mist the roots well, more often. I'm a little more paranoid in these situations as anything that stays wet for too long might harbor fungus that normally wouldn't bother a totally healthy plant, but now has an opportunity to get to an injured/recovering one. Good luck!

Well, since I had to go to work before I heard back, I floated the mount in a little water to get the back of it wet. With my fingers, I got some water on those roots in the back, then I held it in place so the bottom roots could soak a little. I was very careful not to get any water in the cut area. Cinnamon is still in place.

Originally Posted by Orchidchick

I'm with JungleMel on this one Brigitte, I think you should give the wound from the sugery time to heal before you soak it again. Just mist the roots and spag with plain water and give your baby time to recover. In the mean time, I like greybeards idea pf buying a consulation orchid just to get you through this whole thing.

P.S. Some of the roots are really dark. What kind of fertilizer are you using?

Oh, I have put my entire wishlist in the iPhone for the Fair tomorrow. My husband is getting nervous, because I am bouncing off the walls!! This will be my first orchid fair, and I read yesterday that Lance Birk, who is apparently really big in the orchid world, will be giving repotting demonstrations and you get a free seedling if you participate. I'm so all over that! About the roots, They looked like that when I got it, but I am using Grow More 20-20-20 at 1/4 strength weekly.

Originally Posted by otis 226

Ditto gal. I'd keep the roots and sphag lightly misted but would not wet the surgery area just yet.
BTW, it looks like you did a really good job and I'd be willing to bet it will bounce back from this.
Just be aware that from now on your little one may continue saying, 'BRIGHT LIGHT, BRIGHT LIGHT!!' for sometime to come.
Best,
Tony

Thank you, Tony. I learned my lesson the hard way, hence the Ghetto Shade House. Everyone really seems to be enjoying it out there now, too. The Catt has a mess of new roots, and the kingies look like they are trying to put out some new growths, too. I can only thank my hubby for that - he is totally supportive of my new obsession.