Hmmm, very odd...

[chefatplay]

I had two phals that I rescued from Publix a couple of months ago. One of the phals, had two plants in the pot. The medium mixture is a coir, bark and a smattering of sphagnum moss here and there throughout the mixture.

Yesterday, I noticed the one plant had yellow around the one leaf at the crown area. I immediately took the plants out of the pot, and to my surprise, the one plant is completely rotted, no roots at all. The other one was beautiful with good, firm long multiple roots. The medium was not too wet at all. In fact, I have been carefully watching this plant as I don't have to water them often at all, maybe once a month. The leaves on both plants, up until now, have been very firm and shiny, standing up and being very proud.

The only difference between the two was the one that died, had a small, not more than one inch by one inch, piece of sphag right at the base of the plant.

Live and learn. One tiny piece of sphag.

[mayres]

Good job at not overwatering - it is hard to resist when the days continue to count up and you KNOW that they don't need it. I've probably gone a month or so on some plants as well - especially in the cooler winter months. My guess is that the plant with the wasted roots was well on its way down the tank BEFORE you came to acquire it - probably watered to death by unknowing store employees. I have learned to repot every phal I get immediately to assess the "damage" (and no offense intended to those that love sphag) and remove any media where sphag is involved. Good luck - mike

[chefatplay]

I know what you mean about the sphag. I have, however, had some success with repotting my Brassia in sphag. It is not tight at all and the pot has holes all over, so I can stick my finger in anywhere and gauge the wetness. I am very apprehensive about sphag.

[palito]

hehe I love spagh because I can't be a slave to the plants lol.
a phal in spagh = 2 weeks of not watering

[Mercedes]

I just repotted a phal that I got a couple weeks ago. I realized I hadn't needed to water it since I had brought it to my shop, and it was dropping yet-to-be-formed buds off of it's second flower spike, as well as losing buds off of the active flower spike. I checked it's roots, and it was potted in 100% sphagnum moss. I brought it home, trimmed roots, and repotted in bark; now I'm waiting to see how it does after surgery.

[chefatplay]

Boy, I'm sorry to hear that Mercedes. One of these days, I'm going to learn to check the roots when I get them home. They always look so pretty when I buy them and I just can't imagine them being unhealthy.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Your failing plant may have contracted a fungal desease that the other plant is resistant to. I consider 2 plants in the same pot to be generally problematic. You may want to repot the 'good' plant in fresh mix after a short root soak in a fungicide like physan 20. The other is probably best in sphag & bag until new roots start. I have had lots of fungal problems, and I read one study that found fusarium fungus in all of several samples of peat moss, a major ingredient of my mix. I am planning to buy some Banrot to incorporate in my mix to protect the plants from the fusarium, undoubtedly the major killer I have been working to save many plants from that has been running wildly thru my collection.

[Tobi]

Cynthia,
Although I work with Fusarium in human infections, mostly eye infections from
contact solutions, we have seen a great deal of mycotic infestation in immuno-
compromised patients as well. Being a natural inhabitant of soil and water,
plants (including orchids) have been known to acquire this through cuts and
stalk damage causing dry rot. I read they are also conducting studies on plants
having similar conditions. Those that are stressed from varying circumstances.
They seem to think that these plants are even more susceptible to it. Will
post more information on this as I hear further news.

[Ellen]

I very much doubt that the sphag fragment was the culprit. I agree with the theory that one plant was weaker than the other and succumbed to whatever abuse it received during its stay at Publix. I don't think it's a good idea to grow multiple plants in the same pot long term because one will eventually become dominant and take resources away from the other(s). I see this in overgrown compots, where one or two plants are very large and mature looking and the others are stunted. It's survival of the fittest in action, but if your plant isn't the fittest, you can help it survive by removing the competition. Another argument against potting plants together is that if one becomes infected with something it's easier to pass it on to its pot-mate(s).