Too much wet

[lmartiny]

We've had so much rain lately. It is either feast or famine. I hate to complain, but there has been a lot of rain. It eventually wreaks havoc on the plants, the grass, etc. And the snails seem to multiply trifold!
I found my Lc. Love knot in trouble and it had been doing so well. Just within days a brown spot appeared on a leaf, then the whole thing was going, along with a new growth that went mushy kaput, and a browned P bulb. I was going to post a "help" thread, but it was moving so fast I just went ahead and acted and cut off the rotting stuff. I hope I did OK with the surgery!
I'm moving a few others in out of the rain. Catts and such. I saw this "rain chain" at Lowes and thought it would be a cool hanger. Just finally bought it for my idea/quest to get some plants out of the rain quick like. But it will look cool out in the yard at some point.

rotten spots

rot cut off

temp dry out

rain chain

Catt. Katrina buds - have to be sure to protect these guys and get a flower

[hulaorchid]

I know how your feel. When it rains here in Jan.
I think the rain chain is a great idea for hanging stuff up, just might have to get one! LOL. Great idea!!!

[solay]

Looks like you got it all. I'm sure it'll recover fine. Can't wait for the buds too open on the Catt. Katrina too.

I love the rain chain. Good idea. I might try that since it looks like it will help maximize the space in the G/H.

[plucker]

We had a fair bit of rain at the start of the year over this way. For the first 3 months Jan to Mar we had 3 metres, averaging a metre a month. Every day we would get an inch or 2. Ocasionally it would be dry for a day or 2. But this is our summer, although it was much wetter than normal.

The biggest thing I noticed was the orchids stopped growing. Nothing died but nothing grew. I had to keep an eye on fungus problems too. Fertilizing was imposible as it would get washed off not long after application.

There was also a bit of bud drop right across the board. Even commercial growers suffered like me. The orchid show proved that with numbers right down.

However once it cleared up growth was unbelievable. It has only slowed in the last few weeks and we are in the middle of winter.

Our temps might be a bit more favourable than you guys.

[patticake]

We've had oodles of rain up here, too. My plants are inside, so that doesn't matter here. The surgery looks like it went well. I LOVE the rain chain! I had a plastic version with clips for my children's stuffed animals, years ago. I never thought about one for plants! How cool! I know the rain doesn't help spirits either. I hope you're o.k.- You're in my thoughts...

[mehitabel]

Looks like your surgery on your poor catt will work. I've had episodes of fast moving rots that I just couldn't get ahead of after a dim period of constant rain. Too much rain also gets into the tender new catt growths, causing them to rot.

Can I suggest a remedy to prevent problems: When there's a long rainy period, take any opportunity a lull provides to get out there and sponge up excess water from any crevices with a paper nampkin.

Then spray the orchid all over with a solution of Physan 20. I keep a spray bottle of P-20 around all the time for too-wet emergencies, such as having the plants wet at nightfall, or water in the crown of a phal.

Physan 20 is a contact anti-bacterial/anti-fungal and gives 2-3 days of protection against both bacterial and fungal problems. It's effective against pseudomonas, the fast-moving bacterial rot that causes crown rot in phals, but also can affect catts.

If the rain lasts more than 2-3 days, look for a chance to re-spray.

[CharliesAngel51]

It seems that you make a good "orchid surgeon" Lynne. Your Lc looks good . I have always been intrigued by those rain chains. Yours looks good with the orchids on it.

[lmartiny]

I have seen Physan mentioned. Is that something I should find in Home Depot or Loews and I'm just overlooking it?
I recently bought Bayre's 3 in 1 Rose and Flower because I've seen that recommended but I haven't mixed any up yet.

[mehitabel]

lmartiny, I believe I have seen Physan at HD. Can't be sure, but I think so. I get mine at Worms Way, a hydroponics store.

If I remember correctly,the idea of using Physan 20 to prevent rots came from Bob Gordon's book, *Culture of the Phalaenopsis Orchid*

[NancyG]

I moved all my orchids in pots out of the rain too. The rot starts so fast. I lost one and I've saved some others. sprayed with anti bacterial anti fungus. The orchids mounted to the palm trees are doing fine and thriving. I don't want to mount them all because I like to bring them in when they are blooming. The snails are going crazy by me too. Nasty buggers!

[katrina]

Ooooo...sorry about that Loveknot. Looks like you caught it in time though.

If you'd like...send some of that rain up here...we are sorely in need of some. It keeps skirting around my area...goes to the north or to the south...not enough of the wet stuff dropping over my house.

Good job on the catt!! I don't remember what it looks like so I'm looking forward to seeing the pics.

[trinigirl]

Sorry about all the rain and orchid damage. I wish you could send some rain down to Houston.

[orchidlover55]

I am on my knees begging for rain . We have had sprinklers out every day for five days and our ground is still dry. I wake up every morning and see my poor little elephant ears wilted. Even the rain flew south. LOL. You did a good job on that Cattleya. Is that cinnamon? I have heard to use that. I like the rain chain too.

[dtje2000]

Rain. Hmmm... Let's put it this way, what I thought was a scratch on my sides I've now realized are gills forming... I don't care what they say the official rain total is for Broward county for June...I have dumped out my rain gauge more times than I can remember and it had over 4 inches in it every time. Rain daily. Sometimes multiple times. It's to the point where I just shrug when I hear the rumble of thunder and think, yeah, of course. I said earlier I would not complain... I lied. I think what tipped me over the edge was when a catt I have not seen bloom decently in a couple of years was putting out a fabulous shoot....and it has now rotted off in fabulous fashion. Everything that is mounted is pretty happy...everything in pots...uh, not so much.

And I won't even waste bandwidth on crying about the mosquitos... but really, I am simply not enamoured of Ode to Deep Woods Off.

Hey, think it will rain tomorrow? Well, I suppose I am still luckier than some (Lynn), as for whatever reason I am not plagued with snails or slugs. Yet.

To the US geeks, Happy Independence day!

[lmartiny]

I wish you guys could get some rain. As I said, it is feast or famine.
Yes, dt, the mosquitos are terrible.
Orchidlover, yes, I dusted the cuts with cinnamon. I learned that here.

[maria1971]

UGH. Rain, rain, rain everywhere!!!

My Hawaiian Wedding Song was in bud and they rotted.

I bought Mr. Motes' orchid book tailored to growing in South florida & he recommends what he calls a "hard dry". He argues that too much rain can actually deprive the plants of nutrients. So, I run outside, keep the plants inside my terrace for about a week or two and out they go again.

My mounts are doing fabulously!!! FAT and healthy roots everywhere....my renantheras look as if they are taking steroids--all my mounts do, as a matter of fact.


Howwever, I've had to resort to brining my seedlings inside because they DO NOT dry out due to the humidity. It's like a sauna out there. LOLOLOLOL


I've also had to put a perimeter of slug pellets for those suckers. UGH.

Well, I guess I shouldn't complain, but the rain certainly presents many challenges.

[hera]

Ok, my time to rant. I was so looking forward to the warm sunny summer to coax the mini catts to their fullest potential, but all we are getting is crappy wet and cold weather. I have alot of my plants in s/h and they are losing roots due to the cold. I've broght in most of the gang and I am begining to think that this summer's vegetative growth is going to have to happen inside under lights. Ugh, cold, wet and miserable!

[lmartiny]

I have heard much of the north is still chilly and damp for this time of year. Um... is that due to global warming? Sorry, couldn't help it.
I know there is some dog-safe slug pellets. i need to check into that.