SlipperKing
Madd Virologist
I'm sure most have experienced that nasty bacterial rot. That can quickly spread from the base of your favorite paph or phrag and consume the entire plant in a matter of days. Well, some time back, we had threads posted by Sanderianum and followed up by Rick from Tenn. on nutritional requirments of paphs. Especially Ricks resent interest in phosphates and its role in the health of the slipper orchids. He had come across an article stating cash crops in tropical soils benefited by the addition of lime. We haven't had an update lately on his experiments with bone meal being added to the his plants but I decided I would try the same with my paphs and phrags. So I've been adding bone meal as a top dressing to number plants for the last 2 months and here in Texas is the prime time for basal rot to pop up. I had a couple of plants that I was fighting this rot with an expensive antibotic power, repotting and the such with little success. Out of frustration I said "what the hell, it's worth a try" so I dumped a spoon full of bone meal into the leaf axles of a phrag that I was going to loose anyway. Wha La! I watched over a few days and the rot was stopped, dead in it's tracks! All total four out of four plants with no new rot. I don't know if this is new knowledge or not but I'm pleased with the results so far. See pics below.
Paph Imperial Jade with rot (old)
Paph Imperial Jade with rot (old)