Erwinia on Delrosi

[The Mutant]

I have what looks like Erwinia on my Delrosi, and it has had it ever since I got it, but I never understood what it was. It looks exactly as is described here: Erwinia, full of yellow, round spots, some of which have started to turn brown. Also, a soft-ish brown streak has appeared on one of the leaves. It hasn't started to smell yet, but I expect it will when it gets completely taken over.

The thing is, I can't cut anything off from it, since the entire plant is infected. I don't know what to do, except keep it isolated and try to keep it dry. :sob:

 

[Ozpaph]

looks unusual.
If in doubt....use cinnamon. Cant hurt.

 

[The Mutant]

I know, which was why I didn't react at first, but if you read the description of Erwinia on Paphs, it appears to be what it is.

I only have ground cinnamon, how should I apply it?

 

[Ray]

Check out the various cinnamon concoctions on my "Home Remedies" page.

However, erwinia is systemic; it is doubtful that a topical application of any cinnamon form will have a significant effect. You need a good systemic treatment. I don't know how sensitive paphs are to copper, but something like Phyton 27 might be worth looking into.

 

[Justin]

it is far past the stage where cinnamon would help. definitely spray it with Pyton 27 if you can get it or a similar copper-containing spray. if you catch it today or tomorrow the plant could make it. you will probably have to cut out that growth entirely. use a sterilized tool for all cuts.

after you save the plant, you should address the cultural issue that helped foster this. looks light it may have been kept too wet. air movement is very important. also, do you have enough calcium in your water supply?

 

[Dido]

all delenatii crosses i have dont like it wet, and dryer then any other Paph kind. So sphag is bad at least for mine.

 

[Wendy]

Are both growths affected? I would remove this growth back to healthy tissue and treat with systemic if you can.

 

[gonewild]

and it has had it ever since I got it,

How long have you had the plant?

Has it spread or remained the same as when you got it?

 

[The Mutant]

I've had it since the 26:th of May this year, and it came with these yellow spots, but I didn't realize what they were. They have gotten worse and all three fans are affected, which was why I said I can't cut anything off, because to remove the infected parts, I would have to remove all three growths.

I think the hot summer, together with high humidity has worsened the infection. I have a fan in the kitchen, where I've kept it, so air movement has not been the problem I think.

We have no Phyton 27 available here in Sweden, but I hope I might be able to get some help from one of the members of the Swedish orchid forum...

 

[The Mutant]

Here's the least affected growth when I had gotten the plant this spring (unfortunately, I never took a photo of it from the other side, where the most affected growth was, and still is):

Here's the same growth today:

 

[Erythrone]

I never saw bacterial rot looking like your spots. But I don't say it is not bacterial rot...

The soft-ish brown streak on the upper leaf llooks has a more familiar look to me!

Do you have some pest on your plant? Pests like thrips?

 

[Justin]

Try a copper product like this:

http://www.gardeners.com/Copper-Fungicide-RTU/8586856,default,pd.html?SC=XNET9221&utm_campaign=cse&utm_medium=googleshopping&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&kwid=productads-plaid^43980191318-sku^8586856-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^30951999398

 

[Wendy]

The spots don't worry me too much (maybe they should but I had a few on my plants in the past that amounted to nothing) but the brown, wet streak on the leaf does. I'd say that is erwinea and would for sure try to cut that out. It will kill the plant very quickly.

 

[Secundino]

From end of may to end of september - that does not sound like Erwinia to me... Al least, those infections I had were much quicker... I am speaking of days, a week and a half...
None of my Paphs sits so deep in the substrate (bark and volcanic), but if it works, don't change. Why don't you want to try aspirin-water?

 

[The Mutant]

No pests on the plant.

I know Erwinia will kill it quickly, but don't know if I can cut it out, since it disappears down the crown of the growth. The spots have started to melt together, and are getting a sort of wet look to them, so they're working their way to look exactly like that brown streak, I think. I honestly believe the plant is too far gone, and since the whole of it is affected, I think the only thing is to toss it.

Justin: I've had problems before ordering anything liquid from outside Sweden, so I don't think I can use your link. As far as I can tell, copper based biocides (?) are not allowed in Sweden.

 

[The Mutant]

From end of may to end of september - that does not sound like Erwinia to me... Al least, those infections I had were much quicker... I am speaking of days, a week and a half...
None of my Paphs sits so deep in the substrate (bark and volcanic), but if it works, don't change. Why don't you want to try aspirin-water?

Hmm... Could aspirin water work on Erwinia? The leaf with the brown streak, only has that brown streak on the underside of the leaf, to upper side seems completely normal.

I normally don't keep them as far down in the substrate as this one is either, but its root system are just underneath the top most sphagnum layer.

 

[Trithor]

My two cents worth,.... If that is erwinia, it is the slowest and least virulent strain I have ever heard of. It normally proceeds in a matter of days to total destruction of the whole affected hand.
My recent experience has reinforced one thing for me. Remove the plant from any potential contact with any other plants!
Next, unpot it, wash it, remove any areas that can be cut away within reason. use a scissors or a blade soaked and still wet with chorine (Jik or similar). The wet chlorine rubs off on the cut edge and helps sterilize it. Repot the plant in a well draining mix, no moss! Cinnamon and asprin, both well worth trying, (don't know how effective they are, but they cant do much harm. Keep the plant on the dry side, good air circulation and watch and wait. Don't just throw it away, don't start major surgery, don't panic, the reality is as it stands you have nothing further to loose. You stand a fair chance that it will survive and although it will look a bit sad for a while, it will grow well. Just don't let it socialise with your other plants, strict solitary confinement, somewhere where you can chat and give moral support and encouragement

 

[The Mutant]

My two cents worth,.... If that is erwinia, it is the slowest and least virulent strain I have ever heard of. It normally proceeds in a matter of days to total destruction of the whole affected hand.
My recent experience has reinforced one thing for me. Remove the plant from any potential contact with any other plants!
Next, unpot it, wash it, remove any areas that can be cut away within reason. use a scissors or a blade soaked and still wet with chorine (Jik or similar). The wet chlorine rubs off on the cut edge and helps sterilize it. Repot the plant in a well draining mix, no moss! Cinnamon and asprin, both well worth trying, (don't know how effective they are, but they cant do much harm. Keep the plant on the dry side, good air circulation and watch and wait. Don't just throw it away, don't start major surgery, don't panic, the reality is as it stands you have nothing further to loose. You stand a fair chance that it will survive and although it will look a bit sad for a while, it will grow well. Just don't let it socialise with your other plants, strict solitary confinement, somewhere where you can chat and give moral support and encouragement

Haha! Thanks Trithor! I think I might have gone a bit drama queen when I declared it Erwinia. I took a moist paper towel on that brown streak and it rubs off? But what on earth is it? Could it be some sort of fungus?

I will get aspirin tomorrow (too late now I'm afraid) and treat it. It's in isolation now, standing close to my fan.

Should I try to rub the spots with some alcohol or is that bad for the plant?

I'm feeling so much better now. It has something, but that something doesn't seem like insta death at least.

I got Erwinia on one of my Phals and that moved super fast. I didn't react about these yellow spots, until I read the description of Erwinia on Paphs in the link, because it's spot (ha. ha. ha...) on.

 

[gonewild]

I've had it since the 26:th of May this year, and it came with these yellow spots, but I didn't realize what they were.

It is not Erwinia. It is probably a fungal infection. It may only be spot infections and not systemic. No need to cut away leaves since it is obviously already present. Best solution is to treat with fungicide.

 

[The Mutant]

It is not Erwinia. It is probably a fungal infection. It may only be spot infections and not systemic. No need to cut away leaves since it is obviously already present. Best solution is to treat with fungicide.

Thanks Lance, God, I'm glad it's not Erwinia! My beloved Delrosi.

By the way, should I still keep it closer to the fan, or will that spread the pores around more? Does fungus dislike more air movement?