Mystery yuck!

[li'l frog]

I was repotting today, mostly paphs that didn't look as good as they should, and found a Pedro's Moon that hadn't started a new growth after blooming. Inside the pot, and woven in the bark mix was a brownish gray mat that almost looked like fiber. The roots were gone -- a mushy mess. I've dealt with snow mold before, white, spider-webby stuff, but this was different. I've got the plant cleaned up, with a few roots left, sprayed with a fungicide. I'll leave it bare-root for a few days to see how it fares. I didn't see the same substance in any of the other pots I've been into today -- about 20.

Has anybody seen anything like this? I don't know what it is, or how to effectively deal with it. I've been growing for over 20 years, thought I'd seen everything.

Thanks for your help.

 

[SlipperFan]

Can you post a photo of it?

 

[Pete]

sounds like Rhizoctonia
if so, remove all dead roots, all media, wash put into new media, drench with a fungicide..maybe Alliete? I wouldnt leave it bare root any longer than it has to be.. baby whatever roots you have left... good luck!

 

[Leo Schordje]

I have no clue other than some fungi or bacteria. Rhizoctonia is plausible. If you don't have a fungicide to use, drench the roots with over the counter Hydrogen Peroxide (3% solution). It will only kill surface organisms. It won't harm the living roots. Its broad spectrum, though some fungi are immune to it. Alternately you can try Physan 20.

 

[li'l frog]

It's still out of pot, I'm misting the roots. It initially got a shot of Physan after it got cleaned up and washed off. The top -- one growth that has bloomed, looks ok -- leaves have substance and aren't turning yellow. It has a nice flower, and I hope I can save it. It will probably get most of the roots cut, then put in sphagnum for a while to regroup.