Interesting thread.
I have a very similar problem with a Phrag Don Wimber at present.
The problem looks just like the discoloured patch at the base of the youngest leaf in your first photo. I am sure mine is rot.
The same plant was attacked two years ago and I saved it by cutting out all affected tissue and treating the edges with cinnamon powder.
Howvere it did disfigure the plant badly and I was hoping that the present new large growth was a new beginning.
Don't discount the possibility of this being rot.
You've already treated for bugs and if any are left they should be visible under a hand lens.
The initial damage could be due to sucking insects and the present damage to rot.
I would cut out all problem areas and then try to grow the plants 'harder' for a bit of time and use epsom salts and a bit of aspirin and cinnamon.
Maybe give the plant a bit more light to encourage thicker and more resistant leaves.
It is what I will be trying,
Regards,
David
I think the only thing I can say with certainty, is that it's not any form of rot. If it's rot, it's the slowest rot in the history of rot. I've had the Delrosi for about 8 months (it has had this, whatever it is, the entire time), for example, and despite being almost completely yellow on the underside of some of the leaves, they were still firm, and didn't smell anything. So, not rot.
The bug treatment took place about two weeks ago, so it's quite recent that I started to pay attention to the issues I had within the collection.
I do believe that it most probably was initially caused my mites, and then this, whatever it is, happily followed after.
All the infected tissue, has been removed, and I think your advice is a sound one. The worst infestations seem to have happened to the plants with the softer leaves.
I use it all the time and have good use of it, particularly for erwinia/pseudomonas and their look-alikes. I believe it was the below thread that made me test it, and although the number and severity of incidences have shrunk (touch wood!) I still apply a drop if I see watery bloches. more often than not, even crown rots are stopped and plants survive when I use the stuff.
http://www.slippertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5007&highlight=dragons+blood
I used to buy it from Lance, but his mail order stopped working for me so I had to find alternative Sources. It has to be resin (sap) of the Croton lechleri tree, not Dracena Draco which is what I believe is the one you are familiar With.
Thank you for all of your advice Bjorn, and I will order from the link you provided me.
Most infestations/infections are indicative of some problem with culture. The incorrect cultural technique predisposes the plant/s to insect infestation or microbial infection. The secret is to find out what you are doing wrong as well as treating the ailment. If you don't correct the problem, you may win this bout, but the problem will recur. A growing environment is such a complex interaction of factors that it is difficult to come to grips with them all. The majority of us provide an averaged environment which suits some plants better than others. To complicate things further (or make them easier), there are a range of microclimates within our growing environments.
Obviously introducing a new plant into any environment should be done with care. The minimum I would be comfortable with is a close inspection, accompanied by repotting into my own mix in a clean pot.
One thing I have found has reduced the incidence of infections is adding EM to my water once a month.
I've tried to like your post, couldn't.
I want a like button on ST.
So many wise words (you been looking too deep into the wine bottle again? :wink: ) and all I can do is agree. As I mentioned in my first post, I think it's something cultural that has contributed to the problem, and I need to figure out what. I won't buy any more Paphs until I have, because it's not fun if I buy them, only to kill them all.
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When I used K-lite, the leaves on the plants got firmer, but smaller and the growth rate went down, plus some got rather pale leaves (not only the ones that got waaaaay too much light). With Blomstra, the growth rate went up, the leaves turned a nicer shade of green, but some plants got floppy leaves instead, and this problem (points to the thread in general) increased. So, I need the positive aspects of both of these fertilizers, then I think most of the cultural issues would disappear. It could be that something in my culture is causing the issues with the fertilizer in the first place, too... So many possibilities.
I have an idea of going exclusive K-lite again, but add some household ammonia, maybe to the water or maybe spray the plants with the solution. Household ammonia would be ammonium hydroxide, and I got this idea earlier, but discarded it. Maybe it could be worth a shot? What do you guys say? I really cant get my hands on urea, it's impossible, otherwise I would try that instead.
