Main Causes of Rotten Shoots and Soft Rot and Their Prevention and Control Methods
A variety bred by Tianlong Orchid Garden, with short and round outer petals, thick and soft, tender yellow color, plain and clean, with good contrast between petals, tongue, and stem. Thick leaves, rich fragrance, elegant and graceful.
The new shoots of the orchid are growing well, so why do they rot (soft rot) overnight? The main reasons are as follows:
1. The concentration of fertilizer water is too high, burning the new shoots and causing infection.
2. Pest damage to the new shoots, causing infection.
3. After watering, fertilizing, spraying, or rain, water enters the leaf core of the new shoots and has not dried, and after exposure to sunlight, it causes scalding and infection.
The above three points can occur in all four seasons, so why does shoot rot basically occur in summer?
Summer happens to be the plum rain season, with high air humidity and active bacteria, making these wounds particularly prone to infection. Therefore, now is the season when shoot rot occurs frequently.
How can shoot rot be reduced?
Based on the above three points, the following should be noted in routine management:
1. The timing of watering, fertilizing, and spraying should be well controlled to ensure that the leaf core is not exposed to sunlight when it is not dry. For example, water, fertilize, or spray in the evening, or do not water, fertilize, or spray in weather with extremely high humidity. Ensure ventilation and air permeability throughout the entire orchid growing area.
2. During fertilization, two points should be paid special attention to. First, when preparing fertilizer water, it is best to first place the relatively high-concentration fertilizer water in a small container to settle, then dilute the clear liquid according to the ratio, and discard the sediment, because according to my understanding, the sediment is most likely to damage the new shoots. Second, when spraying foliar fertilizer (the same applies to spraying fungicides and insecticides), it is best that the leaves do not drip liquid, to prevent it from entering the new shoots and forming water droplets (more is not a problem, as it can leave through capillary action and evaporation; water droplets are the most terrifying, as they can only rely on evaporation).
3. Regular pest control and sterilization.
Actually, it is not scary if the new shoots rot. Use sterilized scissors to cut off the rotten part, then apply Dakelingjing to it, and do not let the wound touch water for two days. Generally, shoot rot will not cause the plant to collapse, but if handled improperly, there are also cases of plant collapse. If you are not at ease, you can also separate the mother plant of that rotten shoot and plant it separately.