Practical Tips for Preventing Stem Rot, Part One of the Series

One of the Best Tips for Preventing Stem Rot

http://www.dfac.cc/showtopic-116-370972-0-0-1.htm

Recently there have been quite a few posts online about stem rot, and reading them is really heartbreaking. Personally, I think improper handling of the wounds on the pseudobulbs when dividing plants is an important cause of stem rot. Even if a seedling has been planted for a long time after division and looks healthy, it may not do well once the environment changes.

Ihave been growing orchidsfor only a short time. Whether it is a newly purchased seedling or one I divided myself, I treat the pseudobulb wounds as follows, and the results are very obvious. I hope this can give everyone some inspiration.

Take a slightly thicker piece of iron wire, fold it in half to make a rounded tip,After dividing an orchidheat the iron wire until red-hot and cauterize the wound. If the wound is convex, just burn it directly. If it is concave, you need to carefully insert the tip of the wire to the bottom of the wound and burn until the wound is carbonized and black, until there are no small holes left at the wound. Then pinch off a little paraffin and place it on the wound, and lightly burn it again so the wax melts completely and seals the wound. Treated this way, it can be potted directly without disinfection. Note: the hotter the iron wire, the better. When burning, lightly touch the spot; do not leave it on for too long, to prevent burning the pseudobulb.

This post was published before, and not many people approved of it. Personally, I think disinfecting orchids prolongs the process of them settling into the pot. If the wound is properly treated and the orchid is potted directly, it settles in faster and leaves fewer future problems.