What fungus is the symbiotic fungus of Phalaenopsis, and can white silk disease be controlled with carbendazim?
As is well known, the colorful flower colors of Phalaenopsis have won the hearts of many flower enthusiasts. However, their beauty cannot be achieved by themselves alone, because the seeds of its entire family have no endosperm, that is, orchid seeds have no startup capital, so they must have symbiotic fungi to provide them with nutrients, which can indirectly give them extra nutrients.
The growth symbiotic fungi of Phalaenopsis usually refer to rhizosphere fungi or endophytic fungi. These microorganisms mostly live in the roots of orchids or inside cells, and can help orchids obtain key elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus. What do these symbiotic fungi look like? When some sticky yellow things can be seen with the naked eye on the flower pot cup, appearing in dot form, some green and some yellow, fungi like this are traces of decay after they have finished providing nutrients to the orchid.
In addition, the symbiotic fungi of Phalaenopsis also include the mycelium of white silk disease. They look rather disgusting, appearing as white dots. It is not a necessary symbiotic fungus for Phalaenopsis. Most of the time, the reason it appears is fungi produced because the bark bought back is not fresh. This white silk disease mycelium does not cause particularly great harm to orchids. It mainly decomposes the wood fibers and some nutrients in the bark, and can coexist peacefully with Phalaenopsis, but it will not provide nutrients to Phalaenopsis. If flower enthusiasts find it disgusting, they can pull it out with tweezers, but pulling it out does not mean it will not grow again, because the mycelium of white silk disease will grow on the bark.
As for some flower enthusiasts saying that when they encounter the mycelium of white silk disease they spray it with carbendazim to kill it, in fact its use is not particularly meaningful, because fungicides will kill some of the beneficial fungi naturally carried on the plant roots. The principle is the same as people taking antibiotics. Antibiotics not only eliminate the virus, but also eliminate some good cells in the body, so do not use medicine on orchids when there is no disease.
If flower enthusiasts particularly hate this insect-egg-like white silk disease mycelium, it is recommended that everyone choose coconut husk for the soil, because coconut husk fiber can be regarded as an inorganic material, and it will not easily rot or become moldy. Especially if you are in the south and worried about mold problems, coconut husk can also be used to solve it.
Finally, it should be reminded that the mycelium of white silk disease will not harm orchids. But if you grow monthly roses or clematis, silk disease can be severe. Basically, once they get this disease, they all die, so monthly roses and clematis should try not to be cultivated mixed with bark.