Water culture orchid, treating stem rot on Phalaenopsis

Every once in a while a Phalaenopsis will develop stem rot. This can happen for many reasons but primarily from getting water in between the leaves when watering. I have used the method in the video a few times with a 100% success rate! Hopefully the success will continue with this orchid.

[@esmeraldamiranda8163]

Danielle thanks so much for your guidance! You have taught me to not be so afraid of growing orchids! I've learned so much! ☺️🌺🙏

[@beckyaa100]

I think I found this video too late! 😭 But it will be helpful for my next orchid - very informative, thank you!

[@poodlepup1]

I have had the same thing Danielle... the cinnamon works well.. i have had crown rot/ stem rot. and its halted the process..with the crown rot she put out a new plant down below on the stem which is growing and with the stem rot...the phal has grown on.... your not running on... you give some good common sound advice.. and thank you for that.. have a great day

[@daniellesorchidranch1591]

Chris Bickley thanks! I've never treated crown rot. I had a mini Phalaenopsis I purchased and she died within a week of getting her, turned out she had crown rot but by the time I realized she was already to far gone. 😒

[@roxanneparker9126]

Hi Danielle, I put cinnamon on my leaves if then have a split or a wounded spot. As long as your just treating those area's it won't affect the leaves. Just wipe with the other side of the qtip so there is no cinnamon where it's not needed. Great videos

[@christrinder1255]

Completely agree about removing rotting velum but not cutting off the inner white root, I do exactly the same 👍😊interesting video thank you Danielle 👍😊

[@ananomysxzitadiwata2179]

Wow. I feel connected to ya, as I was doing that before knowing about it. I just figured. Glad to know we were all right.

[@laribergantin7097]

Hey, I know this video is a bit old so I'm not sure you'll catch this comment but well... I noticed stem rot in my phaleo today and I cut it. I didn't really know what to do and found your video a little late. Anyways, do you think it's possible to root it again? I did put cinnamon on the cut to close it, but now I'm not sure how to proceed. Should I put it in wet sphagnum moss?

[@swarthen700]

Does it grow new cover on the roots once the old mushy ones have been removed?

[@mirabelng37]

Definitely going to try this with my phals. Two of them are showing signs of stem rot. Thank you for sharing.

[@chuntie5518]

Thank you so much.👍 for sharing . I lost a phal from crown rot...

[@daniellesorchidranch1591]

Angel Dust sorry to hear that, crown rot is much harder to treat.

[@plips71755]

Thanks for sharing. Has the velum ever regenerated? Have you ever tested this theory of the root still absorbing as opposed to just sitting there and staying moist for a while but not actually drawing up? I mean if it is helping the plant by drawing up then it should “remake” its velum and keep growing. I wonder - since you are doing water culture - if you can gently protect those with velum with plastic wrap after being well hydrated, then either put all the rest of those without covering into a colored water (water and food safe coloring). Don’t cover the roots - just the tips to see if they will pull the colored solution up into the root. If you have any blooms (pref white) left..if the plant is drawing water then this colored solution should change your bloom color. I have been wanting to do this but haven’t had an opportunity. I’m sure it will happen. The next time I buy a big box white phal - will probably be a good time to try this as it seems I always lose roots when they go from moss to bark or they are in bark but they have either rotted or dried up (over or under watered in the store). Using a colored solution is my understanding of how we get those white phals turned awful blue and purple in the stores. I have seen either they inject the solution in the stem or let it take up coloring by roots. In the past, I have done white hydrangea stems by letting them soak up colored water - no reason orchids in water culture wouldn’t do the same but I have never tried it. On injecting, I don’t see closeup well enough to use a hypodermic - I would stick myself for sure. Just a thought as I have wondered about how to prove this issue of uncovered roots.

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[@karsynyusuf6979]

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[@elliottellis6849]

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[@suecollis9388]

Thank you Danielle, i was losing my best orchid. After watching your information on vellum I took all vellum off and put the plant in a container with the strings in very little water. I put a bag over the top with holes in it and in just a couple of weeks I have 2 roots appearing. I am so excited to see it is surviving. Thank you, thank you. How soon should I put it in bark and charcoal?

[@daniellesorchidranch1591]

Congratulations!!! How wonderful! I would wait until the roots are a few inches and turn green when watering before potting it back into bark

[@suecollis9388]

Thank you so much. They 2 roots are about 5mm and green. I would love to have shown you what the flower was like. 💟

[@champagnedsupernova]

My orchid is like this now. I belive the sponge caused rot. 2 leaves yellowed and dropped. Shoud I cut the white yellow part with all the roots with a razor then, use some hormoned spagnum moss to grow new roots?

[@Amel3122]

Hello, my orchid has only filament roots and no leafs (i found it on the ground) and there is no green roots. Is It already dead (i think so) is it too late or there is a chance that it will survive?

[@pattyhaby4796]

After applying cinnamon do you repot it right away? Won't the water rinse it off?

[@GabrielaMartinez-si5og]

Hi Danielle. Is there an update to this video? I have an orchid just like that one and would like to see the results. I e tried to save a couple with the glass and water and it never worked for me. Any suggestions?

[@loribailey8755]

Hi Danielle (my daughter's name), I wanted to ask you can a broken off crown regrow a stem and roots? Or should I just throw it away?

[@LeTangoNoir]

Any update on this one? Just had to do the same to a keiki with stem rot and hoping it makes a recovery!

[@venicemitchell1407]

I have root rot I need help saving mines. It’s from my nephews funeral and I’m desperate. What to do? It’s lossed five leaves so far. No crown rot or stem but looks like it’s root. I’ve done everything and still nothing!!! with another one yellowing.

[@ananomysxzitadiwata2179]

Oh, thank you so much, Sister Queen. The video was fun yet informative and overall great. I converted 2 of my 4 phalaenopsis after 👀 a couple of your videos. I'm looking at one of my baby plants, named Baby PO, and I'm seeing some rotting issues. Can't wait to use cinnamon to help her. Should I use anything else? I'll let you know when I post some videos of my babies. 😀 Thanks😘

[@daniellesorchidranch1591]

Ananomysx Zitadiwata cinnamon has been found to have excellent antiseptic and drying abilities. I hope it helps your phal, just be sure not to get any on the roots as it will kill them.

[@dawnellsmith8436]

Is it safe to use vinegar to remove black "mold"? from roots and stem?

[@loveunlimited616]

Hi Danielle. I have stem rot and lost all the leaves. The root is still very good and the flower spike is still good. I'm gonna try this. Will I get new leaves

[@judyt4360]

Hi Danielle I was gifted an orchid plant 3 months ago for my birthday. I believe it's starting to rot (one of them are turning black at the bottom like your Video here - the one with blossoms). A couple questions: 1) how long should I leave the cinnamon in for? 2) I thought perhaps it's better change out the bark to pine bark (although they're huge). Do you have a separate video on this perhaps?

[@daniellesorchidranch1591]

What a lovely gift to receive! I am sorry if it seems to have stem rot. Many times when we first start growing orchids we tend to give them to much water which causes them to rot. The good news is many can be saved. The idea behind the cinnamon is it drys the rot and prevents it from spreading. So it’s not something you put on and then rinse off again. If you would like to change the bark you can certainly do that, unfortunately I don’t have any videos on this because I don’t grow mine in bark. However your going to want to use an orchid potting mix. You can find it at home improvement stores. Orchid roots will not do well in pine bark, their roots are very picky about their bark so it’s best to get a bag of orchid bark at your local home improvement store. Or you can order it online from places like Amazon.

[@judyt4360]

@@daniellesorchidranch1591 Thank you so much for answering 😭🙏🏼 Bless you... I love your videos and this first gift of a plant... Has made me want to be more serious about caring for plants and now I'm a proud mom of three plants ☺️🙈

[@diannemathieson4242]

Hi Danielle, Thank you so much for your helpful videos!! I am new to growing and trying to save wounded orchids. I have stem rot, have applied the cinnamon but should I now put the plant roots into the water with the cinnamon on the stem? A little bit of water seems to be absorbed by the plant, which is good, but it seems to be then moving up through the root system and is getting the cinnamon that's on the stem moist. I'm worried this is defeating my efforts of keeping the rot at bay. Should I air dry the roots after applying the cinnamon and if yes, for how long? Thank you!

[@daniellesorchidranch1591]

Dianne Mathieson I would say while the rot is an active problem less water is more, instead of the orchid having constant supply of water I would give it a small drink and then remove and let the roots dry completely before watering it again, if the plant can’t tolerate this her leaves will droop due to dehydration. As long as the leaves remain firm you are giving enough water. If the rot is far enough down the stem you could consider cutting the bottom of the stem off.

[@golfchicknyc1]

Helpful thank you

[@juliazilberleyb3127]

Hello Danielle. I was given a phalaenopsis with a rotting root and just one leaf, there are a few roots available. Will this phal survive?

[@daniellesorchidranch1591]

Julia Zilberleyb it will be quite hard but not impossible. I have a video about how I rescue Phalaenopsis orchids when you get a chance check it out, some of the ideas may help you

[@twilitesos]

Hi, I just saw stem rot on my orchid and did this to help halt the rotting process. Now that I’ve added cinnamon to the rotting areas, should I carry on as usual? I also noticed my orchid’s roots are yellow and barely any green, what do you recommend I do? This is my second orchid I’ve been gifted and i don’t want it to die 😕

[@blueraccoon2615]

what do i do next??? Just put it back in water....wash off the cinnamon....???

[@amorales5144]

Were you able to save this orchid?

[@daniellesorchidranch1591]

A Morales unfortunately not. The rot was worse then it appeared and a few weeks later it became evident it had reached the crown. 😔

[@southpark4151]

+1 for honesty, and also noticing you don't seem to be biased toward a method (eg. water culture) - and you teach effective aspects of what you have learned for this method. That's excellent. For the rot - maybe trying systematic fungicides (rotated) may have given the orchid a better chance - in case the rot was attacking both outside and inside.

[@HOLLYHOUSE11]

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I totally put cinammon on the freaking vellum rotting. Crap. If this orchid lives, it will be an act of God. I have tried so hard to save it for nearly a year, and I do wrong stuff like that. Im going to rinse it as well as I can ... Thank God it is getting a couple of teeny tiny dots of new roots. God I hope it will be ok.

[@daniellesorchidranch1591]

Orchids are pretty resilient! Hopefully once you rinse it off it will recover 👍🏻

[@anikazafar7877]

“Becuwwwz” haha thanks for your video