Black Rot on Orchids: Causes, Treatments, Prevention Ideas

With rain season coming along, my orchids are facing black rot caused by fungi. I am exploring some idea on how to treat and prevent it. Consan 20 or Physan 20 are two popular fungicides to treat it and I am exploring a safer method in this video.
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Grow Area- Zone 9, Texas Gulf Coast
Outdoors most of the year except a few weeks in Jan and Feb when temperature drops below 50F.
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Fertilizers:J R Peters Jacks Classic 30-10-10 Orchid Special Fertilizer
CalMag: General Hydroponics CALiMAGic 1-0-0
Seaweed: Maxicrop Soluble Seaweed Powder 0-0-17
Slow release fertilizer: Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Plus Outdoor & Indoor
Sprayer: Battery operated - CRAFTSMAN 1-Gallon Handheld Sprayer
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Videos you may be interested in:
Vanda care and culture: www.youtube.co....
Simple guide to phalaenopsis: www.youtube.co....
Deciduous Dendrobium Care and Culture www.youtube.co....
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Playlist you may be interested in:
Orchids in bloom : www.youtube.co....
Orchid Haul:
www.youtube.co....
Orchid Spotlight / Featured:
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[@Misslou2425]

I experienced this while growing outdoors for the summer ( plants are outdoors from June to October only, here in zone 6). The only thing that ended this for me was intense fertilization with magnesium and ( especially) calcium. Preventative with anti fungals help ..but really increasing those particular portions of their nutrition, was instrumental in prevention.

[@MamasOrchids]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@kvkosmosk3891]

I use diluted Neem which I've been told has antifungal properties among other things. Someone on the orchid Reddit thread suggested putting one or two cinnamon sticks into the bottle of Neem to add that additional antifungal ingredient. It seems to work for fungal infections on my dendrobiums.

[@MamasOrchids]

I like that idea, safer than commercial fungicide. Thanks for the ideas.

[@PC-zg3eo]

Sorry about the black rot. I do agree that calcium would help.

[@MamasOrchids]

Hi! Sorry for the late reply. I gave it some more thought about the calcium. I truly think all the orchids are getting enough calcium. They don’t need much and I have added in my routine adding calcium and magnesium in every other feeding or so. Also I use tap water so I think there’s a some soluble calcium in it too. I think that the orchid stayed wet too long is the real issue for me. I noticed the ones that had rot where all in the shadiest spots.

[@FernandaNascimentoOrchids]

Yeah, terrible !!! I've never experienced black rot as I do not get any rain during warm temperatures. Once the spores have spread into the air it is very worrysome. I hope you can control it. I heard someone (I guess it was Rick L in the day, but I am not sure) that black rot atatcks orchids lacking in calcium. As you said it attacks mostly softened structures, supplementing with more calcium seems logic. What do you think?

[@MamasOrchids]

Hi. Yes I have been feeding with calcium supplements so I am not sure if maybe it's not enough or that it's really unavoidable if rain gets to the Brassavola for three weeks almost everyday. It seems to happen every year on the B. Little Star but I had been able to avoid the rot previous years by keeping in dry and away from rain but I just didn't have my cover pergola this year. Thanks for watching.