I am in the process of losing an paph Delrosi to crown rot. They are outside and it has rained a lot recently. Apparently water sat in the crown of that one too long.

What I don't understand is why an orchid would suffer from water in the crown like that. The few wild orchid I have seen in photos don't have a little fairy standing next to them with an umbrella to shield them. Rain in the crowns should be normal for them.

Outside it is impossible to keep the rain out unless I have a solid roof over them. So how do you prevent crown rot in paphs? Other than not exposing them to rain.

Paphs, in fact all plants do die from crown rot in the wild, especially the weaker and diseased ones and the strongest ones always thrive to survive. Nobody posts pics of rotting Paphs in the wild, just the ones in bloom or look the best. :D After all, in the wild and in nature it is always the survival of the fitests.

Most of my plants are also outside in the summer where they are exposed to rain but I do keep a very watchful eye on some that I know will rot and bring them inside if it rains for days nonstop.

My malipoense diesd of crown rot this summer too. Totally took me by suprise; I didn't even see it coming. it is the first paph I have killed in over two years. Same senario, I put it outside for the summer and bam, it was a gonner.

Since then I bought a shelving unit -- justa basic plastic-looking bookshelf from Home Depot. I put my paphs on it. Thus, they don;t get wet (or as wet) during rain storms. Obviously I needed to adjust its location since the shelves blocked out direct light. A simple solution and now I can sleep in peace during rainy nights. And now off to buy a new maliponese.

Christian

Well the plants are with the one exception growing well. Several have begun new growths or the most recent growth is growing and some of the other non paphs are developing stems. I guess i will just have to try to protect them more from direct rain and just water more myself.

In addition to what Peter said...slippers in the wild also grow very differently from pot culture. Many of them are hanging at angles from the sides of rocks or cliffs, and when rain comes down it does not stay in the crown because the whole plant is tilted and gravity drains the water out. There is also a potential for much more air movement around the crown and roots when the plants aren't confined to a pot.

Sorry to hear about your crown rot! I have rotted a few myself. Sometimes I think it is my fault, and other times I think it is just a weak specimen. :confused:

We all have and still do!