Learning how to treat orchid crown root rot disease can be essential to your orchid’s survival if you suspect your orchid roots are unhealthy.
There are a number of diseases that can go on to impact your orchid and its roots. Crown root rot disease is among one of the most common diseases that may be harming your orchid.
Root rot can be easy to treat if you catch it right away and can necessary actions to make your orchid healthy again. There are several things you can do to treat and prevent orchid crown root rot.
In this post you will find information on:
- What root rot is
- What causes orchid root rot
- How to treat root rot
- How to prevent future root rot of your orchid
Table of Contents
What is Orchid Crown Root Rot Disease?
Root rot disease can be extremely harmful and even deadly to your orchid. This disease is a bacterial infection and can even spread to other parts of your plant.
It is important that you know how to identify root rot. Being able to identify this disease will allow you to take proper action to treat it.
Root rot causes the root’s tissue to breakdown and decompose overtime. You orchid will essentially be suffocating if infected with root rot. Healthy roots normally appear a grassy green color and are think and waxy feeling.
If your orchid has crown root rot disease, you will begin to notice your orchid roots becoming dark green, and even black. The roots will also appear to be soggy and mushy.
Ways to tell if your orchid has root rot, is by removing the orchid from the potting medium.
Lift and observe the roots. Once you do this, especially if you notice your orchid has root rot, you will have to treat the roots and repot the orchid in new soil.
What Causes Crown Root Rot?
Orchid root rot disease is typically involves watering your orchid and can be caused by:
- Overwatering your orchid
- Leaving your plant in standing water
- Not letting potting medium and soil dry in between waterings
Root Rot and Air Flow
If your orchid roots become submerged in water, then this will cause poor air flow between the surface of the soil and the potting medium. Excess water will suffocate your orchid roots. Excess or standing water will cut off air flow passageways your plant needs to breathe. This may cause your orchid to slowly die, and may even spread to other areas of your plant if not treated.
The roots, if infected by root rot, will become soggy, start turning dark colors, and may even smell if left in standing water.
Properly Watering Orchids
It is important that you know the proper ways to water your orchid, in order to prevent orchid diseases.
Most household orchids, with the exception of larger species (like the vanilla bean orchid), will need to be watered every 7 to 10 days.
Before watering your orchid, you should check the moisture level of the soil and potting medium. If both are still moist, then your plant does not need to be watered. You should water your orchid once the soil and potting medium are completely dry to prevent root rot and other orchid diseases.
For most species of orchids, you will only need to give your orchid 3 ounces of water each time you water it.
For more information on how to water your orchid check out How to Properly Water Your Orchid.
Orchid Crown Root Rot and Standing Water
The roots and soil will absorb most of the liquid, but you may find some of the water pooling in bottom of your pot. If you notice excess water pooling on the bottom, you should immediately drain it.
How to Treat Crown Root Rot
If you suspect your orchid is suffering from orchid crown root rot, then there are several things you can do to treat your orchid. Treatments can be easy and you will quickly notice an improvement to your plant once you do treat it.
Different treatments you can do to your roots if you suspect it’s suffering from root rot including:
- Cutting off any infected root
- Spraying your plant with hydrogen peroxide (3%)
- Use the “sphag-n-bag” treatment to grow new roots
- Soak Your Orchid in Root Stimulants
- Repotting your orchid in new soil
Cut off any Roots Infected With Root Rot
If you diagnose your orchid with root rot, then you should quickly cut any infected root off your plant. If you do not remove rotting roots, then this bacterial disease can spread to other areas of your plant.
You will want to use a sharp, fine knife to cut your orchid roots. Cut the roots as close to the column or base of the orchid as possible.
If you cut your orchid roots, be sure you do not remove any living roots. A healthy root is a grassy green color and feels like candle wax. The lively roots are the reason your orchid is still living. They are helping your orchid to breathe and absorb essential nutrients. If you see any green roots on your orchid, leave them. Only remove any dark, soggy roots.
If you treat your orchid with hydrogen peroxide, root stimulants, or use other treatments, you can preserve the healthy roots and prevent them from being infected with root rot.
Treat Root Rot With Hydrogen Peroxide (3%)
Using hydrogen peroxide to treat orchid root rot can be an effective treatment to stop the spread of this bacterial disease and prevent it from spreading to the rest of the orchid.
You will want to make sure you are using 3% hydrogen peroxide solutions.
To treat root rot with hydrogen peroxide you can do two different things:
1. You can either pour a cap of peroxide on the areas that are infected.
2. You can put the hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and mist the areas that are infected.
When you apply the hydrogen peroxide on the infect areas, you will begin to notice the infected area is bubbling. This means the peroxide is treating in infection that your orchid has.
When treating orchid root rot with peroxide, you will want to apply this solution on your plant 2 to 3 times a day for 1 week. If the crown root rot does not begin to clear up after this amount of time, you will want to consider other options for treating your plant.
“Sphag N Bag” Root Treatment
The “sphag n bag” root treatment is a popular to treat orchid crown root rot and to improve the overall health or your roots. This treatment is easy and will surely produce the results you are looking for.
In this process, you will need:
- 1 gallon sized zip-lock baggy
- 1 gallon of distilled water
- 1/2 cup of sphagnum moss
There are 9 Easy Steps for the “sphag n bag” process:
1. First cut and remove all organic materials that may be on your orchid roots. You should also remove any infected roots with crown rot
2. Soak your orchid in 1 gallon of warm, distilled water for 1 hour. This will help remove any excess organic materials and dead roots
3. Place the sphagnum moss in the zip-lock baggy
4. Then place your orchid in the baggy the same way you would place it in a pot
5. Next, add 1 teaspoon of water to the moss and plant in the baggy
6. Seal the zip-lock bag. Don’t seal the bag completely, as this can cause mold to grow on your orchid and moss
7. Place the baggy in a warm, shaded area. The warmth will help to create natural humidity and moisture inside the bag
8. Keep the orchid in the bag for 1 month
9. After one month, remove the orchid from the bag and repot it in new soil
After a month of treating your orchid in the bag, you should begin to notice your orchid roots returning to their healthy state (grassy-green, with a candle wax feel) and even new root growth. Once your roots return to being healthy, you can take the plant out of the bag and repot it in new soil.
Soak Your Orchid in Root Stimulants
Another way to treat crown root rot is by soaking your orchid in root stimulants.
To do this, you will want to purchase a root growth stimulant. Popular stimulants include:
- SuperThrive
- Dip-n-Grow
- Dyna-Gro K-L-N
- Seaweed Extract
- Nitrozime
You will want to use growth stimulants that are rich in vitamin B1, indole acetic acid, iron, indole butyric acid, and naphthylacetic acid.
If you use root stimulants to help with orchid crown root rot, you will want to mix the stimulant with water (preferably distilled water). Most root stimulants will provide directions on how much stimulant you should mix with water.
Once you have your mixture, place the orchid in it for 1 hour. You should repeat this process weekly for one month, and you will begin to notice the health of your orchid’s roots improve.
For more information on orchid root stimulants, check out this article about root stimulators.
Repot You Orchid in New Soil
One of the best things you can do for treating your orchid roots, is by repotting it in new soil.
Most soils, whether you use bark or sphagnum moss, breakdown and decomposes overtime. The soil will lose key nutrients and may even harm air and water flow if you do not replace it. You should repot your orchid once a year in new soil.
If your orchid has crown root rot, you will need to repot your orchid in new soil right away.
Exposed soil with be contaminated with the bacterial disease, and keeping your orchid submerged in contaminated soil will cause the disease to spread throughout the orchid quicker and will eventually kill your orchid.
Ways to Prevent Future Damage to Your Roots
After you have cleared up the crown root rot and your orchid is back to its fully healthy state, you will want to take measures to prevent future root rot and damage to your plant.
There are several things you should do to prevent root rot and other forms of diseases or damage to your orchid.
One thing you can do is to continue treating your orchid with hydrogen peroxide. You should spray your orchid with peroxide once a month. This will help kill any potential bacteria that may be forming on your roots or plant in general.
It is also important that you repot your orchid in new soil at least once a year, or whenever you notice something wrong with the potting mixture. Soil will decompose overtime and lose key nutrients and may even harm water and airflow. New soil will help in keeping your roots and orchid plant healthy and is a good treatment for your orchid.
You can also continue to soak your orchid in root stimulants. Repeat this process as described in previous sections at least once a month. This will help in promoting new and healthy root growth.
The best way to prevent root rot and future damage to your orchid is by draining any excess water that may be standing on the bottom of the pot after watering your plant.
It is also essential that make sure the orchid’s soil is completely dry before watering it again. This will help in preventing over moisturizing your orchid (which can cause bacterial growth if not treated).
How to Treat Orchid Crown Root Rot Disease: Summarized
Treating orchid crown root rot disease can be an easy process if you know how to identify this bacterial disease and know the proper steps to clear up the infection.
Crown root rot is a common bacterial infection that cause your orchid roots to appear dark (almost black) and soggy. This disease can go on to spread to the rest of your orchid if not properly cared for.
If you suspect your roots have this disease, immediately address the infection once you notice your orchid roots health is deteriorating. Remove your orchid from the potting medium and soil to check the roots if you suspect something is wrong with your plant.
To treat orchid root rot you should:
- Cut off any infected roots (be sure to not cut off any healthy, green roots!)
- Apply hydrogen peroxide (3%) to infected areas (you can either use a spray bottle or pour a cap of it on infected areas)
- Use the “sphag n bag” treatment
- Soak your orchid in root stimulants
- Repot your orchid in new soil
To prevent future orchid root rot you should:
- Practice proper watering techniques for your orchid. This means only watering your orchid when the soil and potting medium is dry
- You should also drain any excess standing water from the bottom of your pot
- Spray your orchid with hydrogen peroxide once a month
- Repot your orchid in new soil once a year
- Soak your orchid roots in stimulants monthly
Clearing up crown root rot infections can be easy. There are a variety of different methods you can try and if you notice one method isn’t working, try another treatment method.
The disease will be cleared up in no time if you take the time and proper steps in caring for your orchid. Thanks for reading, and I hope this post has taught you everything you need to know on how to treat orchid crown root rot!
