What is wrong with this epi? I have been battling scale off and on in the three or four years I have had this epi. Now this. What is wrong? I don't think I have kept it too wet but maybe I have. Help! I really love them but am getting tired of babying it. I have another doing the same thing.
Here is a close up. Notice the black part is in the middle of the "leaf" with green on both sides of the black part.
Pestee42: I have the same thing going on with my Kirbys Giant and with one of my German Empress. I don't know what it is. It is' like yours, eating the middle segments from the leaves. I cut out the black growth and am trying to root the green ends. It doesn't look like root rot or black rot but I don't know what to compare it to. bob
Thanks Bob, I did the same thing. Cut the black out and am trying to root the green ends. We'll see how it goes.
Did either of you find anything out? I'm noticing in the pic brown spots also. I'm curious as to whats going on just for my own future reference.
Roxanne
Everything I read agrees that certain hybrids are subject to this problem. German Empress is a prime example of this. Kirby's Giant, Something Blue,, and a few others I have are more or less likely to show black spots like this. I try to keep it cut out as much as possible but still find it often on the same plants. It doesn't seem to hurt the plant, however.
Interesting
Hmm. Like Roxxanne, I'm curious. I'm noticing you are in the South East, and wondering if it could be a fungal issue brought on by summer rains. My German Empress gets those brown spots Roxxanne mentioned, but I've never seen that black rot.
I cut out the black parts and am rooting the green un mushy parts. It still doesn't look healthy and is struggling. I kept it hanging under the edge of my porch so I don't believe it was too much rain. I recently got a systemic insecticide because of scale on my others and gave it some too even though it's not fully rooted. We'll see.
Mine has not really been black rot but rather brown areas that ate alway through the stem in places. Also brown spots that slowly left actual holes in the stems. Have been spraying fugicides for many months with no real change. My plants are in the greenhouse and watering is controlled. I read in the Epi Forum that this was a trait in the Empress and several other hybrids. The affected plants haven't got worse nor has it spread. Go figure.
Orchidman1, I have the same thing on a couple of mine, and haven't been able to find an explanation. When i e-mailed a grower, she replied it was snail damage, but mine are all in hanging baskets...no way! I haven't been able to find much info on diseases on epis.
Has anyone tried emailing Matt's Landscape?
