Pythium Black Rot

This disease affects mostly seedlings in community pots , which easily succumb to it . The ailment is also called "Damping off" . Plants turn brown and transluscent and the bulbs starts to rot within . Leaves fall away . The infection spreads through the rhizome and is carried from one plant to another through water. Hence the fungus can flourish only under damp conditions . Remover infected parts , dip the plant in a fungicide like Ceresan and repot in fresh medium . Withhold water for a few days and remove the plant to less humid part of the orchid house . Irrigating with a mild solution of Aldrin once a month while the plant is at a tender age, is an effective preventive measure.