Dendrobium Bacterial Leaf Rot: Emergency Surgery and Sterile Technique

Spreading Dark Soggy Spot = Bacterial Infection

A daily-enlarging dark, water-soaked leaf spot indicates aggressive bacterial infection. Immediate surgical removal is the only chance.

Sterile Cutting Protocol

1. Cut off entire affected leaf with sterile tool
2. Examine cut surface: dark spots = infection spread into stem
3. If spread visible, remove infected growth with NEW sterile tool
4. Continue until clean tissue found

Sterilization Hierarchy (Best to Acceptable)

1. Single-edge industrial razor blades (discard after each cut)
2. Garden shears flame-sterilized with blowtorch
3. 10-minute soak in super-saturated TSP solution between cuts
4. 10-minute isopropyl alcohol soak (least effective)

Critical Rule

Never reuse a cutting tool without re-sterilizing. Each cut risks spreading bacteria systemically.