From jastuart@mailbox.syr.edu Sun Mar 24 08:35:04 1996
To: Aaron Hicks <ahicks@mailhost.nmt.edu>
Subject: Re: Disas

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Basic Disa Cultural Requirements:

1.  Water and pH:              
 Mountain, Rain, Distilled, Deionized
 Acid to Neutral (4.5-6.8)
 Alkalinity, chlorination, and high salts can be fatal.  Plants should
 never dry out.

2.  Temperature:                
 AIR can exceed 90 deg. F. provided adequate humidity, air movement, and
water are  provided.  (Ideal 55-80 deg. F.)
 ROOTS ideally 50-70 deg. F., never above 80 deg. F.

3.  Light:                             
 30 - 50% shade in spring and summer to promote strong spikes and rich
flower color.  Full sun in winter in the northeast.

4.  Growing Media:         
 Must provide excellent drainage and aeration.
  a) Pure NZ Sphagnum moss packed loosely.
  b) 90% Silica sand (#2 grade) & 10% peat moss.
  c) 33% of each - peat moss, vermiculite, perlite.

Repot in late summer and fall after flowering as new growth emerges. 
Remove all dying old growths to prevent problems with disease.

5.  Feeding:                       
 1/16th - 1/8th tsp/gal 30-10-10 weekly during spring and summer. 
 Flush pots between applications to help prevent toxic salts build-up.

6.  Pots:                                
 5" diameter for mature plants, preferably light colored to reflect light.


Pests and Diseases:

1.  Fungal:  Pythium and Phytophthora cause a virulent rot striking leaf
axil, crown,             tuber,             and the whole root system.  Looks like brown
mushy roots and leaves at             the base of the plant. It can wipe out a
collection in days.  Wetting the flowers may             cause fungal attack on
pollinia, stigma, and seedpod.  This problem is primarily          
exasperated by over fertilization, and stale anaerobic potting mix.

Control:  A)  Systemics work best. Dithane, Captan, Funginex, Benomyl,
Bayleton-A, Subdue-2E applied monthly as a Preventative Measure or
as needed.  Benomyl and Subdue at full strength can cause severe
chlorosis in seedlings. [The author has not tried Phyton 27]
          B)  Remove all aging and yellowing leaves immediately. 
Avoid splashing water from pot to pot.

2.  Bacterial:  Few problems exist. Physan 20, use extreme caution not
to burn the plants.

3.  Virus:  None identified.

4.  Pests:  Red spider, thripes, soft scale, mealy bug, fungus gnat
larvae.  Increase water and humidity to control red spider. 
Powdered insecticides or microencapsulated flowable liquids (such as
Knox Out -- not the aerosol) used cautiously. Safer Soap: some
growers have reported burning with Safer Soap.

Written and compiled by Tony Paroubek, March 1996.
Par-O-Bek Orchids
41 Sycamore Court
Westwood NJ  07675
(201)-664-2548