Out of show mode lurking for a second.

"AND my african violets have powdery mildew" -- This is the problem.
Powdery mildew is a form of botrytis. My books are under 8 weeks of stuff
so I can not tell you which kind, but I do not think it is the same botrytis
that causes whites Phals to freckle before a show. But when ever I have a
powdery mildew problem in the AVs or streps, crud growing on the orchids is
soon to follow.

It is bad stuff, moves quick and can cause a lot of damage. I hit
everything with a systemic fungicide and then mop up with Phyton. In
addition the AVs must be cleaned up to rid them of the visible powdery
mildew. The fungicide will trash the AV flowers and buds, so you might as
well remove them while cleaning up the plants.

If you go this route, take all of the plants outside to spray them. While
they are drying spray the growing area down with physan.

Pat

wrote in message
ps.com...
no, actually they're not too close together, and they each get watered
with fresh water (pots are put on the dish drainer tray and watered
thru, and they sit for a few mins, then get put in the sink to drain
out, about 4 pots at a time. water from drain tray is dumped between
pot sets. maybe no more of that sitting in communal water, even for
such a short time.....)

i'm assuming what's happening is that something is becoming airborne
and lands in another pot. so far it's only been three, but i'm worried
it might spread, which is why i was looking for a preventative spray or
something....

two other plants (both from the same nursery... hmm...) have something
*else*. looks like white chalky stuff. i've got this little
collection of plants on a table in the corner, in quarantine.... :-)


--j_a