Zygopetalum help!

[swcheng15]

Is it too late? This is my first zygopetalum. I've been watering by the weight of the pot, so aside from today, it was last watered on Monday evening. Looking at how shriveled the bulbs are (even the new bulb), I'm worried I am killing it by clearly not watering enough. My Zygo is in bloom with three flowers. I flushed it thoroughly this morning, and then had it soaking in a pot of water for about 10-15 minutes. It has been along a wall which is opposite of a southeastern facing window, but now I moved it further away from that window. What can I do now? Thanks for your help!

[rbarata]

If you're watering and the pbulbs are shrivelling then you need to repot asap.
The roots in the medium might not be doing it's function (absorbing water, hence that's why the plant is shrivelling). Have you ever repoted it?

[swcheng15]

Originally Posted by rbarata

If you're watering and the pbulbs are shrivelling then you need to repot asap.
The roots in the medium might not be doing it's function (absorbing water, hence that's why the plant is shrivelling). Have you ever repoted it?

I have not. I recently got this from the nursery about a month ago. I'm pretty sure the bulbs didn't look like that when I bought it. When I asked about repotting, the lady at the orchid nursery said maybe not until after the blooms. So given I'm a newbie to Zygos, I just believed her.

[rbarata]

Yes, usually the repot is done after blooming but if the plant is at risk better forget the blooms.

[swcheng15]

Roots seem ok.. the roots of the new bulbs were rotted though so I removed the outer layer. I repotted into small bark and a bit of moss mix.

[rbarata]

Have you repotted between posts?

[swcheng15]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Have you repotted between posts?

Yes! Haha! I'm away now for the day so I had to do it before I left. I'm trying to figure it how to post a picture of the roots from my phone.

[aliceinwl]

I’ve found that these do not like to go completely dry but don’t want to be soggy either. You may want to up your watering frequency (water while the pot still has a bit of weight) if you think it was drying completely between waterings.

I’m not sure what your living situation is like, but your climate is pretty similar to mine. My Zygopetalum are very happy growing outside in bright shade.

[swcheng15]

Originally Posted by aliceinwl

I’ve found that these do not like to go completely dry but don’t want to be soggy either. You may want to up your watering frequency (water while the pot still has a bit of weight) if you think it was drying completely between waterings.

I’m not sure what your living situation is like, but your climate is pretty similar to mine. My Zygopetalum are very happy growing outside in bright shade.

Thanks Aliceinwl! Right now we've been having weather in the high 70s and low 80s, so I think it wouldn't do well there. We don't have a lot of humidity either lately. I've since repotted with a bark and a little bit of moss mixture, and will be more careful about watering every few days or so. It's hard to keep track of watering situations for every type of orchid. I need to work out a system. Any thoughts?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by swcheng15

It's hard to keep track of watering situations for every type of orchid. I need to work out a system. Any thoughts?

I adjust the potting medium for the different types depending on their watering needs, so that I can water a bunch of different ones at the same time. For instance, I have Laelia anceps (mounted or in baskets with minimal media) hanging above the Cymbidiums (in fine bark) - they get the same watering, as often as every day in the heat of summer. The Cyms stay moist and and the L. anceps are dry within 2-3 hours of watering - both are happy. Experience will teach you what the different types need, and then you can adjust the media so that you can water all together, and have each get the result that they want. (That way you only have to make the decision every 2-3 years when you pot, not every day or two when you water)