Catasetum damage

[malteseproverb]

This Monnierara Millennium Magic ‘Witchcraft’ was hanging in my yard and the hanging mechanism detached and it fell on the ground. A chunk of the new growth got cut into. A couple leaves snapped and the aerial roots are crushed too, but I don't know what to do about the pseudobulb gash. Anything I can do here? Is it best to just cut it off and hope for a new growth this year? Or is there a possibility it will heal and keep growing? Anything I can do to help the plant right now?

[fishmom]

Don't cut. I would brush a little cinnamon directly into the wound in the main growth and then let the plant recover as best it can. Leave anything green in place until you can see that it has dried up. Those leaves and roots are still attached to the plant and they may well continue to function. A small nick on the outer part of the root will not stop the root function. No cinnamon on roots, though.

[malteseproverb]

By the way, in case anyone is interested, this ended up blooming for me even though the pbulb itself never grew more after I dropped it. Which is crazy because that was apparently all the way back in May. I watered it and kept it in full sun as usual but it grew no new roots or leaves either. I did put cinnamon on it as suggested, thanks!

[fishmom]

Nice! Those catesetums store their strength in their p-bulbs and they can take a fair amount of abuse and still bloom, and you can expect a sprout next year. Good growing!

[Roberta]

Nice thing about these is that they "renew" themselves every year, forget the past. The old leaves, pseudobulbs, and even roots become just reserves for next year's production.

[Subrosa]

I had one start to rot a few years ago, and managed to dry out and save a decent sized piece of a pseudobulb, from which a new growth developed normally the next spring.

[SouthPark]

Excellent to see that this orchid turned out just fine from its flesh wound. Even flowering nicely. Quite an interesting kind of plant these catasetum types. I like the speed that the mature plants grow their bulbs during the active time. The speed of growth of the juveniles is pretty good too.