Dormant Orchids with 'bulbs' (if proper term) starting to blacken a bit...

[HiOrcDen]

So a good number of orchids I purchased within the last few months with 'bulbs' were in a dormant state upon arrival, as well as possibly a couple earlier acquisitions with bulbs which shed leaves, and I'm hoping are just dormant.

I have become very conscious of the fact that substrates of a good number are breaking down, so I've started a big repotting project.

I'm afraid I made a rookie mistake by not detecting the need for repotting in time.

This is because, with the dormant plants, the large 'bulbs' (if that's the right term)... some of them are starting to blacken slightly.

So I am wondering, is it too late to repot and preserve the plant, if those 'bulbs' have started blackening, even just slightly?

A couple I have repotted seemed to have healthy roots, though the bulbs are slightly blackened. These slightly blackened bulbs are still hard. So I'm hoping that it is not too late for these Orchids! Any advice will be appreciated!



ps... actually I recall that @Ray at one point clarified to me the terminology/classifications of pseudo-bulbs, etc. though memory does not serve! lol

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

There's a difference between pseudobulbs and tuberoids.

Pseudobulbs are made out of modified stem tissue.

Tuberoids are made out of modified root tissue.

Different plant parts, different criteria to consider.

Which would you say the "bulbs" you're referring to are?

I'm only assuming you're talking about pseudobulbs because of how much easier these plants are to grow and get a hold of, but I'd like confirmation before I dish out more info.

Also, what are the name of the plants?

Plus, check the roots.

[estación seca]

Which plants? Were they shipped in pots, or as bare root plants?

If these are epiphytic orchids those are pseudobulbs. Sometimes gardeners refer to them colloquially as "bulbs" and may call leafless, old pseudobulbs "back bulbs."

[Roberta]

Photos would help! Also names (at least genus) would also help.

[HiOrcDen]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

There's a difference between pseudobulbs and tuberoids.

Pseudobulbs are made out of modified stem tissue.

Tuberoids are made out of modified root tissue.

Different plant parts, different criteria to consider.

Which would you say the "bulbs" you're referring to are?

I'm only assuming you're talking about pseudobulbs because of how much easier these plants are to grow and get a hold of, but I'd like confirmation before I dish out more info.

Also, what are the name of the plants?

Plus, check the roots.

I have attached 2 pics. I am guessing the tall stem is modified stem, and that the fat green bulbs are modified roots... best guess, because I have seen green surface roots!

I do have a good number of exotic or unusual Orchids which I have searched extensively, so may have some of those hard to find? Are you referring to the unlikelihood of having a non-epiphytic orchid? What else is there than epiphytic, besides terrestrial??

The little one with the tall stem is Den Lorrie Mortimer
The other is Stanhopea Reichenbachiana

Roots seem okay. I am certain in some cases with thicker roots, that they are okay. Though with some thin roots, I don't know if I can know they're alive simply because they don't look rotted.

Originally Posted by Roberta

Photos would help! Also names (at least genus) would also help.

Thank you! Here are the names:
The little one with the tall stem is Den Lorrie Mortimer
The other is Stanhopea Reichenbachiana
Posting photos.

Originally Posted by estación seca

Which plants? Were they shipped in pots, or as bare root plants?

If these are epiphytic orchids those are pseudobulbs. Sometimes gardeners refer to them colloquially as "bulbs" and may call leafless, old pseudobulbs "back bulbs."

They were shipped in pot... here's the species:
Den Lorrie Mortimer
Stanhopea Reichenbachiana
Thank you for the clarifications...

So I have attached pics... I hope it's visible, they have started darkening a bit...
So again, I'm wondering if this bit of blackening is a major concern?

[Roberta]

Stanhopeas shouldn't be "dormant". That one looks dead or nearly so. They do tend to lose leaves if they get dry, but if the pseudobulbs are firm and green, when potted in new medium they may get some new growth and revive. But I would have doubts about this one. Also, Stanhopeas shouldn't be grown in pots, but rather in baskets, since the inflorescences grow downwards. But I don't think that "blooming" will be a problem with this one.

The Dendrobium also is not one that has a "dormancy" - it is one of the "antelope" type Dendrobiums, tropical so no rest period.

Did they get cold? Because the Stanhopea is from a tropical region, and the Dendrobium is a hybrid with tropical, warm-growing ancestry,

How long have you had these? I think that both are on their way to becoming compost...

---------- Post added at 09:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:39 PM ----------

If you received them in this condition, you should have contacted the seller for a refund right away. However, if you have had them for awhile, you probably have no recourse, I hope you didn't pay much for them. But they weren't "dormant". "Dying" or "dead" is more like it.

[HiOrcDen]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Stanhopeas shouldn't be "dormant". That one looks dead or nearly so. They do tend to lose leaves if they get dry, but if the pseudobulbs are firm and green, when potted in new medium they may get some new growth and revive. But I would have doubts about this one. Also, Stanhopeas shouldn't be grown in pots, but rather in baskets, since the inflorescences grow downwards. But I don't think that "blooming" will be a problem with this one.

The Dendrobium also is not one that has a "dormancy" - it is one of the "antelope" type Dendrobiums, tropical so no rest period.

Did they get cold? Because the Stanhopea is from a tropical region, and the Dendrobium is a hybrid with tropical, warm-growing ancestry,

How long have you had these? I think that both are on their way to becoming compost...

---------- Post added at 09:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:39 PM ----------

If you received them in this condition, you should have contacted the seller for a refund right away. However, if you have had them for awhile, you probably have no recourse, I hope you didn't pay much for them. But they weren't "dormant". "Dying" or "dead" is more like it.

Okay, thank you for the advice about the Stanhopea!

As for the Mortimer, well I did buy it a few months back. Though I did see today that there is a tiny green growth budding from the base... actually you can see it in the pic!

Could this be a good sign?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by HiOrcDen

Okay, thank you for the advice about the Stanhopea!

As for the Mortimer, well I did buy it a few months back. Though I did see today that there is a tiny green growth budding from the base... actually you can see it in the pic!

Could this be a good sign?

Green is good! There is hope. It is fighting its way back!

Don't pitch the Stanhopea, pot it up in a basket, keep well watered, maybe it will revive too. Just don't call what these plants have experienced "dormancy" ... with proper culture, neither of these particular plants should look like this.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The Den Lorrie Mortimer looks ok. It doesn't look great, but it'll recover, imo. It's got a new shoot and the roots look ok. Dormancy in this Dendrobium is debatable because of the Den biggibum in the ancestry, but if there is one, it isn't a hard dry spell because of the Den stratiotes and the Den antennatum (Dendrobiums in section Phalaenanthe and section Spatulata are very closely related).

The Stanhopea is in terrible shape. It shouldn't be completely leafless. If it has roots, it might be able to survive, but the odds are not good. No Stanhopea goes dormant.