Any help for Sharry Baby?

[William]

I have a Sharry Baby that seems to be dying. I felt the pseudo bulb and they did not feel firm. They felt kind of hollow. I repotted it, cleaning the roots and applying cinnamon but to no avail. Now even the leaves are drooping. I have been hit by a bad case of rot in most of my plants and I don't know if that's the problem. I think the Physan and copper helped the others but is there any help for Sharry?

[D&S Mabel]

When my onc. types get "rot", the p-bulb turns a yellow-brown and softens. Either I have been lucky or this type of plant only usually gets infected in one bulb at a time. Removing the bad bulb usually cures the plant.

A couple other thoughts: What kind of potting mix are you using? I ask as my biggest problems with these orchids is that I tended to buy them from either HD or Lowe's and it took me a couple plants to realize that they usually come packed in way too much sphagnum moss. At least for me, Florida growing conditions outside don't favor lots of sphag, causing the roots to fail from being too wet and the plant declines, looking alot like you describe. Mine like to almost dry out between waterings.

Another cause of your symptoms may be not enough light. Mine also likes very bright conditions (even taking a couple hours of direct sun early in the day).

Good luck.

[Ray]

Don't put cinnamon on the roots! While it may be a good topical fungicide for wounds, if overdone on the roots, it can prevent them from branching and growing - it just dries them out too much.

[William]

Good advice! My troubles really escalated when, because of so much rain, I repotted them. I cleaned up the roots and added cinnamon to the roots. I may have caused the problem myself! Should I repot them again and wash out what cinnamon remains?

[Sandy4453]

I wouldn't do another re-pot William. Let the plant adjust now. I just did a re-pot of all my Phals and cut away the dead roots and heavily applied Cinnamon to those cuts. My next watering was a heavy flush which is what you want to do to get those roots breathing now. A lot (if not, all) Onc's 'last seasons' bulbs will eventually shrivel and become back bulbs that you can cut away. Let the plant adjust now to your efforts.

[betwixtimes]

If you have an excessive amount of standing humidity, adding fans for circulation and helping to dry out medium---may help you.

[frostedeyes]

try not to water ur plants for 2 days. i rarely use fungicide if its really really in the state of near death! coz i find it hard to rebloom when i use it. LOL try using hormex (root hormone). 10-15 drops per gallon. water it every other day. give them morning sun. Just let mother nature takes its course. i hope ur sharry would revive give us updates! its one of my favorite!

[frostedeyes]

and yeah i agree... when its raining hard i ended up placing them indoors and turn on the fan!