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11-21-2008, 10:05 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Zone: 5b
Location: Schenectady New York
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Repotting Zygosepalum
I boughtg a Zygo in bloom several yaars ago. It has grown but I think it needs help. I think I should repot it; some of the pseudobulbs are shriveling and are getting softer--is this common for old pseudobulbs or do I have a problem here ? It had new growth that rotted--I think it was touching the pot--I cut it and the plant dried and recovered nicely at the cut. Anyway the remaining new growth looks healthy but is mostly growing way above the medium, also the leaves have black spots on them. How do I repot it ? Do I keep the old leaves and pseudobulbs? Is it normal for the normal growth to be above the medium or should I plant it deeper???? I am attaching some pictures, please help!
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11-21-2008, 11:01 PM
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Hi Judi,
I'm no expert, but I don't want your thread to go unnoticed either, so I am sending you back to the top. I have one Zygo and I know it likes to be watered well, then dry out completely before rewatering. Being in a clay pot, I can't imagine you are overwatering. However, you mentioned the bulbs getting soft and the newer growths rotting. I would absolutely get it out of the pot and check what is happening beneath. How are the roots looking? Black and mushy is not good. White like the upper roots that I see is a good sign. Anything that looks mushy, rotten, or soft should be cut off with a sterile knife. I would drench the remaining roots with regular plain listerine or physan to be safe, and I would use k-l-n root hormone product, if you have it, to stimulate root growth. Then I would repot into a new pot with fresh orchid mix. Couldn't see the spots good, so don't know what that is. Perhaps others will chime in here.
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11-22-2008, 12:10 PM
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Hi Judi. I had to look this one up, since I had never seen a Zygosepalum before. They are closely related to Zygopetalum, so culture should be similar, intermedate temps, bright light, and fairly moist conditions, in other words, don't let it dry out too much. The 'Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids' says that they are best mounted,as their rambling rhizomes will make them grow out of a pot fairly soon. I guess this all means that your plant is doing pretty much what it does. Hopefully someone who actually grows one will chime in soon.
Kim
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11-22-2008, 12:58 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
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From what you said and the way it grows, it almost seems like I should mount it! Unfortunately that really isn't an option for me. I live in upstate NY and can only leave my chids outside for ~ 4-5 months a year, and I don't have the space inside for mounted plants. I once had a mounted staghorn fern which didn't require much light, but even that was a problem in the winter. Thanks for looking it up Kim, I'll continue my internet research--so far I haven't found info. anywhere as to whether the pseudobuls lose their leaves and maybe die after flowering. Mine seem to lose their leaves and start to shrivel after flowering.
Judy
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11-22-2008, 02:14 PM
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Dear Judi,
Please let us know what species or hybrid name is on the lel.
Zygopetalums and Zygosepalums are related but are radically different in their growth requirements. I think that your plant is actually a Zygopetalum. I should be able to tell from the species/hybrid name.
Staying tuned, Eric
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11-22-2008, 09:25 PM
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Thanks Eric, the only thing on the tag is Zygosepalum "Rhein Clown" and it has 11-03 on the other side. I'm not sure when I purchased it but I think it was ~ 2006.
Judy
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11-22-2008, 09:35 PM
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Dear Judy.
Your plant is a Zygopetalum hybrid from Germany - not a Zygosepalum. Grow it under medium to bright light ldvels and cool-intermediate temperatures when in growth. They like to be watered frequently but not quite dry out between waterings. After the growths have matured - in winter - they can be kept cool with night temperatures down to 55 degrees.
Zygosepalums are climbing epiphytes that are quite finicky to grow even by experts. Zygopetalums are mostly terrestrial and rather easy to grow. The centers for Zygopetalum growing are northern Europe, southern California, and especially New Zealand - all places with moderate climates. In New Zealand and Australia they are grown in large quantities for cut-flowers.
Hope that helps, Eric
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11-25-2008, 12:32 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
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Thanks Eric, that is really helpful . That explains why there was little information about zygosepalums on the internet and in my small collection of beginer's orchid books. Since they have different care, I'm glad you explained what I have and hopefully I will be able to adequately care for it. While repotting it I noticed I had a lot of dead roots so I cleaned them up, I also divided it since the pseudobulbs in the center were soft and that was where most of the dead roots were. I put it out in our spare bedroom with a cymbidium--cool nights with the heat turned down and good lighting. Thanks again!
Judy
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