Zygopetalum with shriveled pseudovbulbs care

[Iray]

Hello!
I bought a new beauty on sale, it's a zygopetalum. It has shriveled pseudobulbs and leavesnare not very 'straight'.
Now, I have no idea what to do do with it! There's some bulbs that don't have leaves as well. Is it normal?
I repotteded it in fine bark and expanded clay mix and the roots seemed really good with new tips coming out! Yet!
I've noticed theres green tips coming out, are they spikes?
If you could direct me on how to take care f ten and prevent disaster I would be so grateful!! Thank you!

[Ordphien]

Hmm.
It's not that bad, but the roots look a little dead.
I'd concentrate on the new growth.
A zygopetalum won't plump back up again. But you can make sure the new growths are growing healthily.
Zygo lose the leaves on the old psuedobulbs after a couple years.
That is not a spike, I think I see a couple new roots and a new growth.
Zygopetalum bloom from new growth that's around 8" tall. Before it fully develops into a psuedobulb. As opposed to oncidium, which bloom off a fully matured psuedobulb. And the spike will appear from between the leaves.
Keep that new growth happy and you'll be rewarded soon enough.

[Iray]

Thank you for the info!
I know nothing about this breed! But the roots were like hard when I repotted it so I got excited and thought they were healthy!
So do I treat it as a miltoniopsis? It's sitting along with my phals and miltoniopsis
Thank you

[Ordphien]

The roots look pretty good. It's not bad lol.
I don't have any miltoniopsis so I can't say.
Zygo like to stay moist. I keep mine between damp and moist.
I never let it reach sopping wet, or dry. Temps... average. I think that for most part household temps are fine.
And light is bright. Above phal lighting but below cattleya. I keep my zygopetalum next to my oncidium and a couple dendrobium.

[Iray]

Thanks. Do you water it like phals? Eg under the tap and let it drain?

[Ordphien]

Watering methods are a personal choice.
I don't water any of my orchids by running them under the tap.
But if that's what you do then I'd say stick with it

[Iray]

Oh ok thank you!

[Cym Ladye]

Zygos are actually cool growing orchids and most people give them conditions similar to Cymbidiums. They will develop brown spots on the leaves if subjected to wet, cold temps so best to protect them if growing them outside. For indoor growing, find the coolest place with bright light and they should do OK.

Just search 'Zygo care' on the search bar at the top of this forum and see what you come up with. I know several threads have been covered on the topic.