Browning pseudobulbs on enclyclia profusa - Orchid Board

Raqsharqi · #1 06-11-2015, 01:05 PM

The encyclia profusa I got a month ago is not looking at all well. When I got it, one pseudobulb was mushy, so I cut it off. The plant seemed okay...not super strong, but not sickly looking. One bulb actually seemed to be putting out a leaf. Now the leaves have pretty much fallen off, and the bulbs are turning brown. I pulled it out of the pot, soaked it in a bit of seaweed and water, and mounted it, thinking it might be too wet, and sprayed it with a fungicide just in case. It is isolated.
What are the chances of it surviving? It is one of those Ecuadorian orchids I got at our orchid meeting, and so I really can't contact the grower easily.

WhiteRabbit · #2 06-11-2015, 10:10 PM

Are you able to post a pic?
How are the roots?
Is the plant big enough that you can cut some off to check what the rhizome looks like?

Raqsharqi · #3 06-11-2015, 11:18 PM

There are some strong looking brownish roots. I don't know what healthy encyclia roots should look like.

WhiteRabbit · #4 06-12-2015, 08:04 PM

Hmm ... I'd keep it isolated to be safe.

estación seca · #5 06-13-2015, 01:05 AM

I got one of these plus a few others from the same speaker at our meeting in Scottsdale as well. The company name is clearly visible on your plant tag. I broke my rule of not buying orchids all wrapped up so I can't see the roots, because I'm new to this orchid club and everybody told me what great plants this company provides. All the plants I bought had their roots wrapped in sphagnum, then paper, then plastic.

Every plant had almost 100% dead roots when I got home. I mean brown and soft. When I cut them there was no life whatsoever. One or two plants had a few fresh green nubs forming so I think those are likely to survive. I think we were the last speaking stop of this trip to the USA and I don't know how long these plants had been wrapped up.

I cut off all the dead roots from all the plants. The plants with green root nubs I potted up into pumice. The others I just lay on the bench in bright shade in my sunroom where I keep the humidity as high as possible. I'm hoping some of them sprout some new roots, at which time I will pot them up.

My Encyclia profusa is down to one good pseudobulb with a green leaf. The other pseudobulbs are brown. That is the plant in the worst shape. The other Cattleya alliance plants will probably survive but it will take a while to get them established. I'm not so sure of the Gongora gibba and Stanhopea candida, though both have green leaves.

801229001 · #6 06-13-2015, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estación seca

I got one of these plus a few others from the same speaker at our meeting in Scottsdale as well. The company name is clearly visible on your plant tag. I broke my rule of not buying orchids all wrapped up so I can't see the roots, because I'm new to this orchid club and everybody told me what great plants this company provides. All the plants I bought had their roots wrapped in sphagnum, then paper, then plastic.

Every plant had almost 100% dead roots when I got home. I mean brown and soft. When I cut them there was no life whatsoever. One or two plants had a few fresh green nubs forming so I think those are likely to survive. I think we were the last speaking stop of this trip to the USA and I don't know how long these plants had been wrapped up.

I cut off all the dead roots from all the plants. The plants with green root nubs I potted up into pumice. The others I just lay on the bench in bright shade in my sunroom where I keep the humidity as high as possible. I'm hoping some of them sprout some new roots, at which time I will pot them up.

My Encyclia profusa is down to one good pseudobulb with a green leaf. The other pseudobulbs are brown. That is the plant in the worst shape. The other Cattleya alliance plants will probably survive but it will take a while to get them established. I'm not so sure of the Gongora gibba and Stanhopea candida, though both have green leaves.

UMMM,, since they do come from ecuador, you cannot expect roots to be in good shape! mostly dead roots are the norm for imported orchids and i expect and recieve plants with no roots all the time from my purchases with vendors from other countries! Most orchids lose their roots easily!! (if you got moisture requiring plants that perish easily, the vendors usually pack them so that no damage is done but with normal plants , they will not) All it means is that the plant needs to grow some new roots, which they usually will, in a few weeks, to establish itself. the plants themselves are usually very healthy and at a really good price.

SFLguy · #7 06-13-2015, 03:32 AM

If you want a replacement, better grow seeks them at home depot (at least in my area)

Raqsharqi · #8 06-13-2015, 09:02 AM

I contacted the vendor, and he said he would replace the orchid. I'm not sure if he means to send them to the orchid society or what. I'll let you know.

And for clarification, I am not trying to disparage the vendor. I understand that while orchids can be very resilient, they are also somewhat delicate in terms of optimal conditions. I am a beginner, and have not had any experience with this kind of problem before. Some of the laelias I bought had some soft roots, but since I've grown that species of orchid, I felt they would make it. And that's really the issue. As a beginner, I DON'T know if I have a serious problem or a minor one. I'd consider getting a diseased orchid a serious problem, as I'm not just going to lose IT, but I may lose others as well. In the end, I opted to ask the vendor for suggestions as to what I might do at my end to save the orchid. I didn't ask for a replacement; he responded immediately and offered one. And that, to me, speaks volumes about the company. Like with most things, all orchid vendors are terrific...until there's a problem. How the problem is resolved and how questions are answered determine which ones I'm likely to buy from again.

801229001 · #9 06-13-2015, 01:22 PM

Glad to hear they made things right! They are really good about replacing plants if the plants themselves are unhealthy.

For replacements, they usually just bring a new one here the next time they are in your area, you can remind them about it a little bit ahead of time!

astrid · #10 06-13-2015, 07:06 PM

That type of spreading brown rotting on the bulbs is very serious. It is unlikely an issue like that can be fixed.

However, many times, rootless orchids can be saved with patience and good care. I have helped to heal 2 rootless oncidiums and 2 rootless psychosis orchids (also oncidiums, heh) and it took at least 4 months of ongoing moisture and patience. I lost only one of those oncidiums. Rootless has possibility!!

However, a rotting issue is just too hard/impossible to fix and spreads too quickly so it is good of the vendor to replace it.
I think the issue was resolved appropriately!!