Please help, I don't want this to die

[Emmaus]

Hi,

I'm new to the forums and I have a major problem with my first ever Orchid (I've had it for a few years, never have got it to bloom yet, but won't give up!).

The Orchid with the problem:

-Blc. Cornerstone "Yuan Gui" (圓規) (Cattleya)

One of the pseudobulb's is almost all completely an orange/brown color, and it's leaf fell off yesterday! Another pseudobulb is about halfway orange/brown and it's leaf hasn't fallen off yet. The disease/rot appeared to start from the base of the pseudobulbs. I wiped peroxide and dashed cinnamon on both pseudobulbs about 1 week ago.

Also, if you can't see in the pictures, there are two new growths beginning (possibly 3), so that's good news!

What do I need to do? This orchid cannot die, it has a lot of sentimental value and I want to do whatever possible to save it. Is this some sort of disease? Watering too much/too little? The only media I use is leca clay, and I fertilize about once per month. I did some amateur identification from > staugorchidsociety - culturepests-diseases < ... Is this black rot?

All of my other Orchids (in my signature) are right next to this one, is that a problem? What exactly do I need to do? This orchid really is very important.

Thank you

[OrchidPrince]

From my experience with Cattleyas and from what I have read is they prefer to stay on the drier side and your media looks way to wet. What I would do is cut off both rotting bulbs and dust the cut(s) with cinnamon and then let the media approach dry before watering again.

[Emmaus]

Originally Posted by OrchidPrince

...your media looks way to wet. What I would do is cut off both rotting bulbs and dust the cut(s) with cinnamon and then let the media approach dry before watering again.

Thank you..

I should have mentioned, I JUST watered them before I took this picture.

[silken]

It is some kind of rot, so I agree, I would cut both growths off with a sterile blade and make sure you are into clean green tissue. Then dust with cinnamon or sulphur powder if you have it. I would be tempted to sterilize the medium before using it again in case it is harbouring the bacteria or fungus. Do you let it dry out between watering?

Was it in bloom when you got it or just a seedling? You could start feeding weakly, weekly and once a month flush with clear water. It doesn't look like a very large plant. I have Cornerstone also and it didn't bloom until it reached a good size. How much light is it getting. Mine seems to have lighter green leaves which may indicate yours isn't getting enough light.

[Emmaus]

Originally Posted by silken

Do you let it dry out between watering?

Was it in bloom when you got it or just a seedling? You could start feeding weakly, weekly and once a month flush with clear water. It doesn't look like a very large plant. I have Cornerstone also and it didn't bloom until it reached a good size. How much light is it getting. Mine seems to have lighter green leaves which may indicate yours isn't getting enough light.

Thank you...It wasn't in bloom when I got it and it only had 3 pseudobulbs, so I guess that's a seedling? I'm fairly new...It did send up about 3 sheaths since I've had it, but no flower spikes.

Also, I do make a habit to let it dry between watering's. I've never understood what exactly the roots are supposed to look like. I've read they should be green, but when this one sends out roots, they're almost clear/white in color. When they turn brown, I don't know if that's from watering too much or too little.

Thanks again!

---------- Post added at 10:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:25 PM ----------

Originally Posted by silken

I would cut both growths off with a sterile blade and make sure you are into clean green tissue. Then dust with cinnamon or sulphur powder if you have it. I would be tempted to sterilize the medium before using it again in case it is harbouring the bacteria or fungus.

Should I spray everything down with hydrogen peroxide (basic Walmart stuff)? --Spray the leaves, roots, media, pseudobulbs, etc. with peroxide? I've only used a little so far.

I've read that peroxide is fine, but I've been afraid that it will kill the plant.

[silken]

Most Catt roots are white. The newer ones for sure and those will have a green, growing tip. The main root turns green when it is wet. So you want them to be white before watering. I like clear pots so I can see some of the root zone and have a good idea of how many roots a plant has. Also using a bamboo kebab skewer placed down into the pot will work as a good gage to be sure the media is dry before watering. I leave it in place, pull it out and test and put it back in the same place, so I am not always stabbing roots. If it is wet, then don't water. Catts need to dry out before being watered again or root rot can occur. Often a smaller pot is recommended so that the media dries faster and helps prevent root rot. They also require fairly high light to bloom.

Hydrogen peroxide shouldn't hurt the plant. Go easy on the roots as I do know someone who said it hurt roots on their plant, but I don't think it. usually does.

---------- Post added at 10:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:34 PM ----------

I'm looking at your pictures again and wondering if your pseudobulbs are buried a bit deep. It's hard to tell from the pics. Usually the rhizome connecting the pseudobulbs would be sitting just at media level, not below it. If this is the case, it could be causing the bulb rot.

[Emmaus]

Thank you. I actually just repotted all my orchids 3 weeks ago. I didn't realize before that the rhizome needed to be above the media, so that was fixed a few weeks ago...onto surgery tomorrow I guess, removing the two rotted p-bulbs.

I appreciate the help!

[gngrhill]

I agree with Silken, however I would discard that media and repot it into new. Since it is leca, sterilizing may also work. I don't reuse media from sick plants.

[campchi]

I agree with the above posts. Since u are using clay pellets, yiu can easily sterilze it buy either boil it for 30min or bake it for 30min. Cattley can survive with a day or two without water.

[lotis146]

I also agree with everyone else and will add that you could treat it with Physan 20 after you've cut the rotting pbulbs. If you do that I've also read it recommended to soak media (or new media) in the Physan as well. It's up to you. I've had pbulbs start rotting on my Promenaea (and they smelled like cat urine, never did figure out what that was...). I just cut them off and sprinkled the cuts with cinnamon, everything turned out just fine.

On the other hand I have an Oncidium (Degarmoara) that got something like this last year and I cut the afflicted pbulbs, got a new pot & new media, soaked everything in Physan 20 and repotted the coupld remaining pbulbs. Everything went well with that, it even started growing a new growth then this spring real rot set in after all this rain we've had. I lost the new growth and the pbulb it's growing from, maybe I'll be able to save the remaing pbulb.

You could also try Inocucor. It's a bit expensive but it worked for my sick Huntleya.

Inocucor Garden Solution Products

Ray from First Ray's recommended it to me and I'm glad for that. Now I just have to get back on the wagon and treat my plants appropriately!

Best of luck to you, I hope you're able to save this plant as I know how it feels to have an orchid with sentimental value.