I love a challenge - Page 2 - Orchid Board

jcec1 · #11 05-22-2016, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rothrock42

jcec1 - Why would I want to do that? I purchased it (for just a couple dollars) for the purpose of trying to save it!

I didn't realise that you saw the plant and bought it. Thought it may have been mail order and the condition was unknown. Good luck with you endeavours.

My Green Pets · #12 05-22-2016, 11:32 PM

I would remove anything soft or squishy up until you encountered hard, green, or dried out tissue.

I'd keep it in a bright environment at 99% humidity and warm temperatures.

And fungicide. I would douse the whole thing in fungicide.

Rothrock42 · #13 05-25-2016, 02:23 PM

Thanks everybody for the advice. The black bulbs were softer than I thought. So I did cut those off. The greenish one is still firm so I left it.

Dusted the cut with cinnamon. And let it dry overnight.

Decided to mount it on a small piece of cork bark with a little pad of moss. Gave it a dunking in a physan/super thrive bath. Keeping it on my "bright" shelf. I'll give it daily dunks or mists.

I'll post a pic when I see a little root and/or leaf growth.

Leafmite · #14 05-25-2016, 02:43 PM

Sorry about those dark bulbs. I think the older green ones will be good enough to support the new growth. It will be like growing a seedling (which two of my new Encyclias are). As you had rot, I would keep the pseudobulbs dry but provide humidity by keeping your mount set in a bowl with some water beneath it. Allow plenty of air. I usually rescue stuff like this by staking it over a large pot of red lava rock and keep the rock watered...to provide humidity for the new roots. Good luck! I cannot wait to see this blooming someday in the future.

Rothrock42 · #15 05-25-2016, 02:49 PM

I have an oscillating fan that goes across this shelf most of the day. I like the idea of a saucer of water, thanks Leafmite, and will make that happen tonight.

Maybe misting most days with the occasional dunk. I dunked yesterday and by the time I got home from work the moss was just about crispy. I'll dial it in over the next couple of days. My indoor humidity is pretty good. Usually upper 60s to mid 70s.

Leafmite · #16 05-25-2016, 02:59 PM

With the fan, misting should not be a problem.

In the early days of my orchid growing, most of the orchids I found (from a local florist) were severe rescues. I still do buy the occasional rescue from local vendors, too, and then there are those Cattleyas that didn't like the LECA. When you really like a certain orchid, it is quite worth the effort.

snowflake311 · #17 05-27-2016, 02:52 AM

I had a simular orchid problem. I had a bulb get brown and mushy in my care. I caused the problem I watered it at the wrong time left it in the sun and it was all bad.

I removed the bad bulb the other new bulb that was doing well got black but not squishy. I left that one and now I have 2 healthy new growths growing. It took a long time. I about gave up on it I was going to throw it out but I saw green so I kept it.

Orchids will surprise you. where there is green there is hope. I would leave the bulb that looks greenish but take the brown soft one off.

here is a video I made when I took off the bad bulb.
https://youtu.be/FI0uKj8UY3U

Rothrock42 · #18 07-22-2016, 02:01 AM

Thanks everybody for the advice. It has been just about two months and there are good signs that she is going to pull through. Signs of new growths and roots!

I ended up putting it on some cork bark with a bit of sphag and have been leaving it in a bowl with just a little bit of water touching the bottom of the bark.

At the society meeting just this week a fellow brought in a truly amazing mariea 4 bloom spikes with 3 to 5 flowers on each spike.

Thanks again.

No-Pro-mwa · #19 07-22-2016, 11:08 AM

Wow, nice save. It looks really good.

wintergirl · #20 07-22-2016, 11:38 AM

Good job! Love that!