Gombrassiltonia Hilo Ablaze rotting and all round sad looking

[Ailsa]

Hi there this is my first time posting I just made this account to maybe get some help.

My brother ordered an orchid for me for Christmas from ebay (Gombrassiltonia Hilo Ablaze 'Hilo Gold') and it arrived today and it just looked very sad. When i took it out the pot one of the pseudobulbs immediatly fell off and it was brown and mushy at the bottom, I cut a second one because it also looked mushy and applied cinnamon to it, I think all the roots looked fine tho.

Is this orchid saveable? also I'm not sure how to care for it or what species it is, Ive only ever owned phals before.

I'm having trouble posting images

---------- Post added at 06:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:09 PM ----------

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Hope it's okay I just post the URL

[Dollythehun]

The last picture is very dark and it's hard to tell anything. The first three show a severly dehydrated plant. Water through by setting it in the sink and letting the water run through for a few minutes. When the pots starts to feel light, repeat. I have other thoughts but I want the experts to weigh in, it shows me if I am right or not. Hang tight, help is on the way.

[Roberta]

If there are good roots, there's hope.... the existing pseudobulbs probably won't plump up much (or at all), but these things do have a will to live... if you can keep it hydrated it is likely to start a new growth. This plant is in the Oncidium group. They tend to be thirsty (but no stagnant water, please!) Dollythehun is quite correct on watering - You might even soak it for an hour or so the first time, to make sure that the bark is nice and wet. Then let it drain. Depending on humidity, it could be happy being watered every couple of days (again, letting water run through the pot, then draining well) This approach not only provides water, but pulls air into the root zone (also very important)

This plant can be happy in a wide range of environments. It could be quite happy outside in spring, summer, and fall, but also could do nicely in Phalaenopsis conditions in the house.

I do think your brother should complain to the eBay seller, though... there is no excuse for someone to sell a plant in such poor condition. It would be great if you can revive it (and you will learn a lot), but you shouldn't have to do that. At best, it'll probably be a couple of years before it is healthy enough to bloom.

[Dollythehun]

Thanks Roberta! You echoed my thoughts.😎

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Your brother was cheated. He needs to get a refund. This plant is almost dead. No seller should send out a plant looking like that.

It has a chance of surviving with good care. However, even experts will often lose a plant that looks like this. So don't be discouraged if it doesn't survive.

It needs good humidity and frequent watering to recover from a state like this.

You have it planted in large bark, which means you can water more frequently. You want the base of the plant to remain moist at all times, but you don't want the bark sitting in water.

Warnth will encourage new root formation. High humidity will slow evaporative loss from the plant, and also encourage root formation.

Good luck! Let us know what happens.

[Ailsa]

Thank you all for your help and advice, I'm still gonna attempt to save it. I feel so bad for my brother though because he spent over £30 and the plant was a gift for me.

I'll keep you updated if theres any progress

[estación seca]

There is a Vendor Feedback forum here. Look through there and you will find EU vendors who send good plants. If healthy a small plant like that should not cost more then £5-10.