Ctsm. Infected bulb/new root growth?

[JennS]

Hello...I have one and only one Catasetum which is a Rebecca Northen. I "think" it is doing "OK", but am not sure... I am going to post some pics. First I noticed this bulb that was somewhat blackish and mushy. Then I noticed it had a small hole it in, which appeared to have been chomped on by some bug. Then, I forgot it for a day and remembered yesterday. I checked on it again, and the bulb was blacker and there were little bugs crawling inside the hole GROSS!!!

I decided to remove the bulb. I don't know if this was good or not, but could not see any way to salvage it or make it healthy again. So, I removed and treated the wound with cinnamon.

I also wanted to see if the white roots were the new roots from the newest growth. It is comign along very slowly, so I am not sure. Also, should some of those roots be removed that are not white? Could the darker ones (not brown and mushy like most dead roots, but more off white) still be doing something? Any advice would help. Thanks!

[JennS]

Here are the descriptions...

#1 show the ick bulb on the right

#2 using white arrow to point to hole in pbulb

#3 ick bulb on left, new growth on right (are those white roots the new ones from the new growht or does it not have any new roots yet?)

#4 and #5 after removal of ick pbulb....thumb pointing to spot in #5

#6 Treated spot covered with cinnamon (visible between the 2 pieces of spag)

#7 and #8 pics of the whole plant

[Stasisgate]

You did the right thig by removing that bulb.... it was a goner.

But on the other hand, the plant looks really healthy. I got me a few catasetums and they love to be watered and fed while growing, but when the plant stops growing and flowering you gotta withold the watering. yu can water ver very little but just to keep the plant from totally drying up. The next growing season you can resume watering and voila..... you're an expert at growing catasetums.

If the roots are mushy and soft then they are dead. But if they are firm and white (some may be brown too) they are good roots. Catasetums send out lots of roots when actively growing.

[JennS]

Do you have any guess at what might have caused that psuedobulb to get that way? Do you think it started by whatever ate into it? I was going to take another picture of it after removal but I accidentally stepped on it! I am a bit clumsy!

Thank you for the quick response. I am glad the plant is healthy. It had water withheld this winter but more because of neglect then on purpose. I will remove the dead roots and repot in new mix. There is a bunch of old stuff mixed in there that needs to go!

[Stasisgate]

... i know some catasetums like rottin media like Ctsm. macrocarpum (a local specie). But make sure to put in water rententive media like coonut chips.

The rot could have started from overwatering while in dormant phase or as you correctly identified, by the those darn bugs...

[JennS]

Well, thank you again! I really appreciate it. I will get it in something good ASAP! I think I will move it back to a clear pot too so I can watch closely.

Thanks again!!!!

[isurus79]

You did the right thing by chopping the old bulb off. The only question I have for you is regarding picture 4 & 5. Where you cut the old bulb off still appears to be dark. I cant tell if this if from cinnamon or from rot. If its from cinnamon, its probably fine but if you cut the bulb off and left even a small peice of rotten goo, then your plant can and very possibly will get re-infected. When you cut anything off due to rot, you have to make sure that you actually cut into the good flesh (usually green or white in color) to make sure that all the bad stuff is totally gone. Again, I cant tell from the pics. Good luck!

[JennS]

Yes, there was a tiny bit of blackness left. I was afraid to hurt the new growth, but I guess that is better then losing the whole plant? I will go back at it tonight and remove the whole thing. I meant to ask if it looked like I "got it" enough, so thank you especially for noticing!

[isurus79]

No prob! Even if you cut a little into the new growth, it should be ok.

[Stasisgate]

Yeah, cutting just a little into the new growth is ok. those back bulbs look pretty healthy so even if (and i'm just saying) you lose the new growth, they should push out new plants easy.