Help!!!! My Cattleya violacea is dying!

[Brassavola]

Hi! I'm new to the forum and already have a "help" situation.
The thing is, my Cattleya violacea is dying! I don't know what to do, it is mounted and had been in a terrarium for a month until yesterday, which it obviously didn't like (I think because of poor ventilation). The pseudobulbs are becoming black and rotten and the leaves are falling off! What should I do?

[Cookiemonster]

I am a cattleya beginner.... but I would say get it out of there ASAP . Might be lack of air circulation and high humidity in there that led to a problem. I'd try to find a way to stimulate root growth as quickly as possible. I know the more experienced growers on here will have better advice for you.... best of luck!!!

[Brassavola]

It's out. I have read that when wet rot appears at cattleya, black pseudobulbs should be removed and powdered with cinnamon or some antifungicide.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Brassavola

I have read that when wet rot appears at cattleya, black pseudobulbs should be removed and powdered with cinnamon or some antifungicide.

Thats true! Make sure that you cut slightly into the good part of the plant (should be green) to make sure that you eliminate all of the rotten spots. Do you have any ? They would help a lot!

[Brassavola]

I'll take photos as soon as possible. What do healthy Cattleya roots look like? Because mine are brownish...

[Brassavola]

I've lost hope... I think it's too late. Here are the photos. Btw, the plant was mounted, but today, when I was cutting the rotten pseudobulbs off, it just fell of the mount. Should I mount it again or pot it in bark?

[isurus79]

Your plant actually doesnt look that bad. Let it dry out for a couple of days and remount it. Remember, this species like to dry off very rapidly and needs fairly high levels of light in order to grow successfully. Your plant should be completely dry before your water it and the roots should be white when dry and green when wet. If you water less often than you were previously doing, your plant should be ok.

[Brassavola]

Well, it is pretty bad... I had to cut off all the rotten roots, that are soft and brown, and my plant is now rootless!!! What should I do now? Mount it or? Is there any hope?

[isurus79]

Oh. I thought you left the roots in the picture. Then I would still let it dry for a few days and then begin a spag n bag treatment, say on Thursday.

[euplusia]

Sad experience. To my knowledge and experience all C. violaceas don´t live for long in cultivation. Even mounted they die after one or two years. Most of the Cattleya species can be grown easily, but C.violacea is ticklish.