Need Help with Cyrtopodium punctatum

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Cyrtopodium grow better with less water. You'd be surprised how little you can get away with watering them.

Errrr, that is not my experience at all. I dump water on mine every single day (as they often receive in nature during the rainy season) and they are gigantic. This is true for the roughly 10 species I've grown, including punctatum. They are VERY thirsty / hungry feeders when in active growth.

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

They can handle 55 F - 95 F.

You can bump that high temp up by another 10 - 15 degrees.

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Grow under bright indirect light.

Full sun is best for most species, with only a few growing better with some shade. In-situ photos show most species (including punctatum) growing vigorously in full sun. I grow mine in the scorching Texas sun with shade kicking in around 330pm or so.

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Water when dry.

Mine are never totally dry during growing season.

---------- Post added at 11:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:12 AM ----------

Originally Posted by marie458

Back in July 2021, I got a 3-in Cyrtopodium punctatum from SVO. It had two back bulbs and a new growth. The new growth is now 9-10 inches tall (measured up to the top of the leaves). It seemed to be growing pretty well in a terrestrial mix of peat and sand -- getting lots of light, heat and humidity as well.

Recently, however, I noticed a small new growth popping up. I wasn't sure if this young orchid normally puts out new growths like that so I was concerned. The base of the bulb was discolored through the leaves which concerned me even more. Upon pulling back some leaves, I saw what appears to be rotting. That portion of the bulb is slightly mushy.

It also appears to me that this little new growth has sprouted from the rotting bulb, not one of the others. If that's the case, is there a way to stop (or at least slow down) the deterioration of the mother bulb? Has anyone else experienced this issue with punctatum?

Any and all wisdom on how to handle this situation will be greatly appreciated!

How tall is the pot and what is it made of (i.e., clay, glazed clay, plastic)? What is your watering schedule like? Is it possible to gently wiggle this one out of the pot and see what is happening down below or have the roots cemented themselves to the pot?