Corybas pictus Attempt 2

[Bulbopedilum]

Unfortunately, I checked the tuver today, and it seems it has... rot. I suspect it did not go into dormancy properly as a part of the stem was still there... let's see about the other ones, they seem to still be doing ok.

[DirtyCoconuts]

bummer- these seems quite difficult

[Bulbopedilum]

Update:
All are dormant now. I counted 3 tubers total, which is the number I started with. Hopefully none rot in dormancy...

Here are some pics.
First one with it's offshoot (Can someone enlighten me on the proper term?)

Second one, very white.

[Bulbopedilum]

I checked on them today, and the big one shown in the first picture in the post above is just completely deflated. Nothing inside, just the skin. It seemed perfectly fine yesterday.

Well, down to two tubers now...

[Bulbopedilum]

Down to one tuber.
The tiny one is gone, only its skin is left. It was fine yesterday as well, similar to what happened to the other one.

I'm very curious now as to what could cause this to happen. Round healthy tubers one night and only skin the next. Here are some images of what's left of the tuber if anyone wants to examine it:



Has anyone experienced this before, with any genus, not just Corybas?

I don't really have any culprits so far*. I saw no moving things other than some mites and millipedes, which I have not had problems with. However, there is this orange substance that appears on the tips of green moss leaves. White when it appears on dry or dead moss leaves. I do not know what this is and could not find anything online about it. It dries out very quickly.

It does not only appear on moss of this pot, but it has appeared many times on my live and dead moss.

Bad luck? Too wet? Too dry?

Anyway, the last tuber actually seems rather fine. It's unchanged. As round and white as ever. Hope it pulls through, just a few more months...

---

On another topic, I'd also like to use this post to put out a small theory I have. My theory is that Corybas, like Habenaria and others, need to grow new tubers for each new season, and the old one will die. Notice how 2 tubers (out of 3) dying so far are old tubers, not new. As for the last tuber, it may actually be a new tuber as well, as it doesn't have any dirt or anything covering it...

I know there are very few Corybas growers and this is still completely experimental, but if you have grown or tried to grow Corybas (especially C.pictus), or have studied their growing habits or something... please share your experiences and information you have relating to the topics I mentioned...

[Roberta]

I think your hypothesis about the tubers is correct. I don't grow Corybas (made one attempt, but it didn't come back), but this behavior is certainly the case with the Mediterranean terrestrials that I grow. If they don't make a new tuber, they don't come back next year. Of course that group of plants is adapted to an environment where dormancy is associated with a dry period. I don't know if it works differently in a constantly-moist environment. (My Habenarias also are drier in dormant period but not totally dry)

[Akhenaten]

[Roberta]

The Corybas is so very cute! What medium are you using? What temperature?

[Akhenaten]

Originally Posted by Roberta

The Corybas is so very cute!

Roberta, thank you so much

Originally Posted by Roberta

What medium are you using?

I use a hermetically sealed tall transparent jar. At the bottom 1 cm of lava with 3 mm granules. Then 5 cm of the mixture (akadama): (crushed dry oak leaves) = 1:1. Top with a centimeter of clean, crushed oak leaves. I think alder leaves would be better. Plentifully poured with distilled water and left for a month. I poured enough water so that there was 1 cm of water within the lava layer. I add water at least once a year. The jar is closed, the water does not evaporate.

Originally Posted by Roberta

What temperature?

Usually +17C° till +27°C. In winter+13°C-+24°C.

[Roberta]

Now I am going to have to search for Corybas. I wonder how it would work with leaves of Japanese maples. (I don't have oaks or alders nearby, but my lovely maples are "shedding".)