What's going on with my Maxillaria Tenuifolia?

[CZF]

I am a novice orchid enthusiast, and I picked up this little guy a couple of weeks ago.

It has a pseudobulb that is yellowing and has this dark spot on it. Is this fungal, or bacterial?

What can I do to save it? If I have to cut it back, do I cut the whole stalk off?

Thanks for any help you can offer, I'm hoping I can get this little guy sorted!

[PaphMadMan]

Not sure if this is fungal or bacterial, but it doesn't matter. I would remove that one pseudobulb as close to the stem as possible, immediately. And hope the rot hasn't spread farther than that. If there is dark infected tissue visible at the point you cut, keep going and cut the stem just above the point where the next lower pseudobulb is attached, and keep close watch for a while. Good luck.

[camille1585]

Has that spot/discoloration been spreading? Normally I would say wait and see if it continues to spread before cutting anything, but Max tenuifolia is such a vigorous grower than it won't miss a bulb.

Just to add to the suggestion above, if you cut it off and do see more black in the stem, sterilize your cutting tool before cutting lower down. That way you avoid transferring fungus/bacteria to healthy plant tissue.

[CZF]

Ok, thanks. hopefully I can save it. The lady I bought it from wins awards for her Maxillaria's, so I'd hate to lose it, as it's a nice plant!

---------- Post added at 07:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:41 AM ----------

Originally Posted by camille1585

Has that spot/discoloration been spreading? Normally I would say wait and see if it continues to spread before cutting anything, but Max tenuifolia is such a vigorous grower than it won't miss a bulb.

Just to add to the suggestion above, if you cut it off and do see more black in the stem, sterilize your cutting tool before cutting lower down. That way you avoid transferring fungus/bacteria to healthy plant tissue.

I don't think it's been spreading, but I took a photo of it, I will compare it today. It's not mushy or anything either.

One of my customers at work is president of the Royal botanical Gardens Orchid Society and he was in yesterday. I showed him and he thinks it's fine, but I'm going to keep a really close eye. If it looks like it's spreading, I am going to cut it off ASAP.

Thanks for your help, and advice about sterilizing in between cuts! I sterilize my tools after each use with different plants, but wouldn't have thought about that!

[camille1585]

I don't think you'll lose the plant. I also have this Maxillaria, and I've seen stuff like that on bulbs once in a while. Rarely does it spread very far, and I've only had to remove a bulb once, when the entire bulb was affected. I usually prefer the 'wait and see' course of action, but once I've determined that an infection is spreading further, I have no mercy!

[PaphMadMan]

I agree it may not be anything serious if it isn't spreading, but if you wait to see it spreading you are much more likely to lose a large part of the plant. If there is an active infection it is already far beyond what you can see now. Since Max ten is usually a vigorous grower the plant won't be set back much by cutting off a pseudobulb or 2.

I would chose to be safe rather than sorry. If you cut it off below the affected pseudobulb now there is least risk to the plant, and if the 2 pseudobulb division stays healthy you have another plant.

Wait and see can be a fast way to lose a plant that could have been saved.