Den. Micro Chip, pseudobulb and leaf browning, dying

[vlhart]

Been awhile since I've been on the forum, but I need help with this 8 year old Micro Chip that has been healthy and bloomed each year despite several moves and some neglect. About a month ago the pseudobulbs began to brown and the brown grew up the stems and into the leaves, starting with the oldest canes. It had been kept pretty dry (NY winter), watering once a week. I think I may have soaked the roots once for a half hour before this started.

I isolated it, watered it a bit more regularly, but the pseudobulbs didn't take up the water and its only gotten worse. There was a slight spider mite situation but that doesn't seem to be the root of the problem.

Can it be saved? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as this was one of my favorites. TIA!

[estación seca]

Latouria Dendrobiums need to stay moist all year and not dry out. I think that plus spider mites caused this. If it's to survive you should keep it more moist, warmer and more humid. But it's pretty far gone.

[vlhart]

Thanks. I agree--I wasn't taking very good care of it. I bagged it to increase moisture and humidity a few days ago but it seemed to only accelerate the browning...

[Roberta]

Remember, orchids do everything slowly. They even die slowly - so that by the time we see them in distress, they're often in a pretty bad way. Don't expect a response to a cultural change in days... more like wees or months. A question... when was it last potted? It's also possible that you're getting dieback due to rotted roots... if roots are bad, the plant can't take up water and more water only makes it worse.