Encyclia cochleata problem - Orchid Board

VickiC · #1 07-20-2011, 01:47 PM

Hello everyone,
Several weeks ago I purchased this plant from an Ebay seller. I bought an orchid from him in the past which I was pleased with, so I decided to order from him again. When I rec'd this Encyclia cochleata, it seemed to be very healthy, so again I was pleased. I repotted both within a day after receiving them (as I do all new orchids I get). Not long ago, I noticed a pseudobulb in the same condition as the one you see. I should have contacted you then, but I decided to carry on and hope for the best.....hindsight is 20/20, you know. Both pseudobulbs were slightly attached, but came off easily. As you can see, some of the new roots are good, but many others are (as far as I know) dead. Sometime back, I read that Encyclias do not need an a lot of water because of their pseudobulbs...but recently I read just the opposite...that they need to dry out, for the most part, before rewatering.

The temperature in my greenhouse is VERY hot mid-summer--now-- (some of you might remember me complaining about it in the past and hoping to come up with a solution). It's approx. 90-95 degrees during the hottest part of the day this time of year. An example would be only a few mins. ago...94.1. The humidity flucuates between 60-70% during the day and of course quite a bit more in the very, very late afternoon and especially night. Lemme see...what have I forgot?!? Oh, and my watering consists of tap water with MSU-type fertilizer...weakly weekly.

Can some of you advice me as to what the problem is, please?

I would appreciate any help or input from you.
Vicki

Junebug · #2 07-20-2011, 02:53 PM

It looks like you may have some sort of rot. I lost a bulb on my cochleata recently. It began turning brown and it was right in the middle of the plant. I took a razor blade and cut through the rhizome on either side of the bulb in spots that were all green with no brown. I then removed the rotten bulb and threw it away. I treated with a systemic, Orthenex, and rubbed cinnamon on each of the two freshly incised areas...then withheld water for a day to allow the cuts to callous. Now I have 2 plants growing in the same pot. I didn't repot them because they're in sheath and blooming. It's been 3 weeks since their surgery and they look good with no signs of rot.

My encyclia is potted in a small terracotta pot in a mixture of treefern fiber, charcoal, aerolite, hydroton, and bark. She's grown outdoors in a shadehouse and gets watered daily during hot weather and less often when the weather cools.

Your plant looks pretty healthy and you've got some nice roots. Make sure you cut off anything that looks suspicious (brown) clear back to green with no brown, and then trim off the soft brown roots before repotting.

VickiC · #3 07-20-2011, 04:31 PM

Thanks Junebug,
How do you think I should water it afterwards. As I said in my question, I've read both ways. ??
Vicki

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junebug

It looks like you may have some sort of rot. I lost a bulb on my cochleata recently. It began turning brown and it was right in the middle of the plant. I took a razor blade and cut through the rhizome on either side of the bulb in spots that were all green with no brown. I then removed the rotten bulb and threw it away. I treated with a systemic, Orthenex, and rubbed cinnamon on each of the two freshly incised areas...then withheld water for a day to allow the cuts to callous. Now I have 2 plants growing in the same pot. I didn't repot them because they're in sheath and blooming. It's been 3 weeks since their surgery and they look good with no signs of rot.

My encyclia is potted in a small terracotta pot in a mixture of treefern fiber, charcoal, aerolite, hydroton, and bark. She's grown outdoors in a shadehouse and gets watered daily during hot weather and less often when the weather cools.

Your plant looks pretty healthy and you've got some nice roots. Make sure you cut off anything that looks suspicious (brown) clear back to green with no brown, and then trim off the soft brown roots before repotting.

Junebug · #4 07-20-2011, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VickiC

Thanks Junebug,
How do you think I should water it afterwards. As I said in my question, I've read both ways. ??
Vicki

That would primarily depend what you're using as a potting medium, the size of your pot, and air flow. I have great air circulation, a small pot, and medium that is fairly free draining. I don't use much bark, just a little, and I go heavier with the treefern fibers and hydroton. My cochleata is potted in such a way that she shouldn't drown by daily thunderstorms. I never allow her to go bone dry.

VickiC · #5 07-20-2011, 05:46 PM

Thanks again Junebug!

Vicki

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junebug

That would primarily depend what you're using as a potting medium, the size of your pot, and air flow. I have great air circulation, a small pot, and medium that is fairly free draining. I don't use much bark, just a little, and I go heavier with the treefern fibers and hydroton. My cochleata is potted in such a way that she shouldn't drown by daily thunderstorms. I never allow her to go bone dry.

glengary54 · #6 07-20-2011, 06:47 PM

Vicki - From the looks and size of the bulb that came off in the picture, I would say that it was an old bulb that served it purpose. You can see how shriveled and dessicated it is. All in all your plant looks very healthy with nice new growths. cochleatas bloom off of new bulbs as they mature, so you want to make sure that your plant has plenty of water to help it grow. I would let it dry out just a bit between waterings. Happy growing.

VickiC · #7 07-20-2011, 07:04 PM

Thank you glengary!

Vicki

Quote:

Originally Posted by glengary54

Vicki - From the looks and size of the bulb that came off in the picture, I would say that it was an old bulb that served it purpose. You can see how shriveled and dessicated it is. All in all your plant looks very healthy with nice new growths. cochleatas bloom off of new bulbs as they mature, so you want to make sure that your plant has plenty of water to help it grow. I would let it dry out just a bit between waterings. Happy growing.

keithrs · #8 07-21-2011, 12:31 PM

By the pics the plant is in good heath. Remove the old mushy roots. Give it a bath it in phyton 27 and repot with the mix you like. I would put it in a clay pot myself. Your going to have to adjust your water on the mix you use. You might try to get your temps down abit or have really good air flow. You'll want to be more on the slightly moist-dry side with those temps. Or you could mount it.

VickiC · #9 07-21-2011, 04:13 PM

Thank you keithrs!

Vicki

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithrs

By the pics the plant is in good heath. Remove the old mushy roots. Give it a bath it in phyton 27 and repot with the mix you like. I would put it in a clay pot myself. Your going to have to adjust your water on the mix you use. You might try to get your temps down abit or have really good air flow. You'll want to be more on the slightly moist-dry side with those temps. Or you could mount it.