Dying Cymbidium-Help!!! - Orchid Board

smooche6 · #1 01-22-2012, 09:23 PM

I think the 3-4 pseudobulbs on my cymbidium are rotting and leaves on them turn black at the base and fall off! it only has 4 pseudobulbs and I think they all are rotting except the tiny new growth. I've included pictures. I'm new to this forum and I've had this plant for a couple months. I water it once a week and it sits near a running fan and is in a humidity tray. It was bought in extremely mushy decomposed material and i had to repot it and cut off 3/4 of the roots&i sprinkled them with cinnamon. I don't want to lose this magnificent plant! HELP!

/Users/smooche6/Desktop/IMG_0708.JPG, /Users/smooche6/Desktop/IMG_0704.jpg, /Users/smooche6/Desktop/IMG_0705.jpg

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #2 01-23-2012, 02:10 AM

1. Your pics aren't uploaded.

Try "Go Advanced", and then scroll down to "Manage Attachments". If it's a JPEG file, there is a max dimension of 600 pixels. There is also a max amount of memory the pic should be in order for it to upload properly.

Play around with resizing the image until you are able to upload a photo properly.

2. Since you're in SoCal (so am I), you can grow Cymbidiums outdoors all year round. In fact, quite a few of mine are currently in bud or bloom.

Protect from frost. I understand some areas have been getting hail (to my knowledge, my area has not received any hail whatsoever). Do not subject to hail if you live in these areas of SoCal.

3. It's hard to diagnose without a pic, so I'll wait until a pic is uploaded properly.

4. Another way you can provide photos is via a link.

5. They like bright light. They can handle almost full sun here in SoCal without burning.

katied · #3 01-23-2012, 02:21 AM

Mine started rotting and the leaves started falling off from the base and the roots were all dying. I had to pour hydrogen peroxide and cinnamon all over the roots and in between the bulbs. I lost over half of my plant before I got it to stop because I didn't know what to do. I took mine out of the material and let it sit for two days with the hydrogen peroxide and cinnamon all over the roots. After that I put the plant in new planting material and let it dry out for a few months except for watering it a little but only the bark not the leaves.

I hope this helps. I was upset when I thought I was going to loose it to rot.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #4 01-23-2012, 02:25 AM

A Betadine solution will also work.

Just throwing it out there in case you should need it.

Cym Ladye · #5 01-23-2012, 01:51 PM

Smooch6,

Your plant sounds as if it has a classic case of "black rot" which spreads through the base of the pseudo bulbs and for which there is no cure that I know of. If you have a large enough plant with enough bulbs, you sometimes can stop it by a sterile cutting off of the bulbs from the worst affected, one at a time, until you get to a clean attachment. This is an insidious disease, is transmittable on tools and your hands onto open cuts on plants, and is usually fatal. Your photos may prove otherwise, but your description sounds bleak.
Sorry,

Cym Ladye

katied · #6 01-23-2012, 02:01 PM

Smooche6 has the problem with the rotting and posted.

My cymbidium was affected about 6 months ago but mine lived through the rotting. I have two bulbs left and they are growing fine..

Cym Ladye · #7 01-23-2012, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katied

Smooche6 has the problem with the rotting and posted.

My cymbidium was affected about 6 months ago but mine lived through the rotting. I have two bulbs left and they are growing fine..

Glad yours made it through. (You were too fast on the trigger for me. I saw my error within a few minutes after posting and it is now corrected.)

CL