Sick sharry babies with yellowing bulbs! Please help!

[majormtn]

Hello everyone!

I purchased this orchid off of ebay some weeks ago and it keeps getting worse and worse.



The seller gave me a discount since I paid for an orchid with a flower spike, and the spike was limp and brown on arrival.

I really believed that after removing everything that turned yellowish/brown, the orchid would get better.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to control it and it has spread to 3 of the 4 bulbs it had! I have no idea what it is and how to care for this orchid. At first, I thought it was some sort of rot, but I'm not sure.

Another bulb (not pictured) is turning yellow and has similar discoloration at the bottom.





I really want these guys to survive, but I fear that without the proper treatment, these bulbs aren't going to make it

[WhiteRabbit]

How often are you watering?
Does that container have drain holes?
Are the yellow areas on the pbulbs soft, or firm?

[majormtn]

1) since the bulbs separated on their own after attempting to repot, I've been spraying the top of the moss once a day. Clearly though I didn't get rid of all the rot because it's spreading! Should I stop watering for a while?

2)yes, I added holes to the cups.

3) they are a bit soft but not by much. The other bulb is yellowing and its covering the whole back side of the bulb, but again, just a tad bit soft. I could take a picture of it if it helps!

[WhiteRabbit]

It doesn't look good to me, but I don't know if it's hopeless or not ... How are the roots? How long after you got the orchid did this start? The fact that the spike was limp when you got it makes me wonder if the plant got extremely cold, maybe ?

Keep this away from any other plants, to be safe. Use a skewer, or freshly sharpened pencil to check how moist (or dry) the media is before watering.

I'm not the most knowledgeable about orchid diseases, so I am hoping some other members will chime in! I do, unfortunately, have some experience with fusarium wilt (I don't know that this is what you are dealing with), and had similar experience before I knew what I was dealing with, as far as cutting away the rotted parts, but the disease kept progressing. Also - make sure to sanitize any cutters, or other items that you have used on this plant.

[silken]

I too wonder if it got chilled during shipping. the fact that the plant fell apart when re-potting makes me think the rhizome was already in trouble. I would use a bactericide/fungicide on it. But maybe you should see if you can get a replacement or refund if it was like this immediately after you received it.

[wintergirl]

She got it weeks ago... sorta late for a refund in my opinion. Plus when you buy and ship in cold weather that is the chance you take. You really can't blame the seller.

[RandomGemini]

I'm so sorry. It does look like this one will not make it. I also suspect cold damage, or possibly fusarium. I have seen that in a Sharry Baby myself and tossed the plant rather than risk infecting my collection.

The good news is, this is orchid show season. You should be able to find a local orchid society putting on a show near you and you will more than likely find a replacement for your Sharry Baby there. I'm on my second one. I got it for free from an orchid grower when I went to visit them as they were taking apart a display of these for a show and they sent one home with me so I could have something blooming, so you just have to look around.

[majormtn]

Oh! I never considered it could have been cold damage... Although I did order a couple other orchids around that same time and those were fine.

Either way, I will throw it away and keep my eyes peeled for some sharry babies! Thanks everyone!!! You were very helpful