Sphag and Bag on Brown Cymbidium Bulbs
 

I have an entirely brown plant with one new green shoot. I depotted the plant and all of the roots are dead.

Anyway, is it possible to bring back "life" from brown bulbs? The bulbs are quite mature.

Help?

Brown 'bulbs are often dead 'bulbs, but come cymbidiums get that way, sort-of like a tan. If they are rock-hard, it may be the latter case.

Do not bother with sphag-n-bag, that new shoot will grow roots soon enough.

Also, if you want to try and get new plants from the old bulbs, you can try this:

• divide the back bulbs into individuals (being sure to leave at least 2 or 3 attached to that new growth).
• Using a tray of grade 1 perlite (the roughly 1/4" horticultural stuff sold at garden centers) about 2"-3" deep, bury the bulbs about half-way, standing upright.
• Keep the perlite moist, but avoid water standing in the tray bottom. (I use small, plastic horticulture trays, and drill a couple of small holes in the bottom)

• Kept shady and at normal temps, some of the bulbs may sprout new growths in a few weeks.