Can I cut a pseudobulb in half for rot?
 

I have a brassia hybrid young plant that's developed a bit of rot at the top of a pulb that seems to be slowly moving down :( Problem is, it's the best bulb the plant has: it has a new growth started recently, and I don't think the two older bulbs it has have great root systems. Could cutting half the top off the bulb work? I think I have to make a decision fast...

I recently lost two maxillarias and have a third on death row from rot at the base. This seems to be slower, so I'm hoping it's not the same bug/culture problem.

Plant is a seed-grown one and I think I may have got the finiky lemon as it's always had some bit tatty since I got it sigh.

I've never seen a pseudobulb cut in half and survive. If a pseudobulb is infected I always cut it off at the base. I think that's your best option. Good luck.

Cut it off!! I've seen p-bulbs cut in half and survive. Just be sure to get EVERY last little bit of rot though. Get every little bit of brown out. Even a tiny bit of the infected bulb can re-infect.

Are you sure its rot though? Sometimes a plant consuming its old back bulbs looks like rot.

It's the newest mature bulb, and pretty black at the top, so I'm pretty sure it's not just loosing a back bulb. Like I say it's also recently started a growth from the same bulb (gone past triangular, but not yet showing separate leaves, so way off having it's own roots).

I think I'm going to try 'trimming' the bulb. But at the first sign that's not worked it's going to have to loose the bulb (and probably the new growth with it sadly)

Ya, the only alternative to surgery is to lose the plant. I actually had to this same thing with a large Onc. Sharry Baby and it worked out well. Like I said though, be sure get every last bit of rot and be sure by cutting well into the healthy 'green' flesh.

Also, don't forget to fix the problems that developed the problem in the first place! Rot is usually due to less than optimal cultural conditions.

Done. Hopefully I've been able to cut low enough. I de-potted it and gave it a quick all over rinse with bleach solution (and rinsed well!) The roots are not very pretty and there's a suspicious area on the oldest pulb as well. So I'm going to be keeping an eye on that over the next couple of days too. I think I'll keep it bare root for now.

I think if nothing nasty happens over the next few days I think options are to bag it with a little sphag or to repot, in which case I'd try Orchid Focus, which is a mix of coconut and bark, and probably fresher than the mix I had it in.

Unfortunately I'm going away for 4 nights starting Friday. I have a cat sitter coming in, but I don't think I can really expect her to nurse sick orchids :( Just hoping it can last till I get back. I have plans to get some new shelves in my livingroom then, part of which will be used for a few plants that are not happy in my kitchen: they'll get a bit more light and air movement there. Hopefully it won't be too light and warm for this one!

Plant is Brassostele/Banfieldara Senne Stern (Brassia/Brassada Mivada X Brassostele/Adoglossum Sumit) Takes a lot of looking for for some reason, but I recently found the first picture of one these flowering I've seen (they were labelled Senne Orange... I guess because they were expect to be at least part orange)

Down the bottom of this page: RE: Brassia - 3

Hope I can save mine! I would be very happy to have flowers like those.

Well it's still with me. The pulb has 'collasped' a little since I left, but it looks like it's dying back rather than rotting: yellowing rather than black like it was. I'm thinking it's probably best to leave it and hope it sorts it out itself.

The seller actually had another of these plants available at the congress, and I was tempted! But then I noticed it had a few tatty bits including a hole in one pulb... I really do think this must be a bit of a tricky plant!

I would rub the cut end with neosporin ( or UK equivalent ).
I cut off a zygo pbulb that was going black and the neosporin treatment stopped further rot in its tracks. Also have used it it on the underside of suspect leaves over the years. I swear by it....

is Neosporin the ointment that comes in a tube you put on open wounds for humans? I will try that remedy just for kicks....

I would also recommend to make a paste of water and cinnamon powder for open cuts on plants....

It already has a good crust of cinnamon on, and parts of the cut where it's fallen away are dry and clean. At this stage I think rubbing anything on would just risk opening a wound that's well closed.