Zygo question; remove bulb?

[pchadwic]

I have a Zygopetalum hybrid called Syd Monkhouse and it's nearing the end of it's blooming cycle. It had three spikes of which I cut back one (all blooms had dropped) and the other two have blooms that are slowly drying.

It has 4 pseudobulbs, one of which is turning brown (see photos.) The growth was cut from this bulb when I bought it; should I remove this bulb?

This is the first orchid with pseudobulbs that I've cared for and I'm not familiar with how to handle them.


Thanks!

[LouisW]

I vote for removal, and the sooner the better before that rot spreads down the rhizome. Cut off any material that is rotten and soft. Afterwards you should allow the area to dry and sprinkle cinnamon on the open cut. This will prevent the rot from spreading into the vulnerable wound.

[pchadwic]

Thank you!! I appreciate the reply!

[Stitz]

If that were my plant, I'd leave it alone. If it dies, get another one!

--Stitz--

[lmartiny]

I've been watching some questionable pbulbs myself. I would think mushy should go too. I wouldn't just let the plant be overcome and die.
Can you just dig down, ID the problem and cut it out without disturbing the whole plant?

[jerrymeola]

Definitely remove it. It is certainly not helping the plant, removing it will not hurt the plant any further.

Removal can stop further spread of the problem. Many Zygo and Onc will have bulbs rot like this and not spread to the rest of the plant, but why take the risk.

Remove it from the pot and cut it as far as necessary to remove all soft growth. Leave it out of the pot for 4-7 days to cauterize the cuts, re-pot and water with good drying periods between waterings for the first few weeks as it re-establishes.

[Brooke]

You can probably cut and remove the pbulb without unpotting it. Remove the bark in the area, use your fingers to feel where the rhizome is, make the cut, dab cinnamon on the cut area. The cinnamon will repel any future moisture.

Brooke

[katrina]

I agree w/Brooke...you probably won't have to un-pot. Heck, you night not even have to cut. I had a zygo do something similar and I was able to twist the pbulb right off w/out doing any un-potting at all. I then sprinkled the area w/a nice dose of cinnamon for good measure. That was last summer...plant is doing just fine.

With that said...if you haven't repotted this one recently...it might be a good idea to get in there and see what you're dealing with. As for leaving it out of it's pot for a few days...I wouldn't do that w/my zygos...not up here in the North w/our LOW humidity in heated houses. They do NOT like to dry out completely and in my experience they will quickly show their displeasure if kept too dry. I simply cut out any bad roots/leaves/etc....sprinkle w/cinnamon and pop them into a new pot w/fresh media. I do not soak them for a week but I do not let them dry either...slightly moist. Starting the 2nd week, I treat them like everyone else. I have a hybrid w/Syd Monkhouse...it loses it's leaves on the oldest pbulb as soon as it's done flowering...starts to turn yellow and ugly...I let them go until I can't take the ugly anymore then cut them off.