Help! Rotting pseudobulb on Oncidium 'Space Race 'Coco'

[Um...]

Hi all! I have a rotting pbulb on my intergenetic onc and would like some guidance on how to take care of it.

This particular bulb is old and doesn't have any leaves left on it, but there is both new and existing growth from the base that has been growing slowly. The bulb is turning brown, is very squishy (like a rotting pumpkin), and is starting to split horizontally a bit.

Ideally I'd like to just remove the rotting bulb and replant, but I'm not sure if that's the best plan, if I need to treat the plant at all, or how to even go about it.

Any assistance with this issue would be much appreciated!

(tried to attach photo of the rotting pbulb, but its not liking photobucket/uploading for some reason??)

[WhiteRabbit]

Probably best to remove that. Use a sterile blade or cutters. If the rhizome looks rotting where you cut you should use a fresh sterile blade to cut again (hopefully, and quite possibly this won't be necessary) . Carefully dab or press some ground cinnamon onto cut area on rhizome being careful to not get any on roots.

[james mickelso]

You can cut down to good tissue and then put cinnamon on the cut tissue. Use a fresh razor blade. The new growth is coming from the rizome not the pbulb itself though in some it is difficult to see where that is. I'd just take the cluster of pbulbs out of the pot and start cutting off the rotting pbulb. When you have cut out all of the rotted flesh, covered the wound with cinnamon, then just repot it. Don't water for a week.

[james mickelso]

Where in Encinitas do you live? I am in Oceanside by the pier.

[Um...]

Thank you to you Sonya and you James for your responses. I will make an attempt at your suggestions today. Fingers crossed!

James, I've sent you a PM.

[greenpassion]

Hi all. In reading about the pb issue, I again am reading about ground cinnamon. Do you just use straight powdered stuff from the supermarket? I just had to cut off a newer leaf from a phal that was clearly diseased with something, and as it was an inner very younge leaf, I cut if to attempt to keep what ever it is from getting to the tiny new born leaf that is starting in the center of the plant. I brushed Physan 20 on it with a q-0tip, but is cinnamon better?

[ACK2]

cinnamon seals the open cut. It is important to use sterile razor when making the cut.

Glad you are part of OB. Welcome!!!!

Let us know how things work out for you.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by greenpassion

Hi all. In reading about the pb issue, I again am reading about ground cinnamon. Do you just use straight powdered stuff from the supermarket? I just had to cut off a newer leaf from a phal that was clearly diseased with something, and as it was an inner very younge leaf, I cut if to attempt to keep what ever it is from getting to the tiny new born leaf that is starting in the center of the plant. I brushed Physan 20 on it with a q-0tip, but is cinnamon better?

yup - just cinnamon from the spice aisle. It does act a bit like styptic powder, drying the cut area, as well as working against fungus

I don't know if cinnamon is better that physan, tho it does have that drying affect which helps to 'seal' the wound, as ACK2 said. Because of the drying effect, be careful to not get it on roots

[james mickelso]

Um, I tried to open your request but it failed. PleaSE TRY AGAIN.

[greenpassion]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

Um, I tried to open your request but it failed. PleaSE TRY AGAIN.

What request?