Cymbidium Bulb Turning Black, Leaves Yellowing

[Cym Lover]

Hi guys, I just registered! I'm a newbie to the orchid world, and already I'm running into problems. I bought this lady on e-bay about 2 weeks ago, and she wasn't in the best of health when she arrived, but now she's taken a turn for the worse. I've got some really, really bad pics here to illustrate what's going on:






My month of orchid experience leads me to suspect that she tried to throw up a spike while in transit and then it took a turn for the worse...... But now it's spreading to the bulb. Please help me save this young lady, she wasn't cheap and she has a gorgeous spike on the other side that is slowly yellowing and breaking my heart!

Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated!

[tuvoc]

Looks like some kind of rot, but I'm not sure. I would contact the grower or the vendor immediately, and see if they can help, or replace it. Good luck.

Kim

[Cym Lover]

Ouch. I had a feeling that's what it was. Dang it, would you believe I paid more then any sane person would for this little bugger in spike, even though I have a baby of this same mericlone (Without Peer 'Soft Touch')? Why is it always the ones you looooove???????

Guess I will contact them, although I feel like a pain for doing so. Thanks for the advice, Kim (BTW, love the name. I'm also a Kim!)

[stonedragonfarms]

I agree with Kim on this one; though I am curious: is this browning on the old pseudobulb or the one that is spiking? I also agree that you should contact the vendor and enquire about any ideas that they may have.
Adam

[Cym Lover]

I did contact the vendor, can't rate this guy high enough, truly great this seller. He pointed out that it's probably root rot (an inspection of the roots shows that there is some going on) and gave me great directions on repotting (I already know how as I picked up a cym in an ATROCIOUS state as my first orchid, had to repot to save her. Unfortunately that was when I contracted Orchid Addiction Virus), and has offered another plant kindly. I'd prefer to try to save this young lady though.

The browning (more blackening) is on the one that is spiking, Adam. Looks like it tried to throw out another spike on the other side and it rotted, now its spread. Could be a chicken-egg scenario, though. Roots not strong enough-spike dies-bulb rots-roots rot more. I've sent pics to the vendor, so hopefully he'll know more of what's going on and if this particular mericlone has a weakness in this area.

[Des]

Looks like it may have accidentally come into contact with some herbicide This happened to me a little while ago , i placed the whole plant into a bucket of water with a fungicide and some sugar water It has recovered but will take a few years to get back to its original size