Hi guys! I just noticed that I have a pseudo bulb on my L...
I think it’s due to dehydration as I’ve been cautious not to over water. It’s not rotten and mushy. I think it’s dried. Which is interesting because I just got this Lycaste Orchid from the grower like 10 days ago.
Do I remove this dried, yellow pseudo bulb or should I wait until it gets worse? I think it’s the oldest structure on this orchid so maybe it’s even a normal occurrence? I don’t know! #OrchidLovers
Do I remove this dried, yellow pseudo bulb or should I wait until it gets worse? I think it’s the oldest structure on this orchid so maybe it’s even a normal occurrence? I don’t know! #OrchidLovers
5” pot
Last watered 2 years ago
4
Best Answer
@anniejsong Hello Annie and welcome to Greg!
I have been reading on this and this is what I have came up with. Also check your roots for root rot.
If the orchid is very dehydrated, you may find that in addition to the pseudobulb being wrinkled and limp, it is also yellow.
In this case, it is likely that the pseudobulb is dying. You likely also have dehydrated orchid roots as well.
OR
When Should You Cut Off Pseudobulbs On Your Orchid?
There are a few cases in which you should remove your orchids pseudobulbs. Obvious indications would include rot or disease.
You can also remove dried up, dead pseudobulbs. Be careful with this though. Confirm that the pseudobulb is completely dried out and dead before you remove it.
Pseudobulbs that are wrinkled, but still firm are still alive and serving a purpose. Leave those pseudobulbs on your orchid. Your orchid can still use those wrinkled, but firm older pseudobulbs as storage organs. If the pseudobulb feels like a brittle dried out husk, however, then it is safe to remove.
If the pseudobulb is yellowed, wrinkled, and limp, it is likely beyond saving. Your main goal at this point should be to save the orchid. If you are able to salvage your orchid and nurse it back to health, it will grow new, healthy pseudobulbs in the future.
When the pseudobulb is completely dried and yellowed, you can remove it using a sharp, sterilized razor-blade, cutting it off close to the base of the orchid. Follow up with a dab of ground cinnamon powder on the cut end. This will help seal off the orchid and prevent infection.
Any time you remove a pseudobulb from your orchid, make sure you use a sterilized razor blade to cut off the dead or rotted tissue. This will allow you to make a precise, clean cut.
If you are removing a pseudobulb due to rot, it would be a good idea to follow up with a fungicide treatment to prevent the rot from spreading.
I have been reading on this and this is what I have came up with. Also check your roots for root rot.
If the orchid is very dehydrated, you may find that in addition to the pseudobulb being wrinkled and limp, it is also yellow.
In this case, it is likely that the pseudobulb is dying. You likely also have dehydrated orchid roots as well.
OR
When Should You Cut Off Pseudobulbs On Your Orchid?
There are a few cases in which you should remove your orchids pseudobulbs. Obvious indications would include rot or disease.
You can also remove dried up, dead pseudobulbs. Be careful with this though. Confirm that the pseudobulb is completely dried out and dead before you remove it.
Pseudobulbs that are wrinkled, but still firm are still alive and serving a purpose. Leave those pseudobulbs on your orchid. Your orchid can still use those wrinkled, but firm older pseudobulbs as storage organs. If the pseudobulb feels like a brittle dried out husk, however, then it is safe to remove.
If the pseudobulb is yellowed, wrinkled, and limp, it is likely beyond saving. Your main goal at this point should be to save the orchid. If you are able to salvage your orchid and nurse it back to health, it will grow new, healthy pseudobulbs in the future.
When the pseudobulb is completely dried and yellowed, you can remove it using a sharp, sterilized razor-blade, cutting it off close to the base of the orchid. Follow up with a dab of ground cinnamon powder on the cut end. This will help seal off the orchid and prevent infection.
Any time you remove a pseudobulb from your orchid, make sure you use a sterilized razor blade to cut off the dead or rotted tissue. This will allow you to make a precise, clean cut.
If you are removing a pseudobulb due to rot, it would be a good idea to follow up with a fungicide treatment to prevent the rot from spreading.
Thank you for your reply!! I really appreciate it!!
I think I should wait to see if it starts to look worse as I don’t think it’s an infection or rotting. I’m being cautious with this one because I have found Lycaste to be very rare here. I have also asked my question to the American Orchid Society. If I learn anything new I will post it here!!
If I do end up cutting the dried pseudo bulb I will also track my progress because this is all new to me. It’s been a fun and interesting journey so far!
Thank you again!
I think I should wait to see if it starts to look worse as I don’t think it’s an infection or rotting. I’m being cautious with this one because I have found Lycaste to be very rare here. I have also asked my question to the American Orchid Society. If I learn anything new I will post it here!!
If I do end up cutting the dried pseudo bulb I will also track my progress because this is all new to me. It’s been a fun and interesting journey so far!
Thank you again!
@KikiGoldblatt I got an answer from the AOS and they were mentioning something about “over watering” which I thought was odd because I never watered this since I purchased it. Either way, I was concerned so I opened up the roots and low and behold tons were dead. I think I had root rot even though I just got this orchid. So I cut out the old dead roots and now I’m concerned because I was not prepared for this. I don’t have medium ready to go but I took a chance because the roots were so wet. I also watered it again last night when I thought the pseudo bulb was shriveling from dehydration. I never thought it was the root system since I just bought it!
I also had no idea that the roots were surrounded by compacted moss. So, I cleaned up the roots and now it’s sitting in some moss until I get the supplies to repot it.
I don’t know if I can save this orchid, I’m so new to all this but I have been studying so we will see.
Worse case scenario is that I can get another one but this was definitely the most expensive orchid they had… well learning has a cost for sure so it’s okay but I really love this one!
I also had no idea that the roots were surrounded by compacted moss. So, I cleaned up the roots and now it’s sitting in some moss until I get the supplies to repot it.
I don’t know if I can save this orchid, I’m so new to all this but I have been studying so we will see.
Worse case scenario is that I can get another one but this was definitely the most expensive orchid they had… well learning has a cost for sure so it’s okay but I really love this one!
@anniejsong you are very welcome.