The Orchid Garden

Is is virus?????

Question:

Hi Folks, I posted awhile back re my cymbidium blooming. Now I have another problem Last month, this same cymbidium had one bulb that turned kind of dark yellow and soft to touch. Upon closer inspection the bulb was easily broke off at the root. I assume that was the root rot, so I remove it from the pot. Many of the roots were black and shrivel. I trimmed off the roots as much as I can and repotted it to bigger clay pot. I didn’t water for about a week, then resume regular water schedule, which in ~90degree very dry SO CAL means about every 4-5 days. Then I noticed the most of the bulb and new shoots look burned at the base. I isolated it from my other orchids and have been keeping an eye on it. Yesterday, one of the young shoot has turned the same ugly yellow color and, sure enough, broke off at the base. Am I getting root rot again? Or is this some kind of virus. Can this cymbidium be save, or should I destroy it before it start to infect my other orchids.  BTW, this cymb. is in my enclosed patio which receive plenty of light, all the windows always open, so it has good air circulation. Any suggestion is greatly appreciated. TIA Bo.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Folks, I posted awhile back re my cymbidium blooming. Now I have another problem Last month, this same cymbidium had one bulb that turned kind of dark yellow and soft to touch. Upon closer inspection the bulb was easily broke off at the root. I assume that was the root rot, so I remove it from the pot. Many of the roots were black and shrivel. I trimmed off the roots as much as I can and repotted it to bigger clay pot. I didn’t water for about a week, then resume regular water schedule, which in ~90degree very dry SO CAL means about every 4-5 days. Then I noticed the most of the bulb and new shoots look burned at the base. I isolated it from my other orchids and have been keeping an eye on it. Yesterday, one of the young shoot has turned the same ugly yellow color and, sure enough, broke off at the base. Am I getting root rot again? Or is this some kind of virus. Can this cymbidium be save, or should I destroy it before it start to infect my other orchids.  BTW, this cymb. is in my enclosed patio which receive plenty of light, all the windows always open, so it has good air circulation. Any suggestion is greatly appreciated. TIA Bo.

Bo, You’ve got a bacterial or fungal infection secondary to the original rot. Without culturing it’s hard to say just what. You could try tetracycline for bacterial, and perhaps Physan for fungal. Either may work or neither may work. It just depends on the bug. -Rod-

Response:

Filed under: Cymbidium Orchids

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