Saving an Overwatered Pseudobulb Orchid with Rotting Base

Rotting Pseudobulbs: Emergency Repotting

A reader received a beautiful pseudobulb-type orchid (three large pseudobulbs, two small, three spikes of chocolate flowers). They watered once and misted lightly, but leaves turned yellow-brown and dropped daily. The pseudobulb bases turned brown. Unpotting revealed the plant in dense houseplant soil in a tiny pot with poor drainage—medium was soaking wet. They removed all soil, cut off flowers to save energy, loosened roots to dry, and plan to repot in bark mix. They want advice to save this sentimental plant.

Expert Response

You're on the right track. You may lose most leaves, but healthy pseudobulbs can produce new growth after repotting. The brown bases concern me—they contain the "eyes" for new growth. Check if eyes are intact. Find a sulfur-based fungicide and treat brown areas before repotting. If brown areas are soft, fungal/bacterial infection has entered the pseudobulb—bad sign. If firm, that's good. Keep the plant dry after repotting until new growth appears, then resume watering.