Orchid Care OrchidTalk Orchid Forum Links Nursery

Welcome to OrchidTalk Orchid Forums


The Friendliest Orchid Community on the Internet!


  •  » Learn to Repot your Orchids
  •  » Learn Orchid Care Tips and Secrets
  •  » Find the perfect Orchid for your Growing Environment
  •  » Chat with Orchid Growing Professionals

OrchidTalk - "Bringing People Together to Grow Orchids Better!"


Let us help you grow your Orchids better; Join our community today.


YES! I want to register an account for free right now!


Register or Login now to remove this advertisement.

Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Myrmecophila Tibiana - Removing a bad p-bulb

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Real Name
    Connie
    My Grow Area
    Porch/Patio.
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Mini Vanda, Schombs &Encyclia.
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    West of Tampa, FL
    Posts
    9,271
    Member's Country Flag

    Default Myrmecophila Tibiana - Removing a bad p-bulb

    Myrmecophila (schomburgkia) Tibiana is a primary cross of Mcp. tibicinis and Mcp. thomsoniana. I have had this plant for a long time. Recently it has begun to look sad due to a scale infestation and extreme sun levels. One p-bulb was going bad and since it had to be cut off I thought I would show the process. Tibiana p-bulbs are hollow and ants can make these hollow places their homes, storing their food and feeding the plant at the same time.

    Name:  mcp01.jpg
Views: 2025
Size:  188.5 KB

    I sliced open the bad p-bulb to show what it looks like inside. The red cap contains cinnamon to treat the cut.

    Name:  mcp03.jpg
Views: 1262
Size:  204.4 KB

    Here is the gaping hole left after cutting the p-bulb off.

    Name:  mcp04.jpg
Views: 2372
Size:  195.8 KB

    And the hole now liberally treated with cinnamon. I don't just sprinkle the cinnamon as I want to keep it from getting on the surrounding healthy roots as it can dry them out.

    Name:  mcp05.jpg
Views: 1484
Size:  193.3 KB

    You will want to make sure and use a sharp knife since these p-bulbs are tough to cut. It reminds me of celery with the cordlike strings.

  2. #2
    Real Name
    Connie
    My Grow Area
    Porch/Patio.
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Mini Vanda, Schombs &Encyclia.
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    West of Tampa, FL
    Posts
    9,271
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    A couple more views of the removed p-bulb... It looks to me the scale are inside the p-bulbs as well. Perhaps this is why i'm having so much trouble getting this plant healthy.

    Name:  mcp02.jpg
Views: 1151
Size:  134.8 KB

    Name:  mcp06.jpg
Views: 1180
Size:  169.8 KB

  3. #3
    My Grow Area
    Windowsill
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Paphiopedilum, Phalaenopsis
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Kentucky
    Posts
    819
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Maybe a systemic would finish off the scale.

  4. #4
    Real Name
    Connie
    My Grow Area
    Porch/Patio.
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Mini Vanda, Schombs &Encyclia.
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    West of Tampa, FL
    Posts
    9,271
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Chris1140 View Post
    Maybe a systemic would finish off the scale.
    I use a systemic...however, it may be time to buy a new one. I have heard you have to switch every so often as the bugs eventually become immune.

  5. #5
    Real Name
    Carol
    My Grow Area
    Under Lights
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Phals, Catts, Onc. Alliance
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Eastern WA State, USA
    Posts
    1,505

    Default

    Do you (or anyone) have a good picture of scale on the leaves of an orchid? I'd like to have a more clear idea what to look for.

    Good luck in clearing up your plant!

  6. #6
    My Grow Area
    Porch/Patio.
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Vanda
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Posts
    1,302

    Default

    nice post connie. i've never seen anything like this before. it does form a nice big hollow space for ants. i wonder if they enlarge it somehow too? really cool, although i got a relative of this recently, and it is a little young plant, but not looking forward to it becoming an ant condo complex. or a scale one either. i think the local ants would pack these full of mealie bugs. if you do get ants, you can get rid of them with diatomaceous earth.

  7. #7

    Default

    I saw a lot of Mcp christinae in Mexico (similar to tibicinis but on the other side of the Yucatan peninsula). It seems pretty normal that old pseudobulbs decay. Especially those growing in full sun. The ones that were happiest and most vigorous were shaded by some tree canopy and probably were getting morning sun and afternoon shade. Those in full sun only had the most recent growth alive. The hollow old pseudobulbs are used there as pipes to smoke medicinal herbs.

    here are some images of plants in situ,
    http://flic.kr/s/aHsjFfY2Px

    I have to add more photos but had not much time to edit

  8. #8
    Real Name
    Connie
    My Grow Area
    Porch/Patio.
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Mini Vanda, Schombs &Encyclia.
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    West of Tampa, FL
    Posts
    9,271
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by coeruleo View Post
    nice post connie. i've never seen anything like this before. it does form a nice big hollow space for ants. i wonder if they enlarge it somehow too? really cool, although i got a relative of this recently, and it is a little young plant, but not looking forward to it becoming an ant condo complex. or a scale one either. i think the local ants would pack these full of mealie bugs. if you do get ants, you can get rid of them with diatomaceous earth.
    You would have to see my backyard to appreciate it...but we pretty much live on a big ant hill. I am a stones throw from the beaches...sand and ants are just something we learn to deal with here.

  9. #9
    Real Name
    Connie
    My Grow Area
    Porch/Patio.
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Mini Vanda, Schombs &Encyclia.
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    West of Tampa, FL
    Posts
    9,271
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by stefpix View Post
    I saw a lot of Mcp christinae in Mexico (similar to tibicinis but on the other side of the Yucatan peninsula). It seems pretty normal that old pseudobulbs decay. Especially those growing in full sun. The ones that were happiest and most vigorous were shaded by some tree canopy and probably were getting morning sun and afternoon shade. Those in full sun only had the most recent growth alive. The hollow old pseudobulbs are used there as pipes to smoke medicinal herbs.

    here are some images of plants in situ,
    http://flic.kr/s/aHsjFfY2Px

    I have to add more photos but had not much time to edit
    Wow...thanks!

  10. #10
    My Grow Area
    Porch/Patio.
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Vanda
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Posts
    1,302

    Default

    i read somewhere the bulbs were made into flutes by children, but i tried finding more info online, and came up with nothing other than a few mentions of it happening, no sound files, no photos. tibicinis supposedly means trumpet i think.

Similar Threads

  1. Bulb. claptonense vs. Bulb. lowii
    By TwoStems in forum General Orchid Culture
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: May 17th, 2012, 07:28 AM
  2. Bulb. Jersey (Bulb. lobbii x Bulb. echinolabium)
    By Brutal_Dreamer in forum Orchids of Other Genera IN BLOOM
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: September 19th, 2011, 11:09 PM
  3. TRADE: Have Myrmecophilia Tibiana
    By Zozzl in forum Orchids For Sale / For Trade
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: August 10th, 2011, 02:59 PM
  4. Bulb anguliferum and Bulb catenarium
    By lanhua in forum Orchids of Other Genera IN BLOOM
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: March 5th, 2010, 09:32 PM
  5. Bulb. medusae and Bulb. putidum waiting impatiently
    By jeffrey6115 in forum **NOT IN BLOOM** All Genera
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: November 29th, 2009, 12:58 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
OrchidTalk --An Orchid Growers Discussion Forum brought to you by River Valley Orchidworks. A World Community where orchid beginners and experts talk about orchids and share tips on their care, cultivation, and propagation.