Date: 01/01/2010

The pseudobulb is a reservoir of food and water derived from the part of a stem between two leaf nodes.

It is commonly seen in Cattleya and Oncidiums.

When the leaf falls off a pseudobulb, it is called a backbulb and it will provide nourishment to the plant until it turns brown and dies.

Shriveled pseudobulbs indicate a dehydrated orchid it is in a stressed state, having used up its water reserves

Pseudobulbs and course thick stem generally indicates that the plant could be allowed to dry out. This is not true during the growth phase and for some genera like Catasetum.

Click here for watering tips

Photo: Miltonia Pseudobulb: You have an adult plant with a healthy pseudobulb here.

Orchids with Pseudobulbs: Cattleya, Oncidium, Dendrobium, Laelia, Odontoglossum, Miltonia, Brassia, Cymbidium, Catasetum etc