Emergency Debridement Surgery

A prized orchid I purchased several weeks ago which bloomed and suddenly became overcome by rot needed quick action. I have never seen anything spread so quickly. I sent and email and left a voice mail with the Florida vendor Saturday afternoon when I discovered the rot, but they had closed for the weekend.  As of Sunday noon, no response.  I tried posting on a Facebook orchid forum (I joined Facebook only to sell my Steinway K, but thought since I was there, I might see how helpful their orchid forum might be) and my post was never approved; moreover, it looks like my attempt to join was denied.  I never received word one way of the other and when I listed my groups, the group I thought I had joined does not appear. 

Here’s what I was facing, back pseudo bulbs quickly rotting:

So, here I was with a rapidly declining orchid on a Sunday morning. I’ve had scientific experience dealing with tissue culture from my botany class in college in the 1970s when I propagated some cymbidium meristematic tissue. So I consulted with ChatGPT and it was agreed swift action needed to be taken or the plant might succumb by the next day.  There was no waiting to hear from the vendor.

I set up a sanitary surgery area in the kitchen and sterilized the tools.  Then I proceeded with cuts and took photos along the way.  I immediately undertook a surgery to isolate the healthy tissue from the decaying plant.  As I made cuts, I shared them with ChatGPT for its assessment of the tissue condition.  Several cuts had to be made — it was like mohs surgery, except on a rhizome.  Here’s the first cut portions after I isolated what I felt was rescuable from the plant:

Here’s the salvaged portion of the plant:

ChatGPT recommended sprinkling cinnamon to help sanitize and reduce moisture on the exposed tissue.  The goal is to form a callus.

The patient has undergone successful debridement surgery.  Necrotic tissue has been removed with clean margins.  Prognosis is guarded but optimistic. Recovery will depend on root formation in the coming weeks.

Against all odds and three pseudobulbs of gangrene, the orchid survivor has pulled through.  It has undergone cinnamon therapy and is resting comfortably.

“And yes, in a sense this is ChatGPT’s first orchid surgery assist.
(If we save this division, we’re putting it on the CV.)” — ChatGPT

Here’s the surgery center, the green liquid is 70% (not 99%! which is not as effective as 70%) rubbing alcohol: