Rooting Lesson Learned (this got long)

[cowboy51278]

Just wanted to share a success story with everyone. Last August I was wandering through a local florist/tropicals shop when I noticed one of the employees putting out a few oncidium type plants. I wandered over and she had just divided a HUGE Oncidium Sphacelatum. She had cut it down into single divisions and when I took a closer look it looked like she had potted it right in regular pro mix. Upon questioning her she said thats what it had come in origionally. I suggested maybe that it was just a broken down bark mix. Her response was that they would sell quickly and if people wanted to repot them they could, they had plenty of fine and medium bark bagged up and on the shelf. I thought it was pretty cruddy and left a bit disgruntled. A few weeks later I came back and there were 3 divisions left. All marked down to $3. I don't know if the others had sold or died. I didn't ask...I picked one up and took it home. It had been in direct sunlight and had some burning and the pseudoblulb had yellowed considerably. I unpotted it and found that there were no roots left. I was going to do the sphag and bag trick, which has worked for me many times, but then I remembered an older orchid grower had once suggested putting a rootless plant in a more open media than you would normally do, like large bark chunks rather than a medium mix. The idea was to water more frequently (at least every other day) in a very open mix and as the plant began to put on new roots they would 'go looking' for the source of the moisture. So for the last 8 months or so Ive watered once every 2 days in large bark chunks. Using MSU fertilizer and distilled water. No KLN and no superthrive. You can see the results. I don't know if it would work every time, but its def worth a try. It obviously worked for this guy. He put on 4 new growth during the winter which are still maturing and now has at least one more new growth coming off the other immature pseudobulbs. Maybe its just the species, I know they get big and take over. But I never thought it would take off like this. At any rate it was a good way to learn a new technique. I've since had some success with a couple ratty looking zygos. Whichever way you go it takes a ton of patience. Anyone else ever heard of this?

[cb977]

Way to go, Paul!!!!!

[gmdiaz]

That plant looks magnificently healthy!!!!

You are sooo good to your plants. . . so very very good!

I'll try that technique too but I think I'll add the KLN. . .might speed things along there at first?

[cowboy51278]

could be. ive never tried it......ive always been afraid to. ok, there ive said it. im a big chicken!

[kimstwin]

Congratulations. That's an impressive looking root system you have.

[charmbutterfly]

Oh wow it looks like its on steroids!!i gotta use your distilled water lol

[calvin_orchidL]

Great job! I'm starting to believe this airy medium/regular watering thing more and more....I used to be a die-hard sphag and bagger for dying phals. Then one time, it didn't work for me with one of my orchids, so after 7 months of no activity in the bag, I took it out and popped it in coconut (most of my phals are in sphag), watering more frequently. It has since put out new roots, a leaf and is quite happy!

One of my sedirea japonicas nearly croaked on me this winter...tried the bag thing, but it didn't revive. So I took it out, put it into a margarine tub with a thin layer of sphag at the bottom, and nothing else. Watered with regular water whenever the sphag layer got crispy. Placed it in full morning sun on the windowsill. It's now putting out two spikes, a leaf and new roots...maybe it likes to be abused!

[philoserenus]

go tupperware go!! haha!! and nice roots ^^

[Ranchnanny]

I think you have 2 green thumbs they look terrrrifc PAUL

Sheridan

[Bird Song Farm]

Hey Paul, the plant looks great. The planting method sounds like good common sense to me and obviously it worked.

Don't you just want to tell those types of store clerks where to go!

Oh, don't be afraid of K-L-N. It's a super product. (no, I don't have any interest in the company, it just works for me)
Al