Myrmecatavola Frances Fox Root Tips Stop Growing

[Chani]

Hi all,

Although I first started growing orchids about 6 years ago and have posted here a few times, I still feel I am very much a beginner. To that end, here's what's likely a very simple question, and yet I can't find an answer to it.

What might cause a Cattleya or a Catt hybrid's root tips to stop growing? Or in my case, more specifically the Myrmecatavola Frances Fox. I purchased it a year or two ago. It was in a net pot, coming from Florida, with a ton of roots. I repotted it into a clear, slotted pot. That...was a poor decision. It has barely put out any roots since then and when I do finally see new root tips and get all excited, soon enough there goes my green tips. All white with no new growth. I imagine it has to do with watering - too little or too much. So which is it? What would cause the root tips to stop being active like that?

Thank you in advance to anyone who answers

[DirtyCoconuts]

so i have to make the disclaimer that we are in different universes in terms of growing conditions.

i have found that these roots like a lot more water than most people recommend giving them but they do NOT want to sit wet at all. i grow 8-10 schoms and probably another 20 or so plants with schom as a parent and at lest half are mounted on wood with no other medium.

the potted ones i use equal parts a lava rock, perlite (#4), charcoal and i soak the hell out of them every day that it does not rain.

i am guessing that your are drying out too much based on the way you are describing it- i would have said adjustment shock but 1-2 year...get your act together plant..

how is the general health of the plant? is it hydrated? leaves looking good? any new growth?

[Roberta]

For what it's worth, I have found that the Schomburkia hybrids - and species too - of either the Laelia or Myrmecophila group - don't particularly like media of any sort. You probably need to have some to maintain moisture, but large bark in a really well drained pot, or a basket even better if you can manage it, will help.

[Chani]

Thank you for the responses!

Dirty Coconuts: Yes, orchid itself looks very good. Pseudobulbs and leaves all look good and I have two new growths at the moment. It's just...those roots. Perhaps you're right and I'm drying them out too much.

Roberta: I have it in a mix of Medium Orchiata Monterey Pine Bark, Large Sponge Rock, Hydroton, and Medium Stalite. The pot itself has a lot of ventilation on the sides and the bottom. Do you think that's good enough?

And what I seem to be getting from both of you is that it needs a lot of air at the roots, but should be watered fairly frequently. Is that correct?

[Roberta]

Sounds like the medium is fine. And you are right... lots of air around the roots, which leads to quick drying. So you can water fairly often - especially in summer.

[DirtyCoconuts]

That’s my move. Wet, let dry, repeat daily

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Chani

I repotted it into a clear, slotted pot. That...was a poor decision.

Chani - more details may help to get better idea about whats happening there ----- such as photos of the currently existing roots, media used, temperature, humidity etc.

Also various photos of the orchid in its pot, and showing media conditions etc - can all help with the assessment of growing conditions.

[estación seca]

Here they grow almost no roots unless the evaporative cooler is running and humidity is high.

[Chani]

Roberta, Dirty Coconuts - Got it, thank you. I'll try watering more frequently.

Southpark - I'll try posting photos. I remember when I tried doing that in the past on orchidboard, it failed miserably. It looks like I may have succeeded this time, but all the photos are on their side - I apologize! As to the conditions, all my orchids are in front of a west-facing window. Temps vary. At the moment it tends to be between 60-80 degrees. Humidity is also variable. On average, ranges between 30-60%, although there's been times where it's above or below that range (right now it's 70%). It's funny because I know the Frances Fox is a partially a catt hybrid, yet the catts I currently have seem to be doing well. The medium I use is a mix of Medium Orchiata Monterey Pine Bark, Large Sponge Rock, Hydroton, and Medium Stalite.

estación seca - That's really interesting what you need to do to get your orchid to root. So essentially, it needs cooler and wet conditions?

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by Chani

estación seca - That's really interesting what you need to do to get your orchid to root. So essentially, it needs cooler and wet conditions?

Ha, ha. I live in Phoenix. If I'm lucky in summer the evaporative cooler gets the growing room down to 80 F / 27C. The humidity is what's important for these, not the temperature.

I forgot to add, they must not be jiggled while rooting or the roots stop growing. It took over a year for me to figure this out with my first Schomburgkia/Myrmecophila. It would make new growth, and try to make roots while sitting in a pot. When I watered it would move a little, and roots would stop growing. I took it out of the pot and tied it firmly on a log. When it grew new roots a year later, they attached firmly, and the plant took off.