A little help is needed - Orchid Board

Mel · #1 07-01-2008, 06:42 PM

I finally got the division from the guy on ebay (see avatar). Here is the problem...

First, the plant was in a box for 5 days, the live moss he had the roots in was dry. When I unwrapped the moss most of the roots fell off and he had trimmed them also. Some of the root were still white and firm but about 1/2 to an inch long.

Second, the division is only two bulbs I believe. so not sure if its viable.

As of right now I put it in a 2 inch pot with fine coconut mix just because the roots seemed to small for large bark and I thought a 4 inch pot was too big for the size of division I soaked the plant and held the rhizome down with a piece of bamboo since have no clips at the moment. I plan to put it under low light (phals) for now to see if it can make it.

Any other advice is appreciated I will put up pictures of it shortly . Its already potted so no shots of the roots.

Thanks

mel

BikerDoc5968 · #2 07-01-2008, 08:16 PM

Can't tell you that it will make it or not. The one PB looks plump while the other looks yellow and not so good. For me, if I paid my hard-earned $$$$, I expect some quality in return. I don't know what was advertized as the product you purchased but I think you get my drift. I don't expect some pristine, prize-winning specimen but I also would not expect a plant with a hole in the leave and barely any roots. Maybe talking with the vendor for a better plant might be the way to go?????

wetfeet101b · #3 07-01-2008, 08:32 PM

It should be fine.
1/2 to 1 inch roots are a good sign if they are healthy and will grow in time.
The older pseudobulb looks healthy enough and big enough to sustain the plant until the next growing season even if there are no roots right now.
Do not baby cattleya alliance orchids. Most of the time it will backfire on you.

Another thing you should probably do is to keep the new plant away from the rest of your plants - just as a precaution.
The plant could be healthy and clean, OR it could be harboring something that could wipe out your entire collection. Try to quarantine any new acquisition until you are sure that it is safe to integrate into your collection.

Mel · #4 07-01-2008, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BikerDoc5968

Can't tell you that it will make it or not. The one PB looks plump while the other looks yellow and not so good. For me, if I paid my hard-earned $$$$, I expect some quality in return. I don't know what was advertized as the product you purchased but I think you get my drift. I don't expect some pristine, prize-winning specimen but I also would not expect a plant with a hole in the leave and barely any roots. Maybe talking with the vendor for a better plant might be the way to go?????

unfortunately he doesn't have another I'm sure. It was a chore just to get this one. It's not a real vendor just someone selling off some of his plants. he only just started sellings things. the only reason I went for it was because the flower was so unusual. Otherwise I wouldn't have bought it.

BikerDoc5968 · #5 07-02-2008, 08:49 AM

Good luck....they always say, "Better lucky than good!" Funny how it seems we "chase" the flower....I do the same with my phals and catts, but not my dogs....I'm strickly a setter guy, PERIOD! I must have dozens of phals with the slightest variation in the flower...so yuo have to ask yourself, "Self, how many of similar stuff do you need?" The answer for me...never enough chids or kids!

Ray · #6 07-02-2008, 10:12 AM

A couple of comments: It's hard to say for sure from the photo, but it looks like it's planted a bit too deeply. The base of the growths and the rhizome that connects them should be at the surface of the medium, not under it. If I'm seeing that incorrectly, great!

Keep it warm, in very high humidity, and no more than phalaenopsis light levels until it starts new growth.

Mel · #7 07-02-2008, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

A couple of comments: It's hard to say for sure from the photo, but it looks like it's planted a bit too deeply. The base of the growths and the rhizome that connects them should be at the surface of the medium, not under it. If I'm seeing that incorrectly, great!

Keep it warm, in very high humidity, and no more than phalaenopsis light levels until it starts new growth.

I'll check it when I get home Ray i wasn't sure if i planted it too deeply or not. I'll try to take a better picture also. But i think you are correct.

Also should it get just water or light fertilizer with KLN or ST?

dougd · #8 07-02-2008, 01:43 PM

My

Remove the dry velum and dead roots. Soak in Physan 20 and Super Thrive, use a loose mix of sphagnum moss--keep moist and high light-well shaded until established. Good luck

jkofferdahl · #9 07-02-2008, 02:39 PM

Catts are pretty tough plants. I'd say that this one has a good shot. Keep it warm - a bit warmer than normal for a Catt - and plenty moist. Don't keep the medium soaked, but mist the pbulbs and leaves often. The older pbulb is kind of dry but should be able to sustain things. The newer bulb, however, looks nice and plump; between the two there should be enough in the plant to provide for it until it begins a new growth cycle. Once it starts new growth you can treat it as you do your other Catts.

Good luck with it - that's one heck of an interesting flower!

Mel · #10 07-02-2008, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

A couple of comments: It's hard to say for sure from the photo, but it looks like it's planted a bit too deeply. The base of the growths and the rhizome that connects them should be at the surface of the medium, not under it. If I'm seeing that incorrectly, great!

Keep it warm, in very high humidity, and no more than phalaenopsis light levels until it starts new growth.

Ray I lifted the rhizome out is this enough? sorry for the blurry picture its just a canon powershot and I stink at picture taking right now.