Colmanara Wildcat advice, please

[VickiC]

Hi,
I ran across a Colmanara Wildcat 'Rainbow' at Lowes yesterday (a bag-baby), but I was hesitant about buying it because I knew nothing about it's culture. I then went home and looked up info about it on the internet, and found this: Popular orchids - Colmanara Wildcat
After reading the article, I went back to Lowes and bought it. As many 'bag-babys' are, the roots were far from very good, so I did what I could (trimmed, cinnamon, etc.)....but am not sure exactly which way would be best for me to plant/prepare it. Although I was not a success at Spag n Bag once (and my only try), I have had rooting luck by placing the rootless plant in a med-large-body vase (with a smaller opening at the top)...with damp spag in the bottom of the vase). I have enclosed photos, so after seeing them, do you think I should try to root the plant more (hoping for new, fresh roots before placing it in S/H) or do you think it is ready for S/H now?
Thanks in advance,
Vicki

[Ray]

You can certainly pot it up in S/H, but you'll want to keep it at maximum humidity and in the shade until it starts growing new roots.

Your vase thing is sort of a variant on sphag-n-bag, so you might also do that, then - when new roots start to grow - move it to a pot.

[VickiC]

Thanks so much, Ray! I was really hoping that you would read my cry for help and come to my aid! I appreciate your advice! Shortly after I read your reply, I decided to try for new roots before I pot it in S/H.
Vicki

Originally Posted by Ray

You can certainly pot it up in S/H, but you'll want to keep it at maximum humidity and in the shade until it starts growing new roots.

Your vase thing is sort of a variant on sphag-n-bag, so you might also do that, then - when new roots start to grow - move it to a pot.

[unhappykat]

Wow, that is a big bag baby. When i come across bag those things here they look like a tink flaskling that was just thrown into a pot for sale. COLM. Wildcats are pretty easy to grow, mine are in four inch pots with spag moss and they love it. Watch for certain cultivars that can be very slow growing, you cant tell from the small mericlone or seedling stages but once they get to blooming size they almost completely stop, I have ont that produces only a single growth per year and refuses to flower, I still love it but one of these days .

[rmack5]

I saw that exact orchid at lowes the other day. The seem to have gotten in some new bag orchids. I was there the other day when they were cleaning out their old stuff and they were selling the for $.75. I started to buy one or more but they really looked almost dead. You had better be saving your money for the orchid show... lol

[VickiC]

Thank you for your reply, unhappykat. Don't think that it's common to find nice, big bags at Lowes locally here....cuz it's far from common. They usually have approx. what you described....lil tiny plants maybe 3"-4" tall--max 5", and usually not in very good condition, either. Apparently, they must have gotten a recent shipment of the better ones in (which are ok, but still leave a lot to be desired). I hope mine grows well. I like the plant foliage even if it doesn't bloom bigtime. I would like for it to get more roots on it, but after that, I'll either pot in it spagh, as you did, or in S/H. As for slow growing, etc., I get too impatient cuz I like to see something happening). I need to work on that...."plant patience" lol
Vicki

Originally Posted by unhappykat

Wow, that is a big bag baby. When i come across bag those things here they look like a tink flaskling that was just thrown into a pot for sale. COLM. Wildcats are pretty easy to grow, mine are in four inch pots with spag moss and they love it. Watch for certain cultivars that can be very slow growing, you cant tell from the small mericlone or seedling stages but once they get to blooming size they almost completely stop, I have ont that produces only a single growth per year and refuses to flower, I still love it but one of these days .

[VickiC]

Hi,
You probably made a good decision when you didn't buy
any of those 75 cent-ers because most likely you were right....they were almost dead, if not already. I didn't see them when they were put on sale, but I did sometime before that---before that, and they looked worse than pitiful then....especially the tiny Vandas. As for the plant I bought Sat., I found that it had a brother/sister growing with it when I came home and soaked the roots before I cleaned and trimmed them, so I was pleased to find that. Anyway, the picture I posted was actually only half of what I saw when I made the purchase. It was the worst half, though.

You're right....I should be saving my money for the Orchid show, and I will. I'm not feeling as optimistic as I did, though, cuz Rodney doesn't want to go....says he needs to work anyway, and I don't like to drive in that goofy traffic. I haven't given up yet, though....maybe he'll come through (most likely not..being realistic). I bet it's fun. I've never been to one, as I mentioned to you.

I hope to be talking with you soon.
Vicki

Originally Posted by rmack5

I saw that exact orchid at lowes the other day. The seem to have gotten in some new bag orchids. I was there the other day when they were cleaning out their old stuff and they were selling the for $.75. I started to buy one or more but they really looked almost dead. You had better be saving your money for the orchid show... lol

[rmack5]

if things work out, maybe you could ride with us...

[VickiC]

Sounds good....thank you for the invite! Let's keep in touch....ok?