Leaning Blc--Help with pot/straightening needed - Orchid Board

Blondie · #1 06-01-2009, 04:43 PM

Below you will see 3 photos of my Blc. Golden Tang. When I first got it, it kinda leaned to one side, but the new growth was shooting straight up. It started leaning quite a bit, so I put in a rod and tied it up to give it some support.

Now, it seems like no matter what I do or how many times I adjust the orchid, the next day it's leaning again. You can see what I mean in the two attached photos that I took today after watering.

I don't know much about this plant, so I need advice. Do I put it in a bigger pot? Try to straighten it with more rods? Let it hang like that? Your help is greatly appreciated!!

I've had it a little over a month, and it's grown quite quickly. I don't want it to permanently become The Leaning Tower if Tang if it's unhealthy for the plant...

ToddsterVonCattMan · #2 08-22-2009, 11:14 AM

It's a late reply—but this is a potting issue. This Catt is potted lop-sided. It needs to be re-oriented so that the roots are going straight down into the medium, and so that the PB's are standing more straight up. The bottom of the new growth should have to curve up to reach the light (whereas now it's pretty much straight). This orchid also needs to be potted a little deeper in the pot, so that more of the roots are covered...

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #3 08-22-2009, 03:04 PM

I'm surprised no one answered this question until now.

It's leaning towards the light.

Notice how the leaf tip is pointing in the direction of the light source.

It was also grown "backwards". The lead growth should have leaf tips pointing forward, away from the older growths towards the light source. That's why it's tipping in a strange way.

Orchid126 · #4 08-22-2009, 05:49 PM

Your plant looks very well grown and has a nice new shoot. As Todd says, repot it so that the roots are anchored down in the medium and the plant is straight. It may still need some support. You might soak the roots first so they become more pliable. The rhyzome should be mostly in the medium, but the top a bit exposed.

Then as King says, give it a bit more light so that the leaves won't stretch toward it and literally pull itself out of the pot.

Golden Tang is a vigorous grower and frequent bloomer. The blooms start out copper and as the days go by they turn more and more golden. One of my all time favorites.

Shirley · #5 08-22-2009, 09:40 PM

I've devised a system for lopsided plants that's working pretty well for me. My problem has been that a plant is so strong it just pulls the stakes over so that it's leaning again. Here's what I do: Get two heavy (1/4 inch) rubber bands. Hold the pot up and slip the bands over the bottom of the pot. Then space them out, one near the bottom and one near the top of the pot. Now put your stake underneath the bands on the outside of the pot. This is normally strong enough that, when you tie the plant to it, it won't pull the stake over. Good luck!

VickiC · #6 08-22-2009, 10:46 PM

Hi Shirley,
I know you were replying to Blondie, but I was just browsing through..looking at different threads..when I ran across your post. I wanted to tell you thanks for sharing your idea. I've had this problem time after time and couldn't figure out how to solve it, so you've been a big help.
Thanks again,
Vicki

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shirley

I've devised a system for lopsided plants that's working pretty well for me. My problem has been that a plant is so strong it just pulls the stakes over so that it's leaning again. Here's what I do: Get two heavy (1/4 inch) rubber bands. Hold the pot up and slip the bands over the bottom of the pot. Then space them out, one near the bottom and one near the top of the pot. Now put your stake underneath the bands on the outside of the pot. This is normally strong enough that, when you tie the plant to it, it won't pull the stake over. Good luck!

Blondie · #7 08-23-2009, 06:17 PM

Thank you, all! That plant has grown like CRAZY since I originally posted this question. It now has a new baby growing out of the bottom, so I will try to get it repotted properly before it also snakes in the wrong direction. This is what it looked like when I watered it last week:

orchidsamore · #8 08-23-2009, 08:37 PM

A simple solution - a 25 cent pot clip.

From your first to second photo the plant is just pulling out of the pot. There is more roots showing. The plant is growing well bare root but is not secure in the pot.

Re-pot with all the roots in the medium and put a clip across the plant. It will then grow normally. Pot clips are a cheap investment that will eliminate a lot of problems.