Dead roots? blooming plant, wilted psudobulb, = underwatered?

[Leemoon]

First Orchid Ever and I am going to kill it accedentaly >.< Mystery plant, purchased from the floral department of the local grocery store. Plant has about a two foot stalk, and most of the buds are opened, no camera but here is a scan of one of the flowers, An id on the plant would be immensely helpful I think.
Near daily mistings and watered once a week according to the care card included with the plant, (no species name sorry.) a wilted psudobulb, that I saw when I checked it today seems to indicate lack of water, and when I went to check the roots all the potting medium fell away from being dry. . . I only have had the plant for a week. Most of the roots are white, dry and brittle, and the plant is in bloom, Should I trim the stalk and cut back the dead roots? how can i easily distinguish the dead roots from the live ones. The flower is about the size of a fifty cent piece and the stalk has about 20 to 30 blooms either opened or in the bud stage.

I plan to repot the plant in a combination of pea gravel and orchid potting mix (as I have read that lack of oxygen = death. Help and advice is much appriciated.

[fisher60]

Looks like a Cymbidium. And your description kind of leans that way also. They require lots of water. I doubt you'll be able to play "catch-up" but I'd give it a good soaking in a bucket for 30 minutes or so every 2nd or 3rd day till you see signs of life.

[WhiteRabbit]

actually - I think it is an Oncidium alliance inter-generic hybrid.
They like to remain slightly moist.

[phearamedusa]

Fisher60 it it definitely not a cymbidium. I agree with whiterabbit, oncidium hybrid of some sort.

[Leemoon]

good to know! I have a slotted pot ready with a mix of gravel pearlite and orchid mix, there seems to be a few viable roots, I will try the bucket thing though, I have it sitting in lukewarm water now, the dead roots have turned a light tan color while others have remained white and still have a snap to them, I hope this means they are infact living. Trying to find the camera to get a good picture, the leaves are long and very much like oversized blades of grass if that helps, they end in a point, not rounded like some species.

[Leemoon]

WhiteRabbit you are right, when you mentioned the Oncidium Alliance I was able to look it up Odontocidium Catatante 'Pacific Sunspots' The tag just said pacific sunspots, nothing on the species. . . you guys rock! So now how do I handle the dead roots, just trim them?

[Becca]

From your description of white roots, they probably aren't dead! The velamen of the root (the white or silvery colored outer layer is a normal color for healthy roots and will turn a green color when you water them. Most dead roots are a brown or tan color and are either soft and mushy from rotting, or dried and dehydrated feeling. If you give a gentle tug on the root, the velamen of the root will pull off with ease if it is dead. So in the week you have had it, when and how have you watered it? Also (not sure if you are or not) make sure you are not using water that is treated with a water softener....the salts used to soften the water will burn and kill the roots.

[Leemoon]

Wow thanks for that Becca, Had no idea! today was the first real thurough watering, I have been misting it frequently two and three times a day nearly every day.
A large chunk of the problem was the mesh bottomed pot I was using, only about six inches of media, so the water escaped too quickly. I have a bigger 11 inch pot with a slotted bottom for 'auto watering' I figure it will be a 'over watering' saftey net. the top roots have green going on, and the silver is interspersed with the tan roots. not much else came loose when I pulled gently so I will leave it alone. Now if the water gets treated with an RO after being sofened is it ok? with the shape my skin and hair are in i am pretty positive we don't have a softener but I can get RO water where I work, (working in water treatment has advantages eh?) Thank you guys so much again.

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[Becca]

Yep RO water is great...that is what I use. You can buy fertilizers that are formulated for RO or pure water. Sometimes roots will be tan from the potting medium and can still be good. If they are firm feeling then they are still probably good.

Can you clarify a little more on what size pot you are using? Did you repot it or is it in the original pot it came in? I just would caution against over potting with the pot size as it can lead to root rot.

[bdelfiero]

I would like to seek your advice since i am new to orchids. I have a new Vanda orchids (V.Kasem's delight) but i've noticed that roots are cracking. though there are some healthy roots remaining but most of the roots has cracks. What should I do?

I live in Philippines, the humidity is about 50 to 60 percent. the temperature is 30 to 33 degrees during the day. I put my orchids outside the house with enough bright light but not direct sunlight. I water 2 times i day but i've noticed the roots gets dry after minutes of watering.I will appreciate your help..