good roots/bad roots & velamen pull test?

[Becca]

I am not sure what I should title this question, sorry! I know I have posted questions similar to this, but I don't think this one ever got answered for me head on so here it goes: When receiving plants bare root from sellers who send the plants through a drying process and then when the plants are received and you soak them to help revive them and the roots seem all squishy and rotted and the velamen pulls off of the roots easily, how do these plants get so large on this kind of a root system? Are the roots perhaps good and I think they are bad becuase I use the pull test on the velamen?

[Ross]

Not sure where you are getting these, but I personally would never buy a plant like that. That is pretty rough treatment (in my opinion). Others may feel differently, but perhaps that's why you didn't an adequate answer? I look for overnight or second day shipments or purchase in person. When I get the plant, if it is in a pot, I repot it to inspect roots, etc. Most of what I buy is on mounts with exposed roots. They are always nice and white or green, depending on spp. I know I am not answering your question, but maybe I can convince you to shop elsewhere?

[Becca]

hehe....you don't have to convince me....I am done with that seller! I have had others send me plants from trades and they sent the plants bare root via priority mail and I never had any problems....it is just this particular seller...I wish he would get shut down....and I can rarely find info on the plants or find the plants else where, which is why I just made another post to get help looking for a plant I purchased to find a healthy version of the one I got from this ebay seller!

[ScottMcC]

yeah, what ross said.

but I think the velamen pull test, as you describe it, is an excellent way of assessing the viability of roots. if it comes off easily in your hand, it wasn't doing any good for the plant. but if someone sends you something with such obviously rotten roots, then maybe you shouldn't be paying for it.

I would also be cautious of plants that you can only find from one place, especially a questionable ebay seller. they may not be what was advertised at all!

[DebsC]

I think if the roots are all squishy and rotted looking, they probably aren't any good. I cut them off. It's difficult to make myself do this but I know what will happen if I put these soggy, rotted roots in a pot.

If I have to do a major operation and there are few or no roots left, I sphag and bag.

I also wait a day or so after cutting the roots to pot up the plant. That way the wounds have time to dry and heal a little and I think it helps prevent rots and infections. (I also dip the entire plant in a systemic fungicide)

I think I know the ebay seller you are talking about. I see plants I'd really love to have but then I remember this "treatment" thing that's done to them and I don't order or buy.

I did get a really nice cattleya from the same vendor once. It had nice roots and looked fairly good, though rather dehydrated.

But no matter what I did, I could not get that catt to grow. All it wanted to do was rot. Also, a friend sent me a catt from the same place and I had the same problem. It isn't dead but it isn't growing, either.

[quiltergal]

I checked out the sellers feedback and though he has a high percentage of postive feedback he also has 100 negative feedbacks left in the last 12 months. That in itself would keep me from buying from him.

[CodiMN]

Dang, I'm sorry you had a bad experience with this ebay seller! I too received some plants bare root from an ebay seller, but none of my roots were rotten (whew!).

I like to brouse ebay to see the different plants, so if you would PM me with the seller, that way I'd know to avoid them! Thanks!

[justatypn]

Most of us have received orchids barefoot. When we buy without a visual we all are taking a chance in what the brutality of the roots have gone through. I have bought an orchid off ebay, back in the day, no I did not soak the roots merely misted them and lightly used a stimulant to "wake them up" so to speak. Taking special care for these guys is what they need. I did not do the sphag~n~bag, actually didn't know about it at the time, but it did not challenge me in thinking it needed the additional moisture. I watered the plant thoroughly, weekly and mist lightly daily to stimulate for about 2 months. But to answer your question about how they get so large of this kind...it really depends on the type of orchid. Plants grow to there expected size no matter what condition there rooting system is in during shippment. No different than buying a mini barefoot. It will grow to it's expected species size in due time. A change in observation with the question, if the plant is large when received barefoot and the rooting system is yucky, it would appear to me that the plant could be max'd out to it's full growing potential an with this, the orchid will show signs of stress and eventually will die.

Some vendors ship barefoot, but the rooting system is lightly misted to keep them hydrated as well as lightly wrapped with tissue of sorts. But in a nutshell...any orchid no matter how the plant is shipped is under some sort of stress, special care is needed when received with or without it's shoes on.

[dianecty]

Yup, I think I know who your Ebay seller is. I bought from him before and the plant that I got in spike is ok, no problem. The spike is growing fine and there is another spike coming up. I murdered the other small plants that I got from him because I followed his instructions and tied them to the stick too tightly (the spot where the plant was tied rotted) and my bark was too wet, my pots were too big. The roots never grew. They are all in sphag and bag right now.

I bought from him again and am going to receive my plants soon. I want to try again with my "added knowledge and experience". I am going to use small styro cups, I am not going to tie them to a stick like he says and I am going to use damp sphag as my medium. I am going to poke holes in the cups on the bottom and the bottom sides. When I put my sphag in there, I am going to make it so it doesn't go all the way to the bottom of the cup, thereby giving the plant some air so it won't suffocate. I am also going to cover them with some plastic or put them in clear plastic bags to keep them warm and humid.

But of course, I don't know if this will work. Let's see. Any thoughts? We were told to revive the plant in some warm water before potting.

[dianecty]

By the way, I didn't receive plants with rotten roots. They looked dry and shrunken.