seaweed for rootless cattleya

[sii]

I posted a couple of weeks ago that I had a cattleya with no roots. Someone mentioned I should try liquid seaweed (sorry don't remember who you are. )

Can someone help me out?? I found some today and it was on sale. It's called Marinis seaweed. How do I apply this to my cattleya?

[Ray]

I don't know the product, but generally, for a rootless plant, I would submerge it in a solution (follow the label directions on concentration) of it and 25°C water for about an hour, then pot it up, using the solution to water it in.

The key will be to keep the plant very warm and humid while it grows new roots.

[sii]

Ray,
how often do you think I should do this? Should I use the solution to water the medium as well?

Right now I'm trying to keep the medium misted and away from the sun.

[tucker85]

I'm a big fan of seaweed products. I use Maxicrop liquid seaweed. I'm not familiar with the product you bought but I would mix it according to the label and mist it onto the plant maybe once a week. Orchids can take in water and nutrients through their leaves. I've had several cattleyas with no roots recover. Some growers don't even pot them until they see new roots. they just sit there bare root until new growth starts. Good luck.

[sii]

Thanks Tucker,
I'll mist the plant with the solution. I'll cover the whole plant.

I know that it doesn't have any roots and therefore can't take up any water from the roots. I'm just worried that it will dry up. I think I read that it needs humidity??

BTW could I use this on the other orchids? Maybe encourage a little growth?

[Ray]

The extend soak is to attempt to get some of the cytokinens into the rootless plant (I'm assuming your product has them - they would be the root-stimulating components). Do it once only.

Shade, warmth - preferably bottom heat - and humidity are the keys to recovery. Invert a plastic back over the plant and pot to simulate a greenhouse.

[sii]

Oh, thanks for that Ray. I thought I should soak it once a week. As per the cytokinens, I'll have to check when I get home. ;-)

As the stalks are very long, I don't know how I'll get a pot around it. How about a plastic bag?

[sii]

Ray,
I was looking for the cytokinens and I don't see it.
The label says 2% total nitrogen; 2% available phosphoric acid; 7% soluble potash; 55% organic matter.

As per the heat, I was thinking of a heating pad?

[Ray]

Most seaweeds have some level of cytokinens in them, especially kelp. If it doesn't, then giving it to the plant will have basically no effect.

Heat pad - definitely a plus.