Just another save

[james mickelso]

This was a very tough save and hopefully it will continue to recover. I've had this for a couple years now and finally convinced it to grow a new pbulb which has finally bloomed. It is another very old cross. C. Empress Bells 'white satin' x C. Margaret Stewart 'brilliance'. We'll see if it gets new growth this spring. Hopefully I can coax two buds from this one viable pbulb.

[SlipperGirl]

poor plant what happened to it

[james mickelso]

This catt came to me in this condition. Just very old leafless, colorless pbulbs with no chance of living. So I slowly gave it just enough moisture and lots of dappled sunlight to trigger the only viable growth bud on the newest pbulb which was actually at least 4 years old by the time I got it. All of these older pbulbs are gone. I doubt they provided anything to the new growth, and finally, flower. But this illustrates how tenacious plants can be. There was just enough chlorophyl left in the yellow pbulb to trigger it's only viable chance at reproduction. The yellow leaf has been this color since I got it. There are no roots on this plant. None when I got it and none have grown except for the newest pbulb.

[WhiteRabbit]

Nice save!

[isurus79]

That's pretty impressive James! I think I would have just tossed it in the garbage in that condition. Good thing that plant came to you and not me!! lol

[ALToronto]

Do you think it will survive the blooming, or is this a 'last gasp' flower?

[james mickelso]

It will survive the blooming. Once an orchid gets to this state, in order for it to bloom it has to have enough energy to see it through another season if I take good care of it. Just enough water, food, and sunlight. The newsest pbulb on which it flowered has some buds down at the base and they look like they are getting ready to push. The old pbulbs are finished. Nothing left to give up. It's just the old pbulb with the leaf which isn't photosynthesizing at all giving up it's energy reserves to the new pbulb and the new buds forming on the flowered pbulb. The flowering pbulb is just now pushing roots so it is imperative it gets exactly what it needs to continue. Time will tell. I get a thrill out of rescues because it would be so easy to go to the myriad growers and nurseries around SoCal and buy new but I have to struggle to make the proverbial silk purse from the old cow's ear. That is the rewarding part for me. The same way when I grew and developed bonsai trees. Taking nothing but promise and years later having show quality trees. So thank you all for looking and your nice comments.