Looking for suggestions - rescue this Phrag besseae

[jeremyinsf]

I'm not one for the random rescue, but this was given to me (for free) today from one of the local SF nursery's (not a regular orchid shop) and I'd like to at least try with it.

I know that besseae 'grows ugly', in part due to long rhizomes. So I realize it's not as bad as it seems. I have a few hybrids, but not the species yet (hence, my try for free!).

There are two new growths on this plant, but -that part- of the plant doesn't really have any roots now.

In general, it's been kept way too dry, in stale media. But some roots look ok.

Suggestions please?

Thanks!

[Ghosthunt64]

No clue... Are there any roots at all? If so, those growths may simply not be large enough to grow roots. These are seemingly impossible to rot... At any rate,

[Ray]

Besseae is something of a climber, so that's not unusual - except for the older part of the plant's condition.

If that was mine, I'd unpot it, soak it in a root stimulant solution, the repot it in VERY loose sphagnum up to the base of those newer growths, in hopes of inducing root growth from them. Once they start emerging, I'd move it to whatever medium you prefer.

[No-Pro-mwa]

I have no help to give you just wanted to say I would have been a tingle. I just love that one, but alas not sure I will ever try it as have heard it is hard to grow. But free what a find congrats.

Your puppy likes it

[Bill U.]

Awesome that you got a besseae to try for free! Nothing beats getting experimental plants that prosper and doesn't cost you an arm and a leg! I agree with Ray in I would definitely give it a soak in some root-stimulating hormones to try and get a better root system going on. I have just started using Maxicrop liquid seaweed solution to help root growth on my besseae, but it's too early to tell if it has had any effect yet.

Potting medium is up to you, but I would suggest that if you are going to be using a more-wet medium, such as sphagnum moss, that you would be well suited to a more water-retentive medium such as a fine grade bark mix or trying it in Semi-hydroponics (seems to be a good way to get good mix of air and water).

Let us know how it goes!

[jeremyinsf]

Taking Ray's general course, along with what everyone else said, and did it today. Stay tuned!

[isurus79]

Any update on this? I recently got a rescue besseae and it's growing nicely in s/h.

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[Vanda lover]

I plan to get one of these and plant it in s/h. I have a prag hybrid that is doing very well grown this way. Good luck!

[jeremyinsf]

It's funny you should ask - just a couple days ago I looked at the plant and thought, I should post an update!

Anyway here you can see quite a few things going on. The growth matured and it spiked. The roots you see in the picture are all new since my original post. It's doing well! I'm going to leave it the way that it is for now, in wet Sphag.

I have about a half dozen besseae plants now - found Orchid Zone ones for $10 each locally, so I got a whole bunch. They are all flowering now but when they are done I plan to use them to experiment with in terms of moss, S/H, leave a couple in bark (as they are now from OZ) and probably try them in different environments (under my lights, or outside). Will be interesting to see what becomes of them.

[tucker85]

Congratulations on a successful rescue! The plant looks great. I'll be interested to hear how your culture experiments work out.