Inherited greenhouse_what to do

[Klueless_Kristie]

Another

[Klueless_Kristie]

This is the last one. Hope it's ok I posted so many pics, I was just hoping to give you an idea of the rang of different marks I have found during my triage :-(

[weederwoman]

You've got me teary eyed thinking about my departed grandpa. He lived with us from when I was 2 till when I left home for college.
The cattleyas of many hobby growers have their share of spots and nicks. And we all have plants that die on us too. I'm sure your grandpa had his losses too, its part of the process. He would not want you to be sad.

[AnonYMouse]

They look like Cattleya alliance plants. The first one might be too far gone. They can all use repotting, the media looks old (super saturated bark?). Red tinge is an indication of maximum light threshold. Yellowing can be caused by many things but I think new media will help here.

Edit: I had to go look at the pics.

Not sure about the 2nd and third pics, might be pathogenic.

Overall, I suspect the roots are in poor shape considering the shriveling on all the pseudobulbs. If there is little to no roots, stake the pbulbs and pot them up anyway. The pbulbs should be sitting on top of the media, hence the stakes.

Good luck.

[Klueless_Kristie]

Hi W, it must have been wonderful living with your grandpa and u must have so many wonderful memories :-) I know my grandfather started his orchid collection when he inherited his brothers orchids when he passed, so I often smile thinking that he probably felt just as clueless and lost as I do now and I'm sure your right, he probably had many losses with his brothers orchids as well and his own over the years :-)

---------- Post added at 04:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:00 PM ----------

Thx Anon, I stocked up on more mix and am ready to repot, kodicide and fertilise lol with the old shrivelled yellow or brown bulbs I'm the pots do I cut them off and throw away or repot with them on or cut off and repot them split away from main plant?? What would u recommend??

[AnonYMouse]

Pot them up as is, into the smallest pots that will accommodate the roots (another reason to stake or clip-on). Do not divide weak plants.

Pbulbs normally sustain plants through tough times but yours are shriveled. They will not plump back up but new growths might start at the base of the pbulbs.

Fertilize only if you have good roots.

[Klueless_Kristie]

Thanks Anon I will leave as is, small pot. All the ones I've reported have had extensive squishy roots, which I have cut off. All roots have all been stuck fast to pots so I have soaked pots (a couple I had the smash or cut). I have noticed new roots r minimal and stuck fast to pot. After I cut old roots, should I fertilise where new roots are healthy and long (10cm +) even if minimal (5 or so)???

[Klueless_Kristie]

Hi again all :-) I have another bloom yaya this one is in a hanging pot about a metre wide :-0 I think it's a Stanhopea after google searching as the flowers grow from underneath. I would love your ID help to find out what type.

Also the medium (you may see in picture) looks like it needs redoing :-s but redoing that hanging basket looks like a major challenge..... I'm 5"4 so just getting it off the roof seems like mt Everest lol but challenge accepted :-)

Does anyone have tips on how to re-basket

[weederwoman]

Oh my gosh! You are so lucky. What a huge plant. So many spikes. Many Stanhopea species are fairly similar looking, so I'll let an expert help you there. But the culture doesn't vary terribly much from species to species. Also it looks happy in your environment, which makes care less of a challenge than trying to grow it, say, in Oregon, land of winter gloom. My only tip to rebasket is to cut all the wires first and just sort of peal them away from the root mass (after flowering, of course). They like a lot of water and food while growing, so choose a medium that doesn't break down quickly. Maybe wait till the orchid club people
can help out. Personally I wouldn't divide it. The size makes it special.

Laurel

[Tabbyblack13]

Wow. That's amazing.

If you want a lot of roots use a seaweed extract like kelpmax. Also Superthrive and KPN are really good supplements to get the roots growing again.