Can the "eye" of an orchid develop on its own?

[Bulbofett]

I keep seeing everyone talking about the eye of the orchid. I think I found one on a plant I'm trying to rescue. If it ever gets blooming again it will be one heck of a show, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Unfortunately I don't have any keikei paste to apply to it. I soaked it in seaweed water when I brought it home. Then placed it in a bag with sphagnum. That only created mold so I took it out and have been misting it everyday since while it sits on a heat mat.

I just today noticed this little bump and I'm thinking it is the eye everyone talks about. What should I do from here to encourage a root?

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[Silje]

Yup, that's it.

Sometimes they're difficult to spot until they start to swell like this one has. I've got a way more hopeless rescue than yours and I thought for sure that all the eyes were dead, but I was determined to leave the plant in the hothouse until it was brown and completely dead, and...now it's sprouting in a couple of places that I did not see eyes previously.

[NYCorchidman]

Dormant eyes usually wake up on their own. There are more than one per lead (cattleya we're talking about, right?) and usually one or two may wake up and grow into new pseudo bulbs.
That slightly swollen eye in your photo is the main dormant eye that "was supposed" to wake up had the plant been in pristine condition.
With the way it looks, I think it will still sprout and grow, but the problem is the lack of roots.

Those little few roots are all dead and hollow, right?
If so, I would just trim them all off.

Now, I don't think there is a way to induce root growth in your case.
The reason is cattleyas grow new roots in only two ways. One, off of already exisiting roots, and you have none.
Two, off of brand new growth, either at the same time the new growth is starting or by the time the new growth is almost mature. and you don't have any new growth either.

Your success depends on the new growth that will come out of that dormant eye in the first picture.

I would use propagation dome kind of thing to help keep humidity high but still has ventilation hole.
I don't believe in bag because molds and other unwanted fungal agent can develop in tightly sealed environment.

Good luck!

[Bulbofett]

@silje: that really gives me hope this little guy is going to pull through! I didn't see any eyes on any of the other growths so I've been watching this one closely.

@NY: ooh a propagation dome sounds like something I need in my life. Would tupperware serve in the meantime? Do you set it up just like the sphag n bag method with sphagnum in one corner and the orchid in the other? I was afraod to trim all the roots, but if they aren't of any use I will just go ahead and cut them. They were the main area of fungal growth when I had this in the ziploc.

[Corsetière]

I agree with NYCorchidman, I have only grown mold in sphag and bag. The vented dome is something i am willing to try next time I have a rescue. Also I have had good results with semi-hydroponics on some sickly Cattleyas. They usually react really well to having that reservoir of water below. More about semi-hydro here if you are unfamiliar - Orchid Growing Supplies Semi-hydroponics Hydroponics Orchid Books PrimeAgra

Another thing you can try, if you are using regular bark culture, is to keep the plant raised slightly higher than the bark medium. I've found that this tends to result in good root growth for whatever reason. In my experience, the plant seems to try a little harder to reach the moisture with new roots this way rather than if it were directly in contact with the bark.

[euplusia]

I mostly agree with NYCorchidman, but I have had good results with a plastic bag and humid New Zealand sphagnum moss. In case of mold take another bag and new sphagnum (always the dried one, not living sphagnum).
And then it takes one of the most difficult things in life: patience.
It can take a year or longer. The plant is strong enough.
Many Cattleyas sprout roots only once a year. Wait until the roots are 3-5 cm long, then place it in hydroponics.

[NYCorchidman]

Well, anything that hold higher humidity (than average room) with some holes for ventilation will work.

One thing I like is those cheap clear plastic shoe box ( or organizer drawer stuff) sold at certain stores.
Place a layer of moist (not soppy wet) moss, then put the plant on top. You can rinse the base of the plant where the dead roots are with hydrogen peroxide and dry before doing this just to kill out whatever might be present for fresh start of the setup.

Then you can seal up the box with a clear plastic like kitchen wrap. Puncture a few hole.

Keep this box in warm and bright location until you see the eye wake up and get going.

Keep the moss inside moist by misting often but try and avoid misting on the plant too much as doing this may encourage fungal growth.

Depending on the type of your plant, it may start roots as the new growth develop, or much later.

but let's not worry about that now.

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[Bulbofett]

Hopefully this does the trick. I have it in a tupperware with a ziploc over top with holes cut into it for ventilation. The cattleya is just free floating in there while the sphagnum is in a smaller, separate area. All of it sitting on a heat mat with ample lighting. Phew!